Stella, an 85-year-old woman, finally reached her business class seat, but encountered immediate hostility. A man named Franklin Delaney loudly objected to sitting next to her, telling the flight attendant that the “woman” couldn’t possibly afford such an expensive seat and should be in economy, judging her by her clothes. Stella, wearing her best and feeling deeply ashamed, endured further humiliation as other business class passengers echoed Franklin’s sentiments, telling her to leave. Despite having spent all her savings on the ticket, Stella, who was already flustered from getting lost at the airport on her very first flight, offered to move to economy to avoid inconveniencing others.
A Humiliating Start and a Shared Story
The kind flight attendant, who had assisted Stella through the confusing Seattle-Tacoma International Airport process, firmly refused, insisting Stella deserved her seat. She even threatened to call airport security on Franklin. Defeated, Franklin allowed Stella to sit. As the plane took off for New York, Stella, startled, dropped her purse. Franklin, not entirely unreasonable, helped her collect her belongings. A ruby locket fell out, catching his eye. “Wow, this is something else,” he commented, revealing he was an antique jeweler and that the locket was “insanely valuable,” confirming the rubies were real.
Stella explained it was a family heirloom, given by her father to her mother during World War II as a promise he’d return. He never did. Franklin, apologetic for his earlier behavior due to “complicated things” in his life, expressed sympathy. Stella shared her painful story: her mother never recovered from the loss and kept the locket despite dire financial straits. Stella, too, never sold it, despite her own struggles. “Honestly, its real value is inside,” she revealed, opening it to show two sepia-toned pictures: her parents, deeply in love, and a baby.
The Pilot’s Announcement and a Reunion
Franklin noticed the baby’s photo. “Is that your grandchild?” he wondered. “No, that’s my son,” Stella replied, adding that he was the reason for her flight. When Franklin asked if she was going to see him, Stella revealed her bittersweet truth: many years ago, she got pregnant in her 30s, and her boyfriend disappeared. Without a support system (her mother had passed from dementia), she gave her son up for adoption, unable to provide him a good life. She later found him, Josh (as in “John” in the following text), through DNA tests and emailed him, but he replied that he was fine and didn’t need her. Despite multiple attempts, he never responded again.
Franklin, confused, asked why she was on this flight then. Stella explained, “He’s the pilot on this flight. I’m here because today is his birthday… I might not have long on this earth, so I wanted to spend at least one of his birthdays with him. This is the only way.” She smiled at Franklin, looking back at her locket. Franklin silently wiped away a tear, unbeknownst to Stella, while some flight attendants and passengers listened to her story. A stewardess then went into the cockpit. “Anyway, this is one of his longest routes, so I get to spend five hours near my son,” Stella concluded, putting her locket away.
The five hours passed quickly. As the pilot’s intercom came on, he announced their imminent arrival at JFK. But instead of disconnecting, his message continued: “In addition, I want everyone to welcome my birth mother, whose flying on my route for the first time. Hey, Mom. Wait for me once the plane lands,” said John (the pilot, whose name was “Josh” when Stella revealed his name, but is now “John”). Stella’s eyes welled up, and Franklin smiled, ashamed of his earlier rudeness, but relieved he had already apologized.
When John landed the plane, he broke protocol, exited the cockpit, and walked directly to Stella, embracing her fiercely. All the passengers and flight attendants cheered and clapped. Unheard by others, John whispered in Stella’s ear, thanking her for doing what was best for him years ago. He apologized for not answering her other emails, explaining that after her first email, he realized he wasn’t angry, but simply didn’t know what to say. Stella told him there was nothing to be sorry for.
This story teaches us important lessons: never be rude to strangers, as Franklin learned, leading to his later shame. And forgiveness is divine, exemplified by Stella’s quick forgiveness of Franklin, holding no grudge against the man initially seated next to her.