Small, significant things

[ailbhe]

Yesterday evening I went out to a meeting of the Reading Arts Business Club. The inaugural meeting. It was in the basement bar of a cafe/bar place I'd never been to before, on my usual bus route. I went in a little early and a bunch of people were there, ordering drinks; I joined the queue and someone joined after me, and when it was my turn I ordered, then he ordered, and he said something like "I'll get these."

I said "Oh - um - oh - um, I'd really rather not."

He said "Oh no, it's fine."

I said "Um, I'd prefer not to."

He said "But we're both going to the same place."

I shut up.

But I thought about it while I waited to be actually served my drink, and I said "Actually, I'm really not comfortable with this [to the air near him, not him, but never mind,] I'll pay for mine please,[to the bar staff]" and I did pay for my own and I felt much better.

But it wasn't EASY. He came to apologise for seeming pushy at the end of the evening, and I said it didn't matter, because I was pleased I'd realised I wasn't nineteen and I could say no if I wanted to. I am so glad I'm not nineteen any more.

And Rob says he thinks I might be going grey, a bit, near the front.

Bring it on.