Airport Shenanigans

.

On one of my trips to Cairo, Colin Davies told me about a funny incident involving Abdu, the school’s boab (doorman).

By this time of the incident, Abdu had worked for Colin for several years. He was a tall man from Upper Egypt. With his luxuriant moustache, flowing gown, white turban and long wooden staff, he was a very imposing figure indeed.

Every year, Abdu would travel by train to Upper Egypt to spend his holidays with relatives. This year, Colin decided that Abdu’s long service merited some special recognition, and so he arranged for him to take a plane to Upper Egypt.

Abdu was delighted. What respect he would gain from his relatives when they saw him arrive by air! He was also a little apprehensive, though, because he had never been on a plane before.

The great day came and Colin drove Abdu to Cairo Airport and took him inside. For security reasons, only passengers can approach the ticket counters, which are hidden from the public by a high wall and heavy double doors. Suitcase, wooden staff and ticket in hand, Abdu disappeared behind through the doors.

Colin decided to wait for a few minutes, just in case.

Suddenly, there was a huge commotion behind the screen – much banging, shouting and screaming. Then the doors opened and Abdu came hurtling across the floor, thrown by four policemen. A moment later, his suitcase followed. Then his wooden staff.

Colin helped Abdu to his feet. “What happened?”

Abdu stood up tall and extremely proud. “They are all thieves here,” he said “They tried to rob me but I was too clever for them.”

It turned out that the checking-in process had gone smoothly until one of the luggage handlers put Abdu’s suitcase on the luggage conveyor belt. When Abdu saw the floor start taking away his case, he assumed that it was some newfangled form of thievery. He leaped bravely onto the conveyor belt to rescue his suitcase. When the luggage handler intervened, Abdu gave him a good whack with his staff. When the police came to the handler’s assistance, Abdu started whacking them, too.

It must have been quite a battle.