Wow, All That Time You Saved Not Walking To The Counter
I work at an airport. As an employee, I can go back through “No Reentry” exit doors with my ID, but it’s an instant firing offense to let anyone come in with me.
I was walking toward the door and saw a lady walk up to it, look huffy when it didn’t open, waved a hand at the electric eye, poked at the ID reader, etc. I paused nearby and studied my fingernails. She spotted me.
Lady: “Are you going in there?”
Me: “No, ma’am. I’m fine right here, thanks.”
Lady: “I need to go in there! I left a bag on the carousel. Open the door!”
Me: “An airline rep can escort you back—” *pointing to a distant ticket counter* “—but I’m not authorized, sorry.”
Lady: “I’m not walking all the way over there! Just open the door!”
Me: “No can do, ma’am.”
She got angrier when I smiled, and she continued ranting, but what I was smiling at was the enormous Customs officer looming up behind her. He’s a nice guy, just big as a barn door. He cleared his throat, and she spun around to find herself nose-to-chest with a wall of uniform. Her expression when he waved me on through the door while giving her a telling-off for attempting reentry to a sterile area was priceless.
