Clark, my husband, was very brave when he booked first-class tickets for himself and his mother while leaving me and our kids in economy. But I wasn’t going to let him enjoy his fancy update without weighing the pros and cons first.
I watched Clark and his mother, Nadia, enjoy their nice seats on the plane while I fought to make room for our carry-on bags. But I had a secret tool that they didn’t know about: I had swiped Clark’s wallet earlier.
I savoured my popcorn and water in economy while the flight workers served champagne and gourmet meals to first class. I couldn’t wait for the show to start.
Clark’s desperate search for his wallet was hilarious, and his anger only grew when the flight attendant told him he had to pay.
I offered him $200 with a straight face, even though I knew it wasn’t nearly enough for him. It was worth more than money to see the look on his face. I could see the shame burning in his eyes when I told him to ask his mother for help.
The rest of the flight was a master class in pain. Clark and Nadia were stuck in dead quiet the whole time, while I enjoyed my simple seat in economy. I couldn’t help but smile when Clark finally came back to look for his wallet again.
That day, he learnt how to be humble and show respect. I, on the other hand, learnt how much fun artistic justice can be. For all you travellers out there, remember that getting even can be the best way to pass the time on a plane.
