On Tuesdays, Two Writing Teachers hosts the Slice of Life. Everyone is welcome to share writing and comment on others in this special community.
Over the last week, I've spent a lot of time on my own in a city I don't live in. You generate a LOT of slices by yourself in a city you don't live in.
The other day, I took my daughter for a haircut, and, rather than sit there, I decided I'd get some steps in. The salon was at the entrance of a mall, and it was raining, so I opted for mall walking. On my first pass by the restrooms, I ignored the bladder pressure; there were several people in line, and I didn't have to go that badly. On the second pass, the line was gone, but the women's room was closed for cleaning. I could hold it. I walked another lap and then down the hallway to the entrance. Still closed for cleaning.
(It's important to know at this point that I was doing a full mall lap, so this cleaning was taking quite a while!)
I debated. At this point, the bladder pressure was stronger. And how long would the haircut take? I'd go one more lap.
After that one more lap, I had to go. But... guess what. The cleaning was STILL GOING ON. Another woman joined me outside of the restrooms.
"I think we should make a deal," I said. "I'll keep the men out for you if you keep the men out for me." I explained that the women's room had been out of commission for a solid twenty minutes, and my bladder's patience was used up.
She laughed. "You can go first," she said. "It was your idea."
Just then, a mom and a daughter walked up, also needing the facilities. We explained the situation and invited them in with us. Mom, daughter, and I staged a men's room takeover. The little girl, I'm guessing between 7 and 9, thought it was hilarious.
As we washed our hands, I couldn't resist pointing out the writing opportunity. "I'm a writing teacher when I'm not organizing bathroom takeovers," I said. "If you have to come up with an idea for a small-moment story, this would be a great one."
I got a blank stare, and I'm not sure she knows about small moment stories...but I do!
Ah! The perfect small moment story! I love the bathroom takeover (I'm just hoping it was cleaned just before the women's room was closed for cleaning). If only more children knew about small moment stories!
ReplyDeleteLoved the progression of your story, lap after lap and then your ultimate solution. Your slice evoked one of my most memorable experiences as a teenager, traveling with my brother and his fiance and being stuck in traffic for HOURS because of an accident in a tunnel... That's a slice for another time. Glad you had others to share in your takeover. :)
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DeleteWhat a chuckle your story gave me about the bathroom take over and the blank stare from the little girl and the fact that I, too, have been in your shoes and made my husband stand guard a few times. Love your story.
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