“Don't judge."

A semi-normal return to my past social life took place this last week or so. There was a basketball game, a networking event, a fundraiser, another basketball game, a movie with friends, and a concert. All sorts of pre-pandemic-like activity.
It was good to see people again. I'm a little out of practice though. It is hard to maintain eye-contact, challenging to make interesting conversation, but much fun to be in communion with others. Sports and music do that well.
As you might expect, along with the good comes some bad. For instance, I forgot what it's like to be in a crowd near someone with intestinal issues. Do you just suffer through? Do you try to figure out where the stench is coming from and scream, "Somebody check their pants!" for a laugh? I don't want to humiliate a stranger, but I don't want to be blamed if others catch wind.
In the end I decide to do nothing. We've all been there, I think to myself, some of us more times than others. No judgement here. It's human. Stuff happens.
As I smile to myself, basking in my act of generosity, the woman in front of me whips around, looks me straight in the eye, and with a scrunched up face mouths, "Eww. Is that you?"
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