An odd thing happened at the Royals game...

[smeddley]

Rarely do people creep me out. I'm pretty resistant to skeevy guys and even downright mean people. I've had enough crap jobs that I'm fairly immune, and I never put myself in situations where I'd feel particularly threatened (not saying there's anything wrong with going to parties or walking alone or anything - there shouldn't be! - but I do have to say the fact that I don't do these things owing to being an old married broad cuts down on the circumstances in which I would feel uncomfortable). But Saturday at the game I had a moment where I was fairly creeped out and I'm not sure if I should be, or if it was one of those things that just caught me wrong.

We were walking up to the gates to get in, and since I carry a bag they had to search it. Mr. Smeddley split off and headed for a turnstile without much of a line, as did I after they looked in my bag and made the usual comment about me expecting to be bored what with the knitting, etc, etc. So we were both going through separate ticket-takers at about the same time. Only... when I handed my ticket to the guy he just stared at it. For several seconds, which doesn't sound like much, but in that situation it drags on. I had the momentary panic that I'd picked up the wrong ticket, but Mr. Smeddley had cleared through and was standing on the other side waiting for me. So that couldn't be it. Then the guy proceeds to look from the ticket to me, back and forth, like a checker comparing your driver's license photo to you. At this point I was beyond confused, and starting to get a little ticked and seriously uncomfortable and out-of-sorts. What the devil was going on?

Then he - honest to goodness - leered at me. It's not an expression I've seen often, but it was pretty unmistakable. He looked me up and down (seriously, I'm pudgy and it's not like I was dressed up - I even had a bag of knitting draped over one arm! It's like sizing up your Aunt Myrtle!) and said, "Are you here alone?" Then he finally scanned my ticket.

I snatched the ticket back from him, snarled an indignant (and slightly surprised) "No" and walked in.

Seriously, what was up with that? How weird.

Comments

[happyconfusion.livejournal.com]

"It rubs the lotion on the skin..."

I would've hit him with your knitting sack.

[smeddley.livejournal.com]

I was really too stunned by the whole thing to even think of what to do! It was just too weird. :/

[http://users.livejournal.com/anam_cara_/]

It took me far too long to get that reference! doh! Definitely creepy.

[revoked-soul.livejournal.com]

That does sound creepy. Yuck.

I have to say, going everywhere with small-child accompaniment really cuts down on the creepy people hitting on you. It does not, however, cut down on the random, blatant, stare-at-your-boobs situations. Ah, but the looks on their faces when they look down a little farther and realize they're ogling a very pregnant woman...that makes it all worthwhile...

[smeddley.livejournal.com]

I've never had that sort of ogling problem, being not terribly well endowed, but I can appreciate the annoyance. And I imagine the creepy people that would hit on someone with a small child in tow take creepy to a whole new level...

But with the pregnancy comment I'm remembering the Coupling episode where Patrick talks about having a one-night stand with a pregnant woman. Most of the others are shocked - especially when he said she was 5 months pregnant and very much showing - and asked him what he was thinking. To which he replied (I'm paraphrasing), "That looks like a nice, compact pregnancy, why not take it for a test drive?"

...it's funnier in the show, I promise!

[aeamek.livejournal.com]

He probably just wanted you to knit something for him. Like a condom.

[smeddley.livejournal.com]

There are a lot of penis and dildo cozy patterns, but I don't think I've seen a true condom pattern.

[aeamek.livejournal.com]

Be careful. They might be described as candle holders.

[ladee-jane.livejournal.com]

I think you should have registered a complaint.

[smeddley.livejournal.com]

Eh, I don't even know who the guy was, so it'd be a pretty pointless complaint - "Oh, yeah, one of your ticket people - no, I don't know which one - said something that was a little weird..."

...besides which, I'm terrified they'd try to compensate me with free tickets. I already still have 7 more games to go to, I have no wish to torture myself with more! ;)