the guy in 2B

hello. hi.
(take a bite of a sandwich)
good evening sir.
(drink some water)
how's it going?....no, im sorry we do not have closet room for your suit.
(get some drinks for the pilots and get out my safety demo stuff)

one more flight. the last flight of the night to memphis. i am starving and ready for bed. but i have 20 min to get everyone on board, make sure that 50 people have their bags properly stowed, tray tables up, seat backs up, seat belts buckled, bins closed, count infants and children, make sure no one is in the lav, and make an announcement before we can close the door for an on time departure.

in the middle of all this a slightly grumpy, older customer service agent comes down into the plane and just starts yelling anxiously, "WE ARE WEIGHT RESTRICTED TO 44."
"ok" i say calmly. i check with the captain, and it is true. we have to pull 6 people.
he yells again, "I NEED 6 VOLUNTEERS OFF THIS PLANE......NOW."

oh my gosh, i thought, laughing a little at how absurd this guy was.
some people were kind of discussing the option with their loved ones or whomever. making excuses as i walk by, "i would, but i have to be at work in the morning. im a doctor." "of course. of course." (i mean it was sunday night and everyone had bought a ticket to come home sunday night).

after a few minutes a family of four volunteers. thank you.

"OK I NEED 2 MORE PEOPLE FOLKS!"

i chuckle a little. i mean he just seems so mad. yelling like that. we have a PA and there are nicer ways to inform everyone. "ladies and gentlemen if i could please have your attn, i have just been informed that due to the weight and balance of this aircraft it is necessary to remove six passengers. these people will be compensated with a free round trip ticket to anywhere in the continental US, plus free accommodations for tonight, and will be rebooked on the next available fight out tomorrow morning. thank you for your cooperation." i dont know if that would have helped, but maybe.

"TWO MORE PEOPLE!"

no one.

everyone wanted and needed to get home.

"ALRIGHT THEN," says the csa in a somewhat threatening tone, "IM JUST GONNA HAVE TO PULL OFF THE LAST 2 PEOPLE WHO CHECKED IN." he went to get his list and came back - shouting the two unfortunate names.
the older black guy in the last row came forward with this suit. tucked under his arm. he had a hat on and as he came to the front someone asked "ya got work tomorrow?" "nope," he answered. "my dads' funeral."

oh

the quiet guy in 2B slowly stood up and with out hesitation, looked him in the eye and said "sit down. you can have my seat" and walked off the plane.

less than a minute later i was closing the door. i had a count of 44 people going to memphis.