A Justified Resolution
As the plane began its descent, Carl reflected on the irony. In his quest to defend his peace, he had willingly stirred up a minor storm, sacrificing his own calm temporarily to achieve a lasting result. He briefly entertained a flicker of doubt—was it right to retaliate against a child? But he quickly dismissed it. The responsibility lay with the parent who had been given every polite opportunity to intervene. They had, through neglect, started the conflict. He had simply been the one to define its ending, creatively and decisively. The quiet cabin was his evidence; sometimes, a calculated escalation is the only language poor behavior understands.