As he turned back around, his heart raced with embarrassment, acutely aware of the disruption he had caused. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he felt another jolt from the kicks. He knew he needed to address the situation calmly, both for his own peace of mind and for the comfort of those around him.
Turning back to the boy, he offered a warm, reassuring smile. “Hi there,” he said gently, “can you try not to kick my seat?” The boy darted his gaze away, deliberately ignoring Kevin’s request. Frustration bubbled up inside Kevin as he struggled to find a solution.