Every dollar had to go farther than it should have because her flat was tiny and the plumbing hardly functioned.<\/p>\n
\u201cMa\u2019am, other passengers are trying to sleep. You need to quiet the baby.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n I\u2019m trying,\u201d<\/strong> Rachel said, her voice cracking with defeat. \u201cShe\u2019s not usually like this\u2026 It\u2019s just been a long few days.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n As Sophia\u2019s sobs became more intense, Rachel saw people raising their phones, some to record, some to share. Shame and panic overcame her.<\/p>\n She could already picture the captions: \u201cSome people shouldn\u2019t travel with kids,\u201d<\/strong> or \u201cWorst passenger ever.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n From the other side of the aisle, a man said,\u201cShould\u2019ve stayed home.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n She reddened her cheeks. Her old Honda had died weeks earlier, but she had thought about getting behind the wheel.<\/p>\n She used money intended for rent to pay for this flight, which was her only chance. Eviction was just one disaster away for her.<\/p>\n She was going to withdraw to the toilet when a quiet voice spoke next to her.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you mind if I try it out?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Startled, Rachel turned. A man in a smart blue suit, perhaps in his early thirties, sat next to her. He had soft eyes and a nice smile.<\/p>\n He appeared completely out of place in the economy, as if he were accustomed to first-class service and opulent lounges.<\/p>\n Every dollar had to go farther than it should have because her flat was tiny and the plumbing hardly functioned. A flight attendant approached, her tone clipped. \u201cMa\u2019am, other passengers are trying to sleep. You need to quiet the baby.\u201d I\u2019m trying,\u201d Rachel said, her voice cracking with defeat. \u201cShe\u2019s not usually like this\u2026…<\/p>\n