My terror of the backscatter machine made me demand a pat-down. Though my terror of the pat-down made me a little too over-share.
Me: I don’t want to go in that. I want a pat-down.
TSA Agent 1 (male): Uh. Ok. Wait there. We need a female pat-down! Code 3-4!
I wait a while.
TSA Agent 2 (male): Do we have any female agents on call?
TSA Agent 1: CODE 3-4!
I wait a while. A lady shows up! She tells me what she’s going to do and how she will use the backs of her hands in my crotch area.
Me: Ok. I want to tell you that I’m having my period so I’m wearing a pad in case you feel it and if you want to go somewhere else if I need to take off my clothes to show you, just tell me.
TSA Agent 3 (female!): Uh, that’s ok.
Me: No seriously, I will fully show you my menstrual blood.
TSA Agent 3: I’m good.
Me: Are you sure? Well if you change your mind. I can show you. It’s no problem.
I think she was glad to see me go. And I have to say, if that’s all the pat-down is I am ALWAYS asking for it. Fuck the backscatter x-ray. That shit is huge and scary looking. I didn’t even want to stand NEXT to it.