Ann's face was as red as a South Florida sunset

How do I describe Ann? She is polite, pleasant, funny, serious when the situation demands it; proper and conservative. Traditional. A Christian, her life is lived out within the structure of the "Word." That does not insulate her from unusual events and situations that creep into life like a heavy fog in New England.

Ann is now retired from a very responsible position. The event she revealed to the group occurred while she was still working. The revelation was triggered by a conversation round our picnic table during the Memorial Day Weekend. The group of about ten, including me, was discussing the series of events that have bullied into life within the last few years like a running back for the Indianapolis Colts: the sexual preference arena and public restroom issues. That discussion caused her to tell this tale.

Ann planned to attend a movie after work with friends from church. As often happens the demands of the day took longer than planned so she was running late. She called her friends to save a seat and watch for her.

She arrived at the theater and rushed to the restroom. It was one of those places with an entrance that allows the user to enter the inner-sanctum where the hall divides to one side for women and to the other side for men. In Ann's world that is as it should be.

As she was washing her hands she looked in the mirror and to her amazement and shock she saw a man. Truth be told she saw his back. She silently screamed, "What kind of pervert is in this restroom! Now what shall I do." She pondered slipping back into one of the stalls and hiding until he left, pretending that she was not there. Then she reasoned what might happen if while I'm stalling that others may enter.

I am going to inform the manager that there was a man in the women's restroom. She rushed to finish her hand washing. Then she furtively looked again saw the man's back and to his right and left and saw something that slammed into her consciousness with the sound that cracked like a huge tree struck by lightning; Urinals. Many urinals.

Awareness raced through her mind like a tornado through a trailer park. "I am the one who is in the wrong restroom! Now what do I do?"

There was only one thing to do. She threw her paper towel at the receptacle and plunged out of there. Who should just happen to be near the entrance to said convenience - her friends. They looked at her, looked at the door and asked, "Did you just come out of the men's restroom?" With her face as red as a South Florida Sunset she stammered, "Yes, yes, please don't tell anyone. Huge mistake! Let's get out of here." Needless to say that was the topic of conversation for a good portion of the evening as her friends giggled and guffawed about the incident knowing her position on public restrooms.

My website Larryvandeventer.com - Read about me, my books, and my columns. Larry Vandeventer grew up North of Calvertville on a farm and graduated from Worthington High School and Indiana State U. He can be reached at Goosecrick@aol.com or 317-839-7656.