Guy in the door at the airport

This happened several years ago, but I still can’t shake the feeling. <br><br>This happened at an American airport (I’m American). I was 8, sister was 10. We were flying alone and my dad was picking us up at the arrival airport. We’d never flown alone before, so we were super excited. We’d been told to be careful and aware of our surroundings at all times. <br><br>We landed and got our luggage. Then we decided to stop at a fast food place in the airport for lunch, and then head to the arrival gate, where my dad would pick us up. <br><br>We were sitting and eating when a guy wearing what looked like an airport uniform came over and talked to us. He was wearing a badge and everything, so we didn’t think anything of it. He asked if we were waiting for our parents, and we said our dad was on the way to pick us up. He said that we needed to go with him if we wanted to see our dad again. Something about them having to be scanned.<br><br>Now, my sister and I had been told to always be aware of our surroundings and to never go off with strangers. But since this guy was wearing an airport uniform, we didn’t think he was a stranger. And since he had a badge, we figured he was telling the truth. <br><br>But still, I was really leery, and I told him that we were going to go ask someone else. I got up and walked to a nearby airport employee, who was scanning people’s stuff, and asked my question.<br><br>He asked to see the guy and I pointed to the guy. Then the airport employee got on the radio and security came and dragged the guy away. They thanked us for being aware and gave us each a chocolate coin. Then they said they would have someone walk with us to the arrival gate, and make sure we weren’t bothered. <br><br>We were so glad to have gotten out of that situation. We learned to always, ALWAYS be aware of our surroundings. If the guy in the uniform had been legit, he would have had a two way radio, not a cell phone. We also learned to always check with multiple people before doing something, and to always err on the side of safety. <br><br>So airport dude who tried to kidnap us when we were little, let’s not meet again.