19th
TSA
A woman blows past the first security checkpoint that lets you into the line, holding her passport and boarding pass at her side. The TSA employee looks back, “Ma’am, come back.” The woman stops, turns, stares blankly. “Come here,” the TSA employee gestures. The woman holds out her documents, staring back steadily. “Come. Back. Here.” The woman continues to stand, arm outstretched, unmoving and rigid. It begins to dawn on everyone that this woman can understand, and is choosing to behave this way. It’s an odd moment of complicity to watch an adult have what is basically a tantrum.
Finally, three short steps are taken. The woman gives in, then rushes into the line. I stand behind her, and listen to people behind me comment. “Did you just see that?” “What is her problem?” I keep waiting for someone to come tell her that that was inappropriate, like how I used to expect a cop car to immediately pull people over when they would move into the shoulder during heavy traffic on the 405.
