Crystal and her husband, Alton, were flying home after a long visit with family. Just as they settled into their seats, the woman behind them propped her bare feet on Alton’s seat and repeatedly kicked it, laughing with her friend when Alton politely asked her to stop. Even after a flight attendant intervened, the woman continued, ignoring every request.

Tension grew as Alton tried to rest, and the woman kept nudging his seat. When her feet returned yet again, Crystal decided she’d had enough. As the beverage cart arrived, she quietly poured water onto the woman’s bag, then spilled some of Alton’s drink onto the intruding feet, acting like turbulence was to blame. The woman shrieked and glared, but finally pulled her feet back.

For the rest of the flight, the woman stayed quiet and kept her feet to herself, muttering complaints to her friend. Crystal sat satisfied, knowing she had made her point without causing a scene. Alton laughed, amused by his wife’s petty but effective strategy.

When they landed, the woman stormed off, still annoyed. Crystal and Alton walked off calmly, relieved to head home. Sometimes, Crystal thought, the slightest dose of petty revenge is the perfect reminder that courtesy matters — even at 30,000 feet.