David placed one hand on his shoulder.
“Good.”
Malik shook his head.
“It didn’t feel good.”
“No.”
David’s voice softened.
“Doing the right thing does not always feel good while you’re doing it.”
Richard listened.
Malik looked toward the boarding door.
“Is she getting fired?”
David paused.
“That isn’t my decision.”
“You could make them.”
Richard shifted uncomfortably.
David noticed.
“I could apply pressure.”
Malik waited.
“But that would be using power before knowing everything.”
Malik looked at him.
“Like she did?”
David became quiet.
“Yes.”
Richard looked toward David.
The answer had cost him something.
David continued.
“We know what happened to you.”
“We still need to understand why.”
“Then Mesa decides what accountability looks like.”
Malik nodded.
“I don’t want her fired.”
Richard seemed surprised.
“Why not?”
Malik shrugged.
“I don’t know her.”
David smiled faintly.
“That’s a better answer than pretending you do.”
Robert’s radio sounded again.
“Boarding needs a decision.”
David looked at Malik.
“You ready?”
Malik stood.
“Yes.”
They returned toward the aircraft.
Catherine saw them entering.
Her shoulders stiffened.
David stopped several feet away.
Catherine spoke first.
“Mr. Johnson, I owe your son an apology.”
David looked at Malik.
“That’s his decision.”
Catherine turned toward the boy.
“Malik.”
He waited.
“I should have verified your seat before saying anything.”
Malik remained quiet.
Catherine continued.
“I should not have touched your bag.”
“I should not have spoken to you that way.”
Malik looked at her.
“Why did you?”
Catherine froze.
David did not rescue her.
Neither did Richard.
Catherine looked around.
“I thought there had been a mistake.”
Malik asked, “Why?”
She swallowed.
“I made an assumption.”
“About my ticket?”
Catherine looked at him.
“About you.”
Malik understood enough.
He looked toward his father.
David’s expression remained calm.
Malik turned back.
“You could have asked.”
Catherine nodded.
“Yes.”
“You could have checked.”
“Yes.”
“You didn’t.”
“No.”
Malik looked toward Seat 2A.
Then he said, “Okay.”
Catherine seemed uncertain.
“Do you accept my apology?”
Malik thought.
“I heard it.”
Catherine blinked.
David almost smiled.
Malik continued.
“I don’t know yet.”
Catherine nodded.
“That’s fair.”
Malik walked toward 2A.
He placed his backpack underneath.
Then he sat.
David followed.
He crouched beside him one final time.
“Call me when you land.”
“I will.”
“Keep your phone charged.”
“I know.”
“Don’t lose your boarding pass.”
Malik smiled.
“I definitely won’t.”
David laughed quietly.
Then Malik’s expression became serious.
“Dad?”
“Yes?”
“Thanks for coming.”
David looked at him.
“You called.”
“I come when you call.”
Malik nodded.
David hugged him.
Then he stood.
He looked toward Catherine.
No threat.
No warning.
Just one sentence.
“Take care of every child aboard this aircraft as though nobody important is coming behind them.”
Catherine’s face changed.
David walked away.
Confrontation
Flight 227 departed twenty-three minutes late.
Malik watched the terminal disappear beneath the wing.
His hands finally stopped trembling.
Olivia handled the first-class service.
Catherine remained aboard, but she worked mostly near the rear.
The decision had come from the station manager.
She would complete the flight under supervision.
Then she would be removed from duty pending review.
Malik did not know that.
He did not need to.
Olivia approached after the seat-belt sign disappeared.
“Would you like something to drink?”
“Apple juice, please.”
“Absolutely.”
She returned with the drink.
Then she placed a small package of pretzels beside it.
Malik looked up.
“I didn’t order those.”
“They’re complimentary.”
“Because of what happened?”
Olivia paused.
“No.”
She smiled.
“Because everyone gets pretzels.”
Malik relaxed.
“Okay.”
That answer mattered more than free food.
He did not want gifts.
He wanted normal.
Across the aisle, the businessman from earlier finally spoke.
“You did well, young man.”
Malik looked at him.
“Thanks.”
The man hesitated.
“I should have said something earlier.”
Malik said nothing.
The businessman looked uncomfortable.
“I saw your ticket.”
“I heard what you said.”
“I knew something wasn’t right.”
Malik looked toward the window.
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
The man had no quick answer.
“I didn’t want to get involved.”
Malik nodded.
That explanation made sense.
It also hurt.
The man continued.
“I’m sorry.”
Malik looked back.
“Okay.”
The businessman returned to his laptop.
A woman across the aisle leaned toward Malik.
“My name is Jennifer.”
Malik nodded.
“I’m Malik.”
“I know.”
She smiled awkwardly.
“I almost spoke up too.”
“But you didn’t.”
Jennifer looked down.