The younger attendant looked up.
“I reported unsafe food.”
“You accused me of deliberately serving contaminated items.”
“I told the manager what I saw.”
The senior woman's eyes narrowed.
“And what exactly did you see?”
The junior attendant hesitated.
The older woman leaned closer.
“Be careful.”
The young attendant swallowed.
“I saw you remove food from the rejected container.”
“That's your interpretation.”
“I saw the bread.”
“You saw something you didn't understand.”
The younger woman's hands began trembling.
The senior attendant noticed.
She smiled thinly.
“You know, probationary employees can have very short careers.”
The young woman looked down.
The senior attendant continued.
“One poor performance review. One complaint about insubordination. One report that you can't work with experienced colleagues.”
She paused.
“Then suddenly you're looking for another job.”
The younger attendant remained silent.
The senior woman moved closer.
“Are we clear?”
For a moment, the young employee appeared ready to apologize.
Then she remembered the mold-covered bread.
She remembered the Black passenger's controlled expression as he examined the tray.
And she remembered how easily somebody might have eaten that food without noticing the danger.
She raised her eyes.
“I can't change what I saw.”
The senior attendant's face hardened.
“Then you're making a mistake.”
A voice came from behind them.
“No. She's doing her job.”
Both women turned.
The cabin manager stood several feet away.
His expression was stern.
He had heard enough.
The senior attendant immediately straightened.
“This is a private conversation.”
The manager shook his head.
“You're threatening another crew member during an ongoing safety incident.”
She looked offended.
“I was explaining professional standards.”
“Professional standards don't include retaliation.”
Her cheeks reddened.
The manager continued.
“I need you to step away from the food-service area. Another attendant will handle the remaining passenger service.”
The senior woman stared.
“You're removing me from my section?”
“Temporarily, yes.”
“After eighteen years?”
“Your service history doesn't change what we need to investigate.”
She looked around.
Two crew members were watching.
The junior attendant appeared close to tears.
For a moment, the senior woman seemed ready to explode.
Then she forced a smile.
“Fine.”
She turned toward the rear of the aircraft.
But before leaving, she looked directly at the younger attendant.
The expression contained a promise.
The junior woman would regret speaking.
The cabin manager watched her disappear behind the curtain.
Then he turned toward the younger attendant.
“Are you all right?”
She nodded too quickly.
“Yes.”
He studied her.
“Has she threatened you before?”
The young woman hesitated.
The manager waited.
Finally, she whispered, “Not exactly like this.”