“She just didn’t want to…”

Quick story. I flew to DC a couple of weeks ago to tape my message for Alfred Street Baptist Church’s 20th HBCU Weekend. It was going to be a quick turnaround- fly in, speak, fly home.

Well, that day the winter storm was approaching so I was cutting it close but thought I could get out before it started snowing by taking an earlier flight. If I could get to Atlanta, I should have no problems making my connection to New Orleans.

On the way to Atlanta the storm caused high winds which CLOSED the Atlanta airport. We were diverted to Charlotte. I had no idea when we would be able to leave, and then my connection was in doubt. I really wanted to get home, so I decided to look at American because there is a direct flight from Charlotte to New Orleans.

I went to the gate and waited for the attendant so I could buy a ticket. When she arrived, I told her what I wanted to do. She said I could not buy a ticket because I needed to get it an HOUR before the flight was supposed to leave. So instead of leaving around 8:40 pm it would be around 10:30!

Ugghhh.

I asked how I can get a ticket for the later flight, and I was directed to customer service. As I approached there were three Black women working the station. I walked up and told them what happened, and now I wanted a ticket for the later flight. The attendant said, “Oh no, you can still get on the 8:40” and proceeded to sell me that ticket, telling me I would need to hurry back over to the gate. I told her what the gate attendant said, and there was an audible smirk from all of them. The woman helping me simply said,

“She just didn’t want to.”

You never know why people do something or don’t do something, but I just want to thank the woman who wanted to do it.

I was tempted to waive my ticket in the face of the gate attendant as I boarded but I didn’t even look at her, and just got on the plane, and came home.

The Prez