Airport Anecdote

Airport Anecdote

On the way to Barbados, at the Miami airport, I joined a long shuffling line at 7 in the morning. After about an hour, we were close to security; an official instructed the person behind me to stand by my side so that we could walk a short distance together, as if a couple. She was a middle-aged black woman; I said hello. The walk took about 5 seconds. At the end I turned to her and said “A brief romance”. She instantly replied “But good while it lasted”. I thought this was hilarious and laughed openly. Then we went our separate ways, me to my flight and she to hers. At my gate I sat for a couple of hours reading till it was time to board. Meanwhile I kept thinking I wish I had been quick-witted enough to say “And we never had any trouble”, but it was too late now. Then, lo and behold, I saw the very same woman just ahead of me in line, and she saw me. I said, “I’m so glad to see you again because I wanted to say ‘And we never had any trouble’”. “Not yet”, she replied. Then she gave me her card and I reciprocated with mine. Again, we made our farewells. Then we met up again at baggage claim, but I don’t remember what we said (it was somewhat bathetic). We left the airport separately and I never saw her again. I went to meet the person I had come to Barbados to see. I wonder if she tells this anecdote to her friends.