The Moment of Embarrassment Being There

Being there..... The Moment of Embarrassment
Getting out of the Pool I walked towards the change room door. As I pushed the door I found the room was full of other women, all in different states of undress. You see the Aqua Aerobics Class had arrived and these ladies were all chatting away undressing. Where oh where should I look, I did not want to seem as though I was looking at the old dear with her breast hanging to her knees. I certainly did not want to look at the young blond woman in the corner bending to put her costumes on. Oh where oh where is there a space for me to place my clothes and begin to dry the water off my body. The feeling of modesty swelled up from within me, not a private little corner could be found. These women all seem quite familiar with each other and it was so matter a fact as they changed. All I long to do was to turn and head back out the door, but then what would I do. Where else could I change from my wet costume into my clothes? Of all days for this to happen, it was quite a chilly day and I was now feeling goose bumps not only of fear, but of coldness.. Why did I get out of the pool at the moment I did? If I had only waited five more minutes these women would have been into their costume and in the pool for their group. I would have been safe and not standing embarrassed in the door way where yet another woman was trying to enter the room. Could I just dart back behind this woman and smile and wait for the room to clear? I was stuck in the moment, not being able to move a muscle. Finally one of the woman who was now in her costumes, smile and moved saying to me "There you go, I will leave you my little corner". The relief this woman seems to understand my dilemma and have empathy giving me this corner. I breathed a sigh and moved towards the corner and ever so discreetly sat drying myself and looking into no where.. I could see several cracks in the ceiling and there was a cobweb in one corner. One by one these women seemed to now leave the room all eagerly going for their session in the pool. At last I was now alone. Being There all alone never felt so good.. I could now pull off my cossie dry my body and throw on my tea shirt and undies and I would feel safe again once I had my privacy intact.
Next Monday I will remember to wait those 5 minutes.