But not jabbed into his armpit. Try it. The way to carry "curtain rods" (or a rifle) like this through a crowded lobyy and up an elevator is to cup the end into your curled up fingers with the other end sticking out the top just behind your armpit and the center cradled against your body with your elbow clamping down on the center part forcing it against your body.
Good gosh, why do you argue the simplest of points?! The driver said the package was "24 inches" and fit entirely between his palm and his armpit and that is the way he carried it. He said he was positive about that. If you can't accept this, you can't accept anything and it casts a shadow on everything else you argue about.