I boarded the plane hoping for a calm flight.

Everything was fine at first, until I noticed a young woman sitting right in front of me. She was dressed very flamboyantly, clearly acting as if the whole world should revolve around her.

Right after takeoff, she took off her shoes, placed one foot on the empty seat beside her, and stretched the other straight into the aisle. Her foot was blocking everyone who wanted to go to the restroom or just stretch their legs. At first, people politely asked her to move, but she responded only with annoyed looks and hissing noises.

Then she started deliberately ignoring the requests. A man trying to pass by got a loud reply:

— What, can’t you go around?!

But going around was hopeless — she had sprawled out as if she wanted to occupy the entire row.

The worst part was the strong smell from her foot. It was so pungent that a woman across the aisle hid behind her scarf, and a child behind me asked his mother:

— Mom, why does it smell like someone has never changed their socks?..

Unable to tolerate it any longer, I pressed the call button for the flight attendant:

— Excuse me, — I said, — this passenger is blocking the aisle and refuses to move her foot. Maybe she should pay for this seat, since she’s using it?

The flight attendant politely but firmly reprimanded her. The woman muttered and rolled her eyes:

— I’m not sitting here, though. I will not make the payment. I am entitled to certain privileges.

Hearing this, the passenger beside her spoke up:

— You cannot simply “steal” someone else’s seat like that. We may formally announce the payment. If you refuse, I can record it.

The woman went pale. The flight attendant took the opportunity to call the purser.

In the end, she was actually required to pay for the extra seat. The fee was nearly equal to the cost of her own ticket. Then, for the first time, she sat properly in her seat.

When the flight attendant left, the back of the cabin gave a polite round of applause. Everyone grinned and exchanged looks, and the woman across from me quietly said:

— I’m grateful. I was also starting to get impatient.