So this morning I went through airport security with a gift for my niece; a beautiful toy tea set in a basket, with napkins, plates and cutlery. She’s two. The gift goes through the X-ray machine, the security guard wants to take a look. I, not wanting to unwrap the gift, explain that yes, there are four knives in there (and four spoons, and four forks) but it’s a tea set for a two-year-old, and they are one inch long. He asks, “are they sharp?” To repeat: it’s a tea set for a two-year-old. He turned out to be really nice, has a daughter with whom he also has tea. They waved me through, tea set and all. 

What could have been another ridiculous security-at-the-airport story has a good ending. Most unusual.