J1. Take my seat by the window. Please, no J2.
Looking good, doors about to close.
Last minute arrival. Bag slides into the locker above. Polite hi, then back to my book. His arm strays across the dividing line.
One wine in, the questions start. He seems nice. Onto glass two, they become overly personal. Bury my nose in my book.
At three, the jokes roll out, worse than my uncle’s. My headphones are in my bag above. Why didn’t I book the aisle?
He’s four wines in. The bathroom provides short-lived relief; I hadn’t needed to go. Grab the headphones.
Glass five shortly follows. Why are you still serving him? He taps my shoulder. And again. Lift a headphone only to cop a story.
I feign tiredness and shut my eyes. Next moment, he’s asleep. Even better. I open my book. A snore explodes from his lips.
Afterword
This piece was inspired by an ‘interesting’ encounter I had on an international flight (Australia to Vietnam).
I’m sure you have many a travel story of your own.
Photo attribution: thanks to Ross Parmly on Unsplash.