The Walking Temptation

I have a confession to make. I have committed my first (to my knowledge anyways) faux pas. Before I even stopped to think about it, I had done one of the rudest things that a person can do in public here during Ramadan (the holy month of fasting for Muslims). It was my first time riding the local commuter train. I was waiting in line with about fifty other women to board the women’s only car when I suddenly felt thirsty. I asked my new friend Sam if I could have my water bottle out of her bag. She handed it to me and I took a drink. Sam’s eyes went wide with horror as she exclaimed, “Amy, don’t do that!” But it was too late. The deed was done. You’re not supposed to drink in public during Ramadan and I had done it. That kind of gaffe probably ranks right up there next to refusing to eat the food that your hostess has prepared or spitting on someone or maybe killing one of the stray cats that roams around here.

Anyways as if taking a drink in public wasn’t bad enough, I continued to hold the water bottle in my hand after boarding the train (my bag wasn’t big enough to hold it and Sam missed the train). The train was hot and crowded. This one woman with a beaded gallabeya sitting near me eyed the bottle. When I looked at her, she smiled kindly. I felt rude. I tried to conceal the water bottle behind the sack of postcards that I had purchased earlier that morning, but the sack was too small. After a while that woman got off of the train and the crowd shifted. A beautiful woman with deep brown eyes and stunning head scarf came to stand next to me. A few moments passed. I glanced over to see her staring intently at the top of the bottle. A single thought bubble almost materialized above her head – “It’s so hot. I’m so thirsty.” I felt like a culturally insensitive jerk. So to those women on the platform and on the train, I’m sorry.