The General and the Little Boy

As a crowded airliner¹ is about to take off, the peace is shattered（打碎，削弱） by a 5-year-old boy who picks that moment to throw a wild temper（脾气，性情） tantrum（发脾气，发怒） . No matter what his frustrated², embarrassed mother does to try to calm him down, the boy continues to scream furiously（狂暴地，猛烈地） and kick the seats around him.

Suddenly, from the rear of the plane, an elderly man in the uniform of an Air Force General is seen slowly walking forward up the aisle³（通道，走廊） . Stopping the flustered⁴（慌张的，激动不安的） mother with an upraised hand, the white-haired, courtly（尊严而有礼貌的） , soft-spoken General leans down and, motioning toward his chest, whispers something into the boy's ear.

Instantly, the boy calms down, gently takes his mother's hand, and quietly fastens his seat belt. All the other passengers burst into spontaneous（自发的，自然的） applause.

As the General slowly makes his way back to his seat, one of the cabin attendants（服务员，侍者） touches his sleeve.

"Excuse me, General," she asks quietly, "but could I ask you what magic words you used on that little boy?"

The old man smiles serenely⁵（安详地，沉着地） and gently confides⁶（吐露，委托） , "I showed him my pilot's wings（飞行章） , service stars, and battle ribbons, and explained that they entitle me to throw one passenger out the plane door on any flight I choose."