[tomb125]

**Disclaimer** This story was originally posted by a writer I believe named AJ, on the old IO site. I thank him for his inspiration. I modified the story a while back and re-post it below for your enjoyment.



On a Schedule: Primrose’s São Paulo Security Screening SNAFU



“Excuse me.., but unlike all of you, I AM on a schedule!” Primrose complained impatiently. Waiting in the queue with obnoxious kids around was not how she wanted to end her business trip. She hated the security lines and failed to understand the need for heightened vigilance. She had traveled to South America on behalf of the Bastermats Chemical Company, and following tedious, but successful sales negotiations, Primrose could not wait to get out of there. Dressed to the nines in a tight, yet classy grey silk business suit, Primrose wanted nothing more than to get home as fast as possible. Unlike everyone else, the superbly-proportioned blonde did not dream of removing her high heels as she clicked haughtily to the front of the line. She also refused to place her jacket in the plastic tub provided as she edged her way closer to the security gate. She had flown from SA several times and assumed that this time would be like every time before; a hassle, jostling in lines with the sweaty masses, but not the end of the world. Today though, in her expensive suit, she did feel somewhat over-dressed compared to all the young people, families, and tourists milling about. One particular family in line ahead of her was moving very slowly. She noted with irritation a boy and a girl carrying big frosty smoothies despite the signs all around prohibiting food and drink. “Clueless tourists”, Primrose thought nearly aloud as she bustled closer. She said to the children’s mother sharply, “Please keep your children moving, I haven’t all day to wait! Some of us here are on a schedule!” The mother, now chagrined, held her children back and let Primrose cut in front of them. Both parents stared glumly at their shoe-less feet. “And make sure these kids don’t spill their nasty milkshakes because this suite cost me over $1,000 dollars!” Primrose chuckled to herself as she clicked past in her lofty heels. How easy it was for her to embarrass people to get what she wanted. Little did she know what embarrassment was in store for her in only a few moments!



The airport was very warm and Primrose regretted wearing this close-fitting suit with so many layers as she felt a trickle of sweat slide down her back. The thought of an icy mojito in the executive lounge made it almost bearable as she waited her turn to go through the security gate. The sweltering heat wasn’t helping anyone’s tempers as she watched the over-worked staff struggling to get the crowd of people through to the gates. Primrose selfishly fretted the stifling humidity would ruin her stylish coiffure, when it was suddenly her turn. “Please step forward ma’am!” the security officer repeated as Primrose snapped back to reality. “Beeep” the alarm sounded as Prim stepped through and the female official asked her to step aside. “Are you wearing a metal belt or carrying any coins?” the young officer asked as she directed Primrose to pass through once more. “No, of course not! I travel extensively and fully understand the…. ‘Beeep!’” Again the shrill sound drew the attention of fellow travelers. “Could you please raise your arms above your head so I can pat you down?” Primrose huffed angrily but complied, more than slightly uncomfortable as the young woman ran her hands all over her body, briskly brushing up and down her arms legs before asking her to place her hands on the counter and lift her high heels one at a time. This display amused the crowd and the teenage girl in line behind giggled between sips from her banana smoothie, “That lady looks like a horse having her horseshoes checked!” Many nearby snickered at the spectacle.



By this time Primrose was very conscious that she was holding up the line and she began to flush at the amused attention she was getting when she was asked to step through the gate yet again by the increasingly frustrated security officer. “Beeep”….. BEEEEP!” Primrose couldn’t believe the alarm went off twice in succession. “I’m afraid I have to ask you to come with me for a more intimate search” the female officer proclaimed loudly, generating more tittering from other travelers. Primrose’s heart sank and her face went bright red as the officer led her away like a disobedient school girl. Her discomfiture increased when she heard the teenage girl asked her mother in a loud voice, “Mom, why is that lady being taken away?” Prim heard a ripple of laughter as the girl’s mother replied, equally loudly, “I don’t know darling, she must have done something very naughty”. Primrose followed the officer for only a moment when she stopped in front of a small cubicle barely fifteen feet from the busy line, now halted as everyone stopped to watch this scene unfold. The officer ushered Primrose inside. The modular privacy booth was tiny, five feet square, and the curtain only reached down two feet from the ground. One thin wall, Prim noticed, ominously had a large clothes peg.


Once they were in the cubicle, the officer told Primrose, “I am required to search you more thoroughly to find out what is causing the metal detector to go off”. Primrose countered, “You cannot possibly think I’m a criminal and furthermore, I am in a hurry to catch my plane!” The officer replied, quite tersely, “of course you don’t look like a criminal, but something is triggering the detector and it is my job to discover what that is”. “The sooner you comply, the less likely you are to miss your plane.” Prim huffed again and made a pouty face, admitting defeat. The officer continued, “Now please remove your clothing so I can search you”. Primrose in shock, knew what the young lady meant, but surely this could not be happening. Nearly six feet tall in her chic heels, Primrose was quite an imposing figure, and towered over the shorter young officer. Prim tried once more to extricate herself from this soon-to-be mortifying situation. “Young lady, you certainly know you are making a big mistake here. I’m really not the sort of person you should be stopping”. Primrose instantly regretted these words as she watched the security official’s face harden. How arrogant she sounded. Primrose knew her fate was sealed as the young woman angrily jerked the curtain closed and said loudly “The sooner you get on with it, the faster I can get back to work, and you get to your gate. Now STRIP!”