“Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.” She responds while popping another almond into her mouth.
“Airports are weird beasts. Airplanes, even stranger. I mean it seems to me, I think, people tend to act differently in these places than they do elsewhere. I guess that’s probably not entirely true. There’s got to be plenty of other places where people, out of their normal routine and natural element, act like complete idiots.”
“Is there a question in there? Are you asking if I agree?”
“No. But do you?”
“Yeah. Even if we technically are two of those idiots right now.”
“Fair enough.”
She takes another sip of her drink as I think of how to say what I really want to.
“What I mean is that maybe etiquette rules, societal norms or whatever you want to call it, kind of get thrown out the window. And most people, reasonable ones at least, you know, just let it go. But does that make it right? Should it even matter?”
“Whoa. You lost me. You literally left to use the restroom for like five minutes and now we’re discussing philosophy?”
“Yeah, you’re right. It doesn’t matter.”
“No.” She sets her drink down and turns in her stool to face me. “Now I’m interested. You aren't going to be able to avoid this one. Carry on.”
“Alright. So, I’m standing in line for the restroom. We’re all politely waiting our turn. No one knows each other, of course, so there’s not any talking going on. I mean, I guess others could have known each other, but are just choosing not to talk -”
“I really meant it. Carry on Carly.”
“Right. So this woman walks in. Right by all of us standing in line. She gets in front of the first person, turns around to look back, and then proceeds to take the next open stall.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“And no one says anything?”
“No. I mean a few people kind of look around maybe wondering what they should do or just to look like they’re a little irritated with the situation, myself included, but no one actually says or does anything that looks like annoyance or disgust at this woman’s blatant defiance of standing in line for the restroom.”
“So you’re asking me if you should have said something or if I would have said something?”
“Maybe. I mean not really. She was older. Maybe she just couldn’t hold it or maybe she wasn’t from this country and didn’t understand the point of bathroom lines.”
“Sure, but don’t you think it would be nice for someone to give her a head’s up on the proper etiquette? At least in the U.S.? I mean, isn't that the kind thing to do in this case?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Because?”
“Because she was also Black.”
“Huh.” She slouches slightly on the stool.
“Yeah. Huh.” I put my arms on the table as I take a sip of my drink.
“So do you think we should hit up the grocery store first when we get there?”
“Yeah, sounds good to me.” I grab an almond from the bowl in the middle of the table and pop it in my mouth.