The Terry Cloth Robe

A simple change to an otherwise boring day

With a million frequent flyer miles at each of four airlines, bachelor by choice Simon Jennings had seen it all: animals, expensive jewelry, furs, entire families with different-colored hair, rich, poor, young old, triplets and quadruplets, sports and church teams, and even a family with 13 children. All were part of the scenery in the hundreds of airports he had been throughout the world.

He thought he had seen it all.

Until today.

Today, the lady he saw in the thick white, full-length terry cloth bath robe intrigued him. Her black yoga pants underneath were barely visible as she walked. She paused and looked up at the Departures monitor, and was on her way again.

Not an extravert by nature, Simon just had to talk with this woman.

“Scuse me, Ma’am?”

She stopped and put her rolling luggage up right.

“Yes?”

“Ma’am, I’ve been in and out of dozens, if not hundreds of airports around the world but I must say I’ve never seen someone wearing a terry cloth robe, especially in this summer Texas heat. Furs, minks, jewelry galore, but no terry cloth robes. It looks comfortable.”

Terry Cloth Robe Woman smiled and said, “Oh, it is.”

“But, ma’am. I’ve got to ask – and I absolutely know it’s none of my business, but why a terry cloth robe?”

“You’re right, er…”

“Simon.”

“Simon, it is none of your business. However, I have gotten the most unusual stares wearing this thing. But the reason I’m wearing it is, well, quite embarrassing.”

Simon said nothing but leaned in.

“You see, I dropped my phone and bent over to pick it up. Riiiip! Right at the backside seams. Fortunately, I was near one of those stores that sell everything and anything for vacations and holidays. There’s not but two or three in the whole airport. So, the only thing that seemed to fit my situation was this robe. It covered everything it needed to cover and I justified it by saying I needed one anyhow. Cost me a pretty penny because you know how they jack up the prices in airports. I’ve been wearing it ever since. It’s very very comfortable…and hot.”

“Thank you. Fun story. You seemed to handle it well.”

“But just between you and me, Simon, I’m kinda liking the extra attention I’ve been getting, if you know what I mean, though you’re the first to approach me about it. Not complaining, just observing.”

 “I do know what you mean. Such a simple thing,” Simon said. “Made my day seeing this thing. Looks great on you, if I may say so.”

“You may.”