The girl whose family owned the only swimming pool in the town was hosting an impromptu pool party with her friends.
One girl came without a swimsuit.
“No problem,” the hostess said, “I have a whole drawer full. Just find one you like!”
She then waved, vaguely, before turning back to her other guests.
The guest disappeared, returning a short time later dressed in a modest blue two-piece.
Tossing out greetings to the young men and women clustered around the pool, she sauntered around to where her hostess was sitting.
And struck a pose.
“What do you think?”
Her hostess looked up, then shrieked and jumped to her feet. “Where did you get that?!” she said.
The guest blinked and glanced around nervously.
All eyes were on her.
“F-from your drawer, like you said.”
“The top drawer?”
“Y-yes.”
“That's my underwear drawer!”
“Eeeeeeee!” the guest sprinted back into the house.
She had been covered.
In what could easily be mistaken for a swimsuit.
But just being told she was wearing underwear made her scramble madly for shelter.
I thought this story was hilarious.
Then, I saw it happen to my Mom.
Well . . . something similar, anyways . . .
Our family was getting ready for church.
My current boyfriend, coming to church with my family for the first time and dressed uncomfortably in a shirt and tie, was seated in the great room, waiting for the rest of us.
I was the next to be ready, so I sat beside him and started chattering.
Something I did a lot.
A lot.
But I digress . . .
My mother scurried out of her bedroom and started puttering around in the kitchen, in plain sight of the two of us. She put a roast in the oven for dinner and then started tidying up from breakfast.
I kept talking.
But for some reason, my boyfriend wouldn't look at me, but stared, instead, out the window.
I kept talking.
He kept staring fixedly (good word) at something outside.
Suddenly, my mother, still in the kitchen, said, “Oh, my! Look at me!”
I did.
As she was making a fast exit towards her bedroom.
At first, I saw nothing wrong.
She was dressed in her usual fashion. Undershirt, bra, full slip.
Skirt. Stockings.
Oh. Wait. Something was missing.
Her blouse.
Suddenly my boyfriend's fixed gaze made sense.
He had noticed as soon as Mom had entered the room.
Huh. Funny that I didn't see it.
Okay, so observant, I'm not.
Mom went through the rest of the day rather pink-faced.
Which was funny.
She had been completely covered.
Modestly, even.
In at least three layers of cloth.
But because the material had been termed 'underwear', she was embarrassed.
As I would have been.
As anyone . . . you get the point.
Aren't we weird?
Hah! Like those dreams we used to have about turning up at school in our underwear! -Laura
ReplyDeleteExactly! Shudder...
DeleteI went to work once having forgotten to put a bra on. But at least I'd worn my blouse . . .
ReplyDeleteThe all-important top layer! ;)
DeleteHa ha I can relate! There have been a few times when we wanted to go swimming--but had no suits. I was encouraged to just wear my underwear. Ummmm....NO!
ReplyDeleteYikes! ;)
DeleteOk. This is my fear. I am always checking to be sure my skirt's on!
ReplyDeleteHahahaha! There was a Christmas ad a few years ago where a woman is looking about, doing a mental checklist. Then announces she hasn't forgotten anything for her Christmas celebration. Then her doorbell rings and as she turns to answer the door, you see that she did forget something...her skirt!
DeleteWe are weird. Very, very weird. Smiling at both of these examples.
ReplyDeleteI definitely embrace THIS weird! ;)
DeleteI laughed and laughed! (sorry).
ReplyDeleteSo did I! ;)
DeleteWe are weird, and even the Victorians in their 7 layers of petticoats felt the same.
ReplyDeleteYep. I guess it's not the number of layers, but the top one that matters!
DeleteIn my teens I had several sets of matched bras and panties that closely resembled bikini swimsuits and could have been worn instead of, as long as they didn't get wet. I never did substitute though.
ReplyDeleteSooo tempting, though! ;)
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