The Scared Guest

I scared a guest the other day. Poor fellow. I'm not sure how he actually felt, but it seemed that he got frightened, and then afterwards apologized. Either I'm scary as hell, or he's used to a lot of authority. Perhaps a bit of both. Here's how it went down.

We have a policy of getting ID from people who've lost their keys or if the key somehow doesn't work. Most people are complying with the request to show ID, without causing trouble. A few doesn't understand why we can't remember every single person who comes through the lobby everyday (or their spouses) and just trust them. But rules are rules. It's for their own safety.

Anyway, this one guy, middle eastern looking (not that it has any effect on my actions), told me his key didn't work. He said he didn't have ID on him, that it was in his room, but he was able to inform me of the full name on the in-house list, so I figured.. well if he knew the name, he probably is that person. So I made him a new key. He departs my desk, and heads for the elevators. So another woman comes over to me, and says that he had been waiting for her in the lobby area, and she thought he had acted a little weird. I dunno who the hell she was, or what she thought the guy had done, but I decided I'd go up to his room and ask for ID anyway. Rather safe than sorry, I guess. If push ever came to shove, the whole business'd have my name on it, and I'd be pretty much liable. Can't let that happen. So I went.

I rode the lift to 12th floor or where ever he lived, and just as I exited the lift, I saw him opening his door a little down the hall. I start to move towards him, and he looks up at me. He seemed a little concerned. I said: "Excuse me, sir", but got no reply. He opened his door, and entered just as I made it there. So I say, "I'm sorry, sir. I'm gonna have to see some ID, please". Then the oddest thing happened. He raised both his arms, like I'd been pointing a gun at him. He didn't look really scared, just... a little uncomfortable. I was fairly stunned. "Just need to see some ID to make sure you are actually who you claim to be, sir. It's a standard procedure, no need to be alarmed." He reluctantly took his arms down, and started fiddling with things in his cupboard. Then he gave me passport, drivers license, library cards.. you name it. I told him I only needed one, to make sure. He apologized for causing trouble. I told him, I was the one apologizing, but I was just making sure.

I left the hallway slightly baffled. Thought it all to be rather humorous. I found out a little later, that the guy was one part of a duo of Syrian Airline crew who lives at the hotel everyday. Not the same people everyday, but Syrian Airlines have 2 pilots living with us daily. Now, I don't know a whole lot about Syria. But I seem to remember it being war-ridden. So perhaps he was used to people asking for papers and acting rough or something. Anyway, thought it was hillarious. So I decided to share. Aren't I the nice one?