There is a strict, sacred code of conduct in public restrooms: you do your business in absolute silence, and you never make small talk.
I had just sat down in a public stall when a voice from the adjacent cubicle suddenly shattered the peace: “Hi! How are you?”
Now, I am definitely not the type to chat in a restroom. But caught completely off guard and feeling deeply awkward, I cleared my throat and replied, “Uh… doin’ just fine!”
After a brief pause, the voice asked, “So, what are you up to?”
I blinked. What kind of a question is that in a bathroom? Trying to end the bizarre exchange as quickly as possible, I stammered, “Uhhh… pretty much the same as you. Just sitting here.”
Then, the neighbor took it to a whole new level of creepy: “I’m dying to see you. Can I come over? We can just sit around and chill.”
Panic set in. Desperate to shut down this nightmare scenario and make a run for it, I yelled back, “No! I’m a little busy right now!”
That’s when I heard a heavy sigh from the next stall, followed by:
“Listen, let me call you right back… there’s an idiot in the next cubicle who keeps answering all my questions.”
