Carl’s polite smile faltered a little as he got the boy’s attention. “Hey there, could you please stop kicking my seat? It’s really uncomfortable for me,” he said softly, keeping his tone kind instead of frustrated.
The boy’s dark brown eyes sparkled with mischief, and he paused for a moment when he heard Carl’s voice. He tilted his head to the side and stared at Carl with an innocent yet sneaky look. Carl wondered if his polite request had finally worked.
Carl smiled and turned back to face forward, hopeful he’d finally get a peaceful flight with nothing but the quiet hum of the engines and soft cabin chatter. But the second he turned around, the boy’s grin grew wider, and he tensed his legs to deliver another hard kick to the seatback.
