"Can I search your bag?"

The white slim, curvy lady before me flashed a smile, and stretched her handbag towards me. "Sure."

"Please open it for me."

She unzipped it. "There's really nothing interesting in here."

I smiled. "No, you're wrong. A woman's bag is always interesting."

She smiled. "Well, true."

"And I normally won't go poking inside if not for security procedures."

"Scared of what you might see?"

"Well, there's always something to be scared of."

She laughed. I looked into her bag and waved her on.

A lady and her husband stepped forward.

"Can I search your bag?"

"Yes, of course," said the lady as she opened it.

I looked into the big handbag, and massaged the bag from the outside, feeling what was inside. "Do you have anything sharp or dangerous in it?"

She shook her head. "No. Except me."

Her husband smiled and nodded. "That's so true."

"Wow, I'm scared," I replied as I pretended to shiver in fear.

They laughed and walked up the stairs.

I was on bag search duties at an Art Exhibition. It was not one of my favourite role as I had to be on my feet for long periods. But it was a role I found interesting because of the constant interaction with customers. The instruction was to do a light bag search. So I didn't go poking inside the bags.

The exhibition was always sold out, so there was always people waiting in line to get in.

A man stepped forward holding a coat and a big umbrella.

He spread his hands sideways. "Are you going to search me?"

"No sir. Just bag searches. However, you can't take your umbrella in. It's too big and can be used as weapon. So you need to check it in at the cloak room."

I pointed in the direction of the cloak room.

He turned to look. "What about my coat?"

"You can check it in also."

"Thanks mate." He moved away towards the direction I pointed out to him.

Three ladies walked towards me.

I stretched my arms wide. "Hello, can I check your bags please?"

"Okay," they chorused.

"Please open your bags for me."

I looked inside the first bag and patted the sides, to feel what's inside. "Is there anything sharp or dangerous in it?"

"No," the first lady said sharply. "Why would I bring something sharp or dangerous to an exhibition?"

"A lady brought a pen knife yesterday."

"A pen knife? Why would she do that?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "She said she forgot it there."

"Well, I don't have anything sharp or dangerous in there," said the second lady as I checked her bag.

"I believe you."

She smiled. "But you're still checking."

I paused and looked her in the eye. "Because my supervisor might be watching. And he might start to think I don't check the bags of beautiful ladies."

They all smiled widely.

I turned to the third lady.

She raised her hands up. "I don't have a bag. Or do you want to pat me down?"

I smiled and shook my head. "Nah, not today."

I stepped aside to allow them access the stairs.

A couple with their baby stepped towards me. The woman had the baby strapped on her chest, while the man was carrying a big bag.

Our supervisor had instructed us that any bag bigger than the size of A4 should not be allowed in. But exceptions were allowed.

"Hello, please what's in your bag?"

"Just baby stuff," the guy replied.

"Please open it for me."

I checked it. It was filled with nappies, baby food, wipes, and other baby stuff. I waved them on towards the elevator.

A guy with knapsack stepped forward.

"Hello, you can't take that upstairs. You need to check it in."

"But you just allowed a bag bigger than mine in," he said as he pointed to the baby bag.

"The bag is for their baby. Or do you have baby stuff in your bag?"

"No, just my laptop and work stuff."

"You will need to drop it at the cloak room."

"Is it safe?"

"Yes, it is."

He headed for the cloak room.

A young lady stepped forward with her bag already open.

I looked into the bag and massaged the bag from the outside.

"So you do have anything sharp or dangerous in it?"

She took a moment to think. "I don't think so."

"You don't think so? That's not affirmative."

She shook her head. " Nothing sharp or and dangerous in my bag."

"Ok, cool." I stepped aside for her to walk on.

A middle aged woman stopped in my front.

"Hello," I said.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm always good, you?"

"I'm always good too."

"Can I search your bag?"

She opened it for me. "Nothing in it. Just my keys, money, umbrella, and water bottle."

I looked in. "Okay cool. Your umbrella and water bottle have to stay in your bag. You can't take them out upstairs."

"As long as it's not raining in the room, I won't need my umbrella."

I smiled. "Aside your keys, is there anything sharp or dangerous in your bag?"

"Just my wit."

We both laughed as she walked on by.

Signed

Olumide Holloway (King Olulu).