The TSA and humor

I was standing in line at the airport, but then, what else do you do at the airport? This time though, I was standing in the airport security line where they have those signs every three feet about not joking with the TSA agents, and where they show an inordinate amount of curiosity about my shoes, my computer, my cell phone, my belt buckle, and any small bits of metal I might have in my pockets. There were a couple of ladies in front of me carrying backpacks and small carry on cases. As we approached the x-ray area, they began the ritual of slapping their backpacks into a tub followed by their shoes, and finally the carry on luggage so that they could be scanned.

What they did next surprized me. Each unzipped their carry on and pulled out a cat. That's right, a kitty cat. They then proceeded through the magic gateway that emits random beeps with cat in hand. I think the magic gateway is the adult version of the game, Hot Potato. You remember that game? You wound up the timer and passed the Hot Potato around until it buzzed. If you were holding it when it buzzed, you lost. It's the same with the magic gateway, if it beeps when you're in it, you lose, and you have to go out and start again after you take something out of your pockets. When you've given the security people enough of your stuff, you are allowed in so that you can go stand in line to get on an airplane.

When I got to the magic gateway, I told the security lady that I had never seen cats go through security. She laughed and told me about a time when a lady actually ran a cat through the x-ray machine.
"We had to stop her and tell her to never do that again." She added.
"Was it because it would hurt the cat?" I asked.
"No", she replied. "The TSA is not allowed to give free cat scans."

I have proof now that TSA agents have a sense of humor.