International Smile

Mia shook her head and took a deep breath, plastering a big smile on her face before emerging from the curtain and going to face the new plane load of needing, wanting, demanding customers.

"Good morning, how are you today?" she'd ask with the trademark stewardess smile and the cheery voice. "Can I get you anything? Are you comfortable?" Mia went on like that down the rows and aisles, her smile plastered on good like cement to her face. She was on autopilot, walking around and fulfilling customer's requests, standing there but really wanting to move on as some customers droned on and on, telling them their life's story.

"I think the question should be, how are you... Mia?" asked one customer, leaning forward and squinting slightly to read her name tags. "How long have you been flying now?"
"Not too long," Mia answered, perking up. She couldn't believe it... This guy actually, genuinely seemed to care.
"Oh, well, you're doing a wonderful job," said the elderly gentleman, patting her hand lightly. "How long have you been a stewardess for? Are you happy?"
"I've been doing this for about five years now."
"Ah," said the man, "and that, that young thing over there's been doing it for about five weeks, right?"
Mia's gaze followed in the direction of the man's thumb to see Carmen, the newest stewardess on the flight. Mia couldn't help but blink as she looked back at the man. "How could you..."
"Ah," said the man, flicking his hand in the air as if to swat a fly. "she's still got that sparkle in her eye doesn't she?"
"Sparkle?"
"You would have had it too when you'd been here as long as she has," he said.

"Tell me, why did you do this?"
"I wanted to travel," said Mia. "I wanted... I wanted to see the world."
"And what a lovely way to do it," said the man. "Brightening up the day of your fellow travelers like me."
"What do you mean?"
"I'll let you in on a little secret," he said beckoning with his finger so she leaned closer and he whispered in her ear. "Myself, I don't too much like flying. But you with your bright smile and your warm words... You make it better, bearable."
"I'm glad I could enhance your experience Sir," said Mia. It was the only thing she could think to say, his comment had startled her so much. In all her time as a stewardess, no one had ever been that appreciative before.

"You know love," said the man as Mia rose back to her full height. "A million girls would kill for your job. Just... don't... Don't lose sight of why you started doing this in the first place. You're living your dream every day. You're travelling and seeing the world, and you making others happier while you're doing it."

As she walked away from the kindly old gentleman, Mia felt like she was taking in a breath of fresh air. He was right. A million girls would kill for her job and she was living her dream, so why wasn't she smiling all the time for real? Where, in all of this, had she lost sight of all that?

Years later, on another day and another flight, Mia was pleased to see the elderly gentleman who had reminded her of the dream she was living sitting in a chair, smiling back at her.
"Hello! How are you doing today?" she asked cheerily.
"How are you doing?" he asked instead of answering.
"I... I'm good," she answered. "Happy."
"I'm glad to hear that," he said, offering her a smile.

"Got an international smile that one," Mia could hear the old man saying as she wandered away. "You're lucky if you're on her plane mate, don't you worry." She glanced back to see a young man sitting beside the nice old gentleman. "I'd catch her if you can though, if I were you, she's in high demand now I'd imagine."

Mia smiled as she went back to her stewardess duties. Her smile widened as she made eye contact with the man again and it became plastered on her face. A genuine, international smile.