Shy moments 24

Pregnant or just a belly bump?
I know pregnancy can affect a woman’s self esteem, and I love helping them feel good about their status. I normally grab every chance to praise them and encourage them to model for Pregnant magazine. One time I was going to work I met a ‘pregnant friend and with a wide smile stopped to say hi. She greeted me and after exchanging pleasantries looked at me eagerly to hear what I had to say to her. Then I pointed to her belly and asked,’How far gone are you? You surely have a beautiful bump!’ She laughingly told me that she was not pregnant. She knew she had ‘quite a bump’ and she had learned to live with it.

Comedy turns sour
I walked into a cinema to watch a comedy one Sunday. When I was seven months pregnant.
Twenty minutes into the movie, I had an urge to visit the washrooms and I told my husband the same. He asked me to hold on since getting up would distract the viewers. I decided my call of nature could wait. I continued to watch the movie when the worst happened; a really funny part came up and everyone burst into laughter, including me, despite my intention not to laugh. And the wet warm trickle started too. By the time I was getting to the toilet, I had almost emptied my bladder, but luck was on my side for no one saw me. I had to wait for my husband in the car. Funny thing is that my husband took it all in stride, telling me that such would soon be a thing of the past.

Expectant comradeship
I was three months pregnant and on top of the world. Being somewhat an introvert, I was surprised at my new found ability to chat up complete strangers who were expectant like me. One day I met this lady in the bathroom of this five star hotel. As we were busy sprucing ourselves up I could not help but blurt out ‘How many months are you gone?’ With a smile, she answered that she was not pregnant and that she did not even have children. I hid my discomfort by telling her what I thought. ‘You look pregnant’, I said as kindly as I could. She agreed with me, saying that people always told her the same. That covered up what would have been a humiliating moment for me!

To the office in slippers
I woke up one morning late for work, had a quick shower, and then hurriedly got dressed for work. I did notice the odd look on my house help’s face as she let me out but I did not have time to ask her what it was all about-I was an hour late for work. I reached the office only to realise that I had worn slippers. What’s worse was that my boss wanted to see me. We had impromptu visitors and I was required to act as host. All I wanted was to get away from the office. But I found myself rooted in the corridor, receiving a properly attired client! Thankfully, this was followed by a light moment filled with a laughter, and soon my brains were being picked, my appearance no longer of importance.

Do you have a shy moment? Share a laugh with others via pregnant@integral-advisory.com

END: PG24/48