Little girl on plane alone leaves 6ft 4in weightlifter in tears with life advice

A weightlifter has shared how a small child reduced him to tears on a four-hour flight with her "heartwarming" life advice.

The man, who was travelling between San Francisco and Fort Wayne, noticed a girl sitting on her own across the aisle. Curious, he wondered whether she was visiting grandparents or being shuttled from one divorced partner to the other.

So, he decided to make conversation with her when the drinks trolley came around, knowing she was likely bored on the flight.

Taking to Quora, he said: "When the flight attendant comes by to take drink orders I ask if I might have two of their little bottles of water- I'm a weightlifter and a pretty big guy.

"The attendant nods, then without missing a beat the kid gets a mischievous grin on her face and pipes up, "and I'll have two Cokes, please." The row behind her on the plane cracks up. The flight attendant glances back at me and quips, "See what you started?" The kid beams.

The airline had sat her alone in the row. I guess I can understand why, but it's a long flight for a kid alone. She's singing a catchy little tune to herself and so when the drinks are delivered I decide to make conversation, asking her what she's singing."

She explained how her grandma would tell her how she'd think of her from time to time, saying: "I wonder where you are. I wonder where you are going. Someplace important, I'm sure". After that, the girl decided to make it into a song that she'd sing when she was thinking about her grandma.

She told the man she was on her way to her grandma's house and so she started singing the song to help pass the time on the flight. He added: "'Wow,' I say, 'That's really sweet. So, is it just you and Grandma or is your Mom or Dad coming out later?'"

She calmly told him her mum has been at her grandma's house for two weeks already, making arrangements. Puzzled, he questioned what arrangement.

She added: 'For Grandma's funeral'. The man said: "Boom. It was like being hit in the gut. In retrospect maybe I should have seen it coming. A huge frog takes up residence in my throat and I realise she's been singing, 'I wonder where you are...' about her Grandma who's gone.

"Seeing my distress she reaches across the aisle to pat me on the arm. 'Don't feel sad,' she says. 'Grandma lived a really long and happy life and at the end she was getting pretty tired'."

Unable to speak without tearing up, the man nodded at the girl and started sipping his drink while waiting for the plane to come to land.

He added: "We land and say our goodbyes as the stewardess hurries back to get her, a little girl with a brave smile waving goodbye to a 64, 259lb brute trying desperately not to cry like, well, a little girl. Away she goes, full of life and courage, singing her little song.

"Sometimes when I see a family at the supermarket or ice cream stand I'll think of that kid and start humming her song. I wonder where you are. I wonder where you're going. Some place important, I'm sure."

Commenting on his post, other users shared how the young girl's words brought them comfort, especially in their own time of mourning.

One user said: "I am in mourning for my father, who died two days ago. I really needed to read this, just now. That little girl is an inspiration. And you shared the story of your meeting with her so beautifully.

"I wonder where he is. I wonder where he's going. Somewhere important, I'm sure. Thank you so much!"

Another user added: "Such a small person will grow up to be a great, great adult. Possibly not a famous celebrity but still great and important for all of us whether we know it or not. A third user said: "That was gut-wrenching and beautiful all at once."