Clumsy detected at HSBC

On Monday November 28th, I head for an HSBC building to conclude a financial affair of mine. The clock was precisely 1:45 p.m., and the weather was too hot to handle in the black leather I was in. Nothing too kinky, think not much of the matter.

As I approached the door, I read a sign that delivered explicit apologies from the management of the bank to their clients. The motives behind such a posting on the portal became clear in a moment. I walked past the first door and then I was stopped by a man in a uniform, whom I took to have the bank’s security as his profession. I did not mind being stopped, I minded something else.

The uniform man then indicated the presence of a uniform woman who was situated close by, he made some gestures with his hands, and probably with his voice, so that I understood that there is something to yet be done before I can go about my business. Again I say, I did not mind that. I realize the importance of security and I am for the freshest safety-related measures in Amman.

I got to the woman, who had a hand held detector, and I smiled at her. She carefully slid the device over my body, with focus elaborated on my waist, and then she asked me to open my big black bag. I opened the bag, expecting her to go through my personals, and possibly intimates, with care and dignity. I was mistaken. The woman literally stripped the inner folds of my bag with her hands, she made a joke about my chocolate, then another concerning the small old navy shoe that I often play with, and I was stunned at this. I smiled at her, because I did not wish to make a scene.

The woman laughed it off and told me she was “kidding” with me. I was so taken aback by the surprise of it all that I said nothing, and smiled on. In general I am not a person who welcomes such impulses of familiarity from absolute strangers, and certainly not from strangers with a hand in the bag and a joke about one’s chocolate.

I admit that now when I look back at the incident, I regret not having been to the office of this woman’s superior. I am not sure whether or not such a step was necessary, do I come too harsh for contemplating the advance?