A Drink While Waiting For A Train

Many years ago, actually decades ago now as I was in my twenties at the time, I was attending a post-secondary program. I commuted into school on the train along with my husband who carried on to work in Toronto after I left the train at Oshawa.

The train station at the time was sort of on the edge of a field away from public transit. If the train was late arriving in the afternoon, wasn’t really any where to wait other than in the station unless you could drive some where.

There were a few of us who travelled on the same train and sort of got to know each other. One fellow was a travel agent, Al, who had his own agency in the area. We drove past his place on the way to the station in the morning. A few times we gave him a ride in when his wife needed the car. Nice fellow.

One afternoon the train was late and we learn was going to be a two hour delay. He picked up his briefcase, looked over and asked if I’d like to get a beer. I thought sure, why not. Normally, I’d not have considered it to be okay when my husband wasn’t with me but we knew and liked this guy. So, off we go.

The bar was just down the street at a hotel that had been there for many years. I had never been there before. It had been years since I’d been in a bar other than the veterans organization’s clubroom where I was a member. I never thought twice about walking into the branch on my own but a bar, wasn’t something I did.

It was kind of a culture shock for me to walk into a bar where the lights are dim and there was loud music. The clubroom at the branch occasionally had a jukebox playing but wasn’t loud. People were talking and the lights were on. It was just like walking into a room full of people.

I briefly glanced into the dimmed room as we walked in. As near as I could see, the room was empty. We went up to the bar. I sat on one of the stools while he remained standing beside me. As I was drinking my beer and chatting with him my eyes were scanning the bar area, looking at the setup behind the bar.

I noticed his responses tailed off. I glanced over to him. He was staring toward the back of the room. I turned to see what was holding his attention to discover he was watching a stripper at the back of the room.

I gulped.. Not only was I in a bar with a guy who wasn’t my spouse, I was in a strip joint.

I was mortified.

He finished his beer and asked me if I’d like another one. I managed to calmly respond, “maybe we should go back in case they make up some time”.

The train did make up some time. It arrived about 15 minutes after we went back to the station. Once I boarded and got settled beside Frank I leaned over and told him about going for a beer with Al. I told him I was really embarrassed to have been there without him.

He laughed and laughed. He also showed no indication how he felt about what happened. Nothing further was said so I just let it drop.

The following evening the train pulled in on time. I was waiting on the platform for the Oshawa passengers to disembark. A few of the passengers I had gotten to know, so we exchanged pleasantries as they passed.

I was shocked to see Frank getting off the train with a Cheshire cat look on his face. I asked him what he was doing there. He laughed and motioned for me to turn around. There stood the people I’d just exchanged pleasantries with and Al.

Frank informed me that we were heading down the street to see the strippers. Apparently nothing further was said to me but he’d told his friends and Al how embarrassed I was and they decided we’d return as group.

Another embarrassment. I’ve never been in a strip joint since. Wonder why?

Note: Header image from Pixabay.com — This post was written for the Ladies of Hive Community Contest #65 and answers the question about my most embarrassing moment.