12/21/09
from Bookworm Room
A good story to leaven the darkness
Bookworm on Dec 20 2009
I am deeply bummed by what’s happening in the Senate, but day-to-day, life still
goes on. So I’ll pass on to you a story I received in today’s email:
On a Northwest Airways flight from Atlanta , GA , a well attired middle-aged
woman found herself sitting next to a man wearing a kippa (”yarmulke” in
Yiddish). She called the attendant over to complain about her seating.
“What seems to be the problem, Madam?” asked the attendant.
“You’ve sat me next to a Jew!! I can’t possibly sit next to this strange man.
Please find me another seat!”
“Madam, I will see what I can do to accommodate,” the attendant replied, “but
the flight is virtually full today and I don’t know if there is another seat
available.”
The woman shoots a snooty look at the snubbed Jewish man beside her (not to
mention the surrounding passengers).
A few minutes later the attendant returned and said, “Madam, the economy and
club sections are full, however, we do have one seat in First class.”
Before the lady had a chance to respond, the attendant continued, “It is only
for exceptions that we make this kind of upgrade, and I had to ask permission
from the captain. But, given the circumstances, the captain felt that no one
should be forced to sit next to an unpleasant person.”
The flight attendant then turned to the Jewish man sitting next to her, and
said: “So, if you’d like to get your things, Sir, I have a comfortable seat for
you in First class.”
At this point, the surrounding passengers stood up and gave a standing ovation
while the Jewish man walked up to the front of the plane.
The lady then said indignantly, “The Captain must have made a mistake….” To
which the attendant replied, “No Ma’am. Captain Cohen never makes a mistake.”
* * * * *
Only story I've found that made me smile on this bad news day.
Mazel tov