Grandma leaned slightly closer.
Then she said, loudly enough for everyone nearby to hear:
“Dear, I was only trying to tell you that your skirt is caught in the back of your shapewear. Everyone can see it.”
The cabin went silent.
Tiffany froze.
Then her eyes widened.
Slowly, she reached behind herself.
Her fingers touched bunched fabric.
Her face changed instantly.
She looked down.
Her skirt had twisted upward and become caught high around one side.
Tiffany shot out of her seat.
Unfortunately for her, standing only made things worse.
For one brief second, bright pink polka dots became visible to practically the entire row.
Gasps quickly turned into laughter.
Passengers who had spent the last twenty minutes watching Tiffany insult my grandmother suddenly struggled to contain themselves.
Tiffany frantically grabbed at the back of her skirt.
Grandma looked up at her innocently.
“Well,” she said, “my old eyes certainly managed to notice.”
The laughter became even louder.
Grandma tried to keep a straight face.
She failed completely.
Tiffany’s face turned bright red.
“Move! Get out of my way!”
She pushed past the aisle passenger and hurried toward the rear of the aircraft, clutching the back of her skirt with both hands.
I watched from row 30, unable to stop laughing.
After everything she had said to Grandma, the situation felt like perfect poetic justice.
A moment later, Cheryl hurried toward row 24 carrying the pillow she had promised.
Tiffany was already gone.
Grandma accepted the pillow with a sweet smile.
Later, she told me she had whispered to Cheryl:
“I don’t think she’ll be coming out of that bathroom anytime soon.”
Even Cheryl had to hide a laugh.
The rest of the flight was surprisingly peaceful.
Hours later, we landed safely in Florida.
And once we reached the beach, none of the airplane drama mattered anymore.
I stood beside Grandma as she stepped onto the warm sand.
For the first time in eighty-six years, Rose saw the ocean.
She stared at the endless blue water with an expression I will never forget.
There was wonder in her eyes.
Pure, childlike wonder.
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