As the crowded airliner was about to take off, the peace was
shattered by a five-year-old boy who picked that moment to throw a wild temper
tantrum. No matter what his frustrated, embarrassed mother did to try to calm
him down, the boy continued to scream furiously and kick the seats around him.
Suddenly, from the rear of the plane, an elderly man in the uniform of an Air
Force General was seen slowly walking forward up the aisle. Stopping the
flustered mother with an upraised hand, the white-haired, courtly, soft-spoken
General knelt down and, motioning toward his chest, whispered something into
the boy's ear.
Instantly, the boy calmed down, gently took his mother's
hand, and quietly fastened his seat belt. All the other passengers burst into
spontaneous applause. As the General slowly made his way back to his seat, one
of the cabin attendants touched his sleeve. "Excuse me, General," she
asked quietly, "but could I ask you what magic words you used on that
little boy?" The old man smiled serenely and gently confided, "I
showed him my pilot's wings, service stars, and battle ribbons, and explained
that they entitled me to throw one passenger out the plane door, on any flight
I choose."
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