Hi fmgc,
The answer is very simple. It was the 'air of authority' you displayed. They saw you coming a mile away, and your cards were marked immediately. The young sprog was very probably deliberately given the task of dealing with you as a further on the job training lesson in learning how to deal with those who like to give themselves an 'air of authority'. It can prove a challenge for the inexperienced sprogs and they have to learn how to overcome it. It was your lucky day, and his also. Without the opportunity you provided he would have missed out on such further training.
