As the airplane flew at 30,000 feet in the air, the passengers were all trying to avoid staring at the small boy who was throwing a screaming tantrum in the middle of the plane.His poor, embarrassed mother tried her best to reason with him, and even attempted to bribe him with candy. But it was no use. Junior was not going to quiet down.
Suddenly, from the rear of the plane, a tall man in a Marine uniform slowly walked up the aisle, approaching the boy’s row. He motioned to the boy’s mother with a simple upraised hand. Then, he swiftly dropped own on one knee so that he was face-to-face with the small boy. He motioned for the boy to come closer and he whispered to him in a deep, quiet voice which no one else could hear.
In an instant, the boy stopped crying. He fastened his own seat belt, faced forward, and held his mother’s hand without making another sound. The entire plane burst into spontaneous applause.
As he made his way back to his seat, one of the attendants touched the Marine’s sleeve.
“Excuse me, Sargeant,” she said quietly, “but can I ask you what you said to that little boy to make him quiet down?”
The Marine smiled.
“I showed him my pilot’s wings, service stars, and battle ribbons, and explained that they entitle me to throw one passenger out the plane door, on any flight I choose.”
