by a traveller
I rifled through my backpack and produced my hiking tent, which we proceeded to set up right there at the gate on the carpeted floor.
“I got caught here for an involuntary layover when a freak storm grounded all flights. Although I was with two *very* insistent friends, the airline wouldn’t give us a hotel room for an “act of God.” Considering how angry we were and that the airport was emptying, I rifled through my backpack and produced my hiking tent, which we proceeded to set up right there at the gate on the carpeted floor. Since there was no mistaking the telltale hump of the Eureka over the permaplast chairs, we were beset upon by a bevy of curious (but not at all angry) stewardesses. After posing for their pictures and seeing them off, we decided to take the annoyance up a notch by cooking some ramen on the camp stove. This brought security, which also brought an antagonistic reaction from the aforementioned pissed-off friends. We were able to bargain him down from “get the hell out of here now” (as if we had anywhere to go) to “you guys better have that tent packed up by the time the first flight comes” (6am)! (Single 1998 experience)”