A Man Hung His Filthy, Sweaty Socks over the Airplane Seat in Front of Him, Inches from a Woman's Head – When He Woke Up, He Looked Around and Shouted, 'Who Did This?!'

"And those are my socks. You'll survive!"

    "Lean forward, lady. Problem solved!"

He put his headphones back on.

I sat facing forward for several seconds.

I was 42 years old.

I'd survived a broken washing machine, two teenagers, and a neighbor who practiced the trumpet at seven every morning.

    He put his headphones back on.

But nothing had prepared me for a grown man treating my headrest like his backyard clothesline.

I didn't know his name.

So I privately promoted him to "Captain Compost."

I pressed the flight attendant call button.

    I privately promoted him to "Captain Compost."

A few minutes later, a woman wearing a navy uniform stopped beside me.

    "How can I help?"

I pointed over my shoulder.

"There's a laundry situation."

She leaned forward.

Then she saw the socks.

    "There's a laundry situation."

Her professional smile disappeared for approximately half a second.