Stewardess Hears Crying from Lavatory, Finds Kid Who Wasn’t on Passenger List
An unusual noise coming from the lavatory during a transcontinental flight startled flight attendant Leslie, sending a wave of panic through her. She had no idea that the child within would permanently alter the course of her life.
With one hand massaging her aching temple, Leslie made her way toward the aircraft. A relentless headache served as a painful reminder of the previous evening, which she had spent partying at one of Atlanta’s most popular nightclubs.
“Amy!” Leslie called out as she spotted her colleague. “Please tell me you have something for headaches.”
Amy glanced at Leslie and shook her head with mild disapproval. “Of course, I do. But you should really know better than to party the night before a long flight.”
“What else am I supposed to do? Visit historical sites?” Leslie sighed. “Clubbing helps take my mind off things.”
Amy nudged Leslie playfully as they stepped onto the aircraft together.
“One day, everything will come together for you, Leslie,” Amy reassured her. “You just have to believe.”
The two flight attendants promptly got to work, preparing for passengers to board, conducting the safety demonstration, and ensuring everyone was settled in. Finally, Leslie slipped into the galley and swallowed her pain relievers.
“I wonder if Amy would mind if I took a quick nap in the crew quarters,” Leslie mused. She was about to ask her coworker when an odd noise froze her in place.
She stopped, straining to hear. After a moment, she assumed it was just her imagination. Maybe Amy was right—she was overdoing it with the nightlife. She had already mapped out several clubs to visit once they landed in L.A., but perhaps she would take it easy this time.
As she passed by the restroom, a soft, high-pitched whimpering caught her attention. There certainly weren’t any pets onboard, so it had to be a child in distress.
Leslie tapped on the restroom door. When no one responded, she carefully pushed it open and peeked inside. The sight before her made her shriek.
Her initial fright quickly faded when she realized the trembling bundle before her was just a young boy. His face was streaked with tears as he gazed up at her with wide, watery eyes.
“Don’t scare me like that!” Leslie exclaimed, regaining her composure. “What are you doing in here?”
The boy curled into himself, hugging his knees, and sobbed even harder. Now that the shock had worn off, Leslie felt a pang of sympathy. She crouched beside him.
“I’m sorry for shouting,” she soothed. “You startled me. I’m Leslie. What’s your name?”
The boy sniffled. “I’m Ben.”
Helping him to his feet, Leslie guided Ben to a crew jump seat while she checked the passenger manifest for his name. It was likely his first flight, and from the looks of it, he wasn’t enjoying the experience.
Leslie’s brows furrowed as she scanned the list a second time—Ben’s name was nowhere to be found.
It had been ages since she last comforted a child, and the realization made her yearn for home. However, now wasn’t the time for nostalgia. She sat beside Ben and rested a gentle hand on his arm.
“Ben, sweetheart, are you lost? If you tell me where your family is, I can help.”
A fresh wave of tears welled in Ben’s eyes. Clutching a paper bag to his chest, he whimpered. The sight unnerved Leslie—horror stories about contraband items on planes flashed through her mind.
“What’s in the bag, Ben?” she asked cautiously.
“It’s Grandma’s medicine,” he murmured. “She’s really sick, and if she doesn’t get it, it’ll be my fault that she dies!”
Over the next few hours, Leslie gently coaxed the full story out of him. He was the youngest in a large family. While his older brothers spent their days playing sports and causing mischief, Ben dreamed of becoming a scientist.
His mother hadn’t been thrilled about his experiments, especially after some of them resulted in minor explosions. He had desperately hoped to make her proud, to earn the warm embrace she reserved for his brothers when they excelled. But instead, he had been scolded and sent to the corner.
“I just want her to see me the way she sees them,” he confessed, voice cracking. “That’s why I took the medicine.”
When Ben’s grandmother fell ill, the family decided to travel to Seattle to deliver her medication. However, in the chaos of the airport, Ben got separated from them. He thought he had spotted his mother again and followed her onto the plane—only to realize, too late, that she was a stranger.
“I got on the wrong plane,” he wailed. “I wanted to be the hero, but now I’m the villain. Grandma will die because of me.”
By the time their plane landed in Los Angeles, Leslie had alerted the necessary authorities. She felt awful for Ben but was eager to move on from the incident. That was why she was so taken aback when she learned about the arrangements the airline had made for him.
She gawked at the young boy she was now responsible for, realizing she had to share her hotel room with him. This wasn’t what she had planned. She had compiled a list of clubs to explore in L.A., but instead, she was stuck babysitting.
Throughout dinner, the two sat in silence, eating pizza Leslie had ordered. Her phone rang, and as she answered, her stomach twisted at the words on the other end.
“My baby is sick?” Leslie’s voice trembled. “Mom, what’s wrong with Joe? Last time we spoke, he was doing fine. Have you seen a doctor?”
“Yes,” her mother replied. “They referred us to a specialist. We have an appointment later this week. They mentioned a possible genetic disorder and might need you to get tested too.”
“I’ll do whatever it takes to help my Joe,” Leslie declared.
As she ended the call, she curled into herself and sobbed. She longed to hold her son, inhale the scent of his soft, curly hair, and assure him that everything would be alright.
“Miss Leslie?” A small hand touched her arm. It was Ben. “I think you should take these for Joe.”
Another rush of tears threatened to spill as Leslie looked at the bag of medicine he was offering her.
“If I can’t save Grandma, maybe I can help you,” Ben said. “Take it for Joe.”
“I have a better idea,” Leslie replied, typing on her phone. “I’m going to get you to Seattle, and then I’m going home to my son.”
Leslie purchased Ben’s ticket with her own money, arranged for time off, and personally accompanied him on the flight.
Upon arrival, Ben’s family enveloped him in loving embraces. His mother smothered him with kisses, promising never to neglect him again. Leslie’s reunion, however, was bittersweet—Joe was alarmingly frail.
Days turned into weeks, yet Joe’s condition remained a mystery. Medical bills piled up, and Leslie struggled to keep up financially. Then, a knock on the door changed everything.
Ben and his family stood there, an envelope in hand.
Inside was a check—over one hundred thousand dollars. “We started a crowdfunding campaign for Grandma’s treatment,” Ben’s mother explained tearfully, “but she passed away.”
They had decided the money should go to Joe instead.
Leslie clutched the check, overwhelmed with gratitude. “This is the greatest gift I’ve ever received. I only hope it’s enough.”
A month later, Joe was thriving again, and Leslie had found a way to repay Ben’s kindness. She arranged for Ben’s family to receive lifetime discounts on all flights—a small token of her immense gratitude.
