During my last cocktail party someone came up to me and said there was a problem with the lock on my bathroom door. He said that someone had been locked in there. It was late in the party and I was pretty well looped, so I remember glancing at the bathroom and seeing the door open. I could not understand the problem and at the moment I did not care.
The following morning (after my hangover eased) I remember the incident and took a look at the lock. There is the usual little twist lock on the inside with just a small hole on the outside of the door knob. Since I live alone, I rarely even close the door. You can lock it from the inside, but when I twisted the door knob, the lock released. Briefly I thought about getting one of those little keys you use in emergencies when someone falls or faints inside with the door locked. But where would you get such a tool in Mexico and I quickly forgot about the whole incident.
Last week I had invited one of the guys I play bridge with over to see my apartment. He had heard about what I had done with it and wanted to see it. I love showing off my apartment, for everyone comments on how beautiful it is. We had some pizza from my local coffee lady and a few drinks (quite a few actually). At some point he asked to use the bathroom. Sometime after he left and just before I was going to bed, I decided to use the bathroom myself. It was by now after eleven at night. In spite of my advanced age, I have a remarkable bladder so I had not even noticed that the door was closed. It was locked ! There was no way to get in. Immediately I thought of that little key I needed to open the door. Well, I did not have one but maybe an Allen wrench would work. I had purchased a set when I had to put my glass topped desk together. But that was years ago and of course I could not find them anywhere.
I tried a small screw driver, then a kitchen skewer, but the hole in the door knob was so small that nothing would fit into it. You see people crashing through doors all the time on T.V, so I tried that. Apparently the door was stronger than my shoulder. Besides what if the whole door splintered? Where would I get one to match? I was sure that Saul could open it, but getting him here before noon tomorrow would be a challenge. I could pee over the wall on my deck, but what about in the morning when I needed to do more than pee? In the remodel of the church across the street they added some public bathrooms with an entrance fee of five pesos. I do not like living across the street from a public bathroom (although it is quite attractive for Mexico). At the moment it seemed like a God sent. But at night it was closed by a sort of aluminum garage door and I was not sure when it would open.
It was by now almost midnight, but I knew my friend Richard did not go to bed until late, so I called him. I think he was still up although he did seem a little irritated when I asked if I could come over in the morning and use his bathroom. Because he stays up late, he does not get up early. Well, I thought I could just lie in bed longer and hope I could make up the hill to his house in the morning. None of the above really seemed like a viable solution, so I went back to the lock. The hole was really small. I took a ball point pen apart and inserted it into the hole and pushed
Next time I see Saul, I will have him take a look at it. If I was ever actually locked in there, it would be days before anyone found me. If you wonder how I come up with all these situations every month, let me tell you that they are all based on fact and true (well, maybe a little embellished for amusement purposes).
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That was the funniest story I have read in a long time Larry. Being locked out of your own bathroom, especially when you need to use it. I am sure your dad would have shook his head in amazement if he were here.
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