Tea, Cats, Cigarettes

Our flight from Antalya to Moscow was delayed due to a strong thunderstorm. Amid the rumble of thunder, my wife and I watched as Turkish kids kicked a ball around the waiting area. The announcer methodically shouted notices that weren't inspiring optimism, and then a respectable lady from Russia sat down next to us. She had two suitcases, a carrier with a cat, and the aroma of alcohol. The young lady took a powerful sip of alcohol, pulled out a tablet, and turned on a storyline about a healthy lifestyle. The loud information from a certified nutritionist was incredibly toxic, but even more nerve-wracking was the plump cat that, before our eyes, did its business and demanded immediate attention from its owner. The atmosphere was heating up. To stabilize my psyche, I counted to one hundred, drank some tea, and walked around the airport perimeter twice. When I returned, the carrier was in my spot, my wife was shrugging in confusion, and the lady continued to absorb the storyline about the dangers of sugar, not having cleaned up after the cat, which continued to emit meows! For the first time in many years, I dared to have an open conflict and, approaching my compatriot closely, touched her on the shoulder: excuse me... At that very moment, the ball from the barefoot footballers knocked the carrier to the floor and, damaging the lock, freed the cat! The terrified owner threw aside the tablet and, screaming "Harry, I'm sorry!" ran after her precious pet. We spent some time in silence, discussing the amusing situation, but soon the storm subsided, boarding was announced, and we headed to the exit. The kids were still playing football, the announcer urged us to hurry, and the tablet automatically played more and more videos that talked about the harmful effects of alcohol on our health... That's how the idea to write this story was born...