The 159th Episode : I'm an airport staff
[September, 1999 Caracas, Vezuela]
In the early morning I was at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas. It’s the airport with a story to have mentioned before. Let me depart this time without any trouble. I was leaving for Port of Spain, the capital of the next country Trinidad and Tobago.
I was looking for an air company’s counter for check-in but couldn’t find it out unfortunately. I asked a man just passed by me, then he answered ‘over there’ and took my luggage saying “I’ll take you to the counter.” “No, thank you. No problem, I can go myself as I’ve got it now.” He wouldn’t release his hand from my luggage. It was obvious he would require money for such a help. I tried to take my luggage back, but he was stubborn not to release. Oh no, was I going to hassle again at this airport? Troublesome again!?
Did he recognise what I was thinking about? He said “Don’t worry, I’m an airport staff.” Indeed he had a name tag hanging around his neck. “If you say so, are you actually the staff? Do I trust you? Then I won’t pay any money, OK?” He said “OK”. So I could do was only to walk to the counter with him.
We reached the check-in counter. As I tried to take my luggage back from him saying thank you, he didn’t release his hand and the other hand stretched out palm up. I said “what!?” with anger.
Tip, he said. “I said I wouldn’t pay money! You’re the staff of this airport! Then, that’s your job, right!?” I tried again to take back my luggage but he was so stubborn. Quarrel happened again. Because I didn’t have much time, I was obliged to pay some, then offered US$2.00 from my pocket, but he said no and didn’t get it. “Less, give me US$10.00” he appointed the amount of the tip. Never heard it! Dodgy guy, he got! “US$10.00!?!?” I got so angry but time was running out. No more time for quarrel. US$10.00 had gone.
Never and ever my money was gone in such a way. No way! Massive failure! I can't like this airport.
