I had already settled into my seat when a man in an expensive suit entered the salon. He was holding a leather briefcase and approached his seat next to me with an air of complete confidence. He glanced around the seat, then turned his eyes to me, grimaced sharply and said loudly, so that everyone around could hear:
— What the hell is this? I paid for business class, but I feel like I’m on the subway at rush hour!
He rolled his eyes demonstratively and cast a disdainful glance in my direction.
“I’m flying to an important conference, I need to get ready, and now I can’t even sit down normally,” he said, heavily sinking into the chair next to her.
I understood what he was hinting at. Or rather, at whom.
“Why do they even sell places here to people like her?” he muttered, under his breath, but loud enough for me to hear.
He sat down and immediately started nudging me with his elbow, as if demonstrating his displeasure. I was not only physically hurt, but also terribly offended. I turned to the window, holding back tears. I never thought that an adult, respectable-looking person could be so angry.
The entire flight he seemed to be moving around on purpose, shuffling papers, snorting, but he said nothing else. I tolerated it. I was used to prejudiced views. But not to such open malice.
But towards the end of the flight something unexpected happened, after which the man deeply regretted his behavior.
When the plane landed and we started to get off, my assistant from economy class came up to me. He nodded politely and said:
– Mrs. Smith, would it be convenient for you if after checking in at the hotel we went straight to the conference site? I have everything prepared.
The man sitting next to me froze. I felt his gaze. The assistant left, and he suddenly spoke in a completely different tone:
– Excuse me… are you also flying to the conference? I heard that a very respected scientist will be speaking there… Her name is also Smith.
“Yes,” I answered calmly, taking the bag, “it’s me.”
He became confused, turned pale, and started babbling something about how he had been interested in my work for a long time, how he had heard about my lecture on cognitive technologies.
I just smiled politely and went out first. He remained sitting there, as if someone had sucked the air out of him.
I hope after this the stranger will stop judging people by their appearance.
