While passing through PVD security this week, I was having my boarding pass re-re-re-checked by the TSA agent manning the conveyer at the X-Ray. He was wearing the standard TSA name tag, with just a first name and an ID number. His read "David 10402.”

I said to him; “I went to school with Peter 10402, are you related?” He looked at me with a completely lifeless expression for a moment, then said; “Oh, that’s not really my name. That’s just my ID number.”

“Ahh” I replied, realizing that my attempt at humor had missed its mark.

A few moments later, he said; “Where”?

“Where, what?”

“Where was it that you went to school with Peter 10402?”

“No,” I said, surprised that this was still rattling around in his head, “I didn’t really go to school with Peter 10402, that was a joke. I was joking.” The blank look continued.

“Oh, I thought you may have gone to some kind of military school where everyone goes by a number.” Like prison, I thought.

I nodded and smiled, then went on with my trip safe in the knowledge that this crack staff will keep us save from toothpaste without any risk of distractions from irony.