… of titles and status…

So, recently while out and about, I was chatting with the manager at a merchant outlet and making small talk as usual before I started shopping.  Then she asks me how the children are? And in that moment I think to myself that it is easier to say they’re well, and carry on. But just before I respond, I am reminded of a similar scenario way back.  You see, when I am out of the country on assignment, the people I deal with automatically assume that I am Mrs. Ombogo; never mind that I fill or check ‘Miss’ on the personal information forms. Somehow, that never registers with the staffers I am dealing with. So this one time, every morning when leaving the hotel, I would chat the manager and exchange pleasantries, etc. It always began with “Good morning Mrs. Ombogo…”. I learnt a long time ago not to correct them because that would lead to an even longer conversation, which sometimes was awkward. So for the one week I would be on the ground, Mrs. Ombogo it would be, and this time was no different. However, on the day I was checking out, after exchanging our usual greetings, life statements etc, she asks me how my husband is. In a split second I am debating whether to answer affirmative, but then I realize I would have to make up a whole husband, possibly profession, name etc… which would be taking the whole saga way too far. So I decide to come clean and say “I do not have a husband”. She looks at me in shock and exclaims “Huh, what happened to him?”; wondering what had become of my husband in the one week I was there. Then came the embarrassing moment when I explained that I actually wasn’t married, never been married and that it was just easier to respond to Mrs. than to explain. And I expressed how sorry I was about misleading her. So she says “…at least you have children..?” And I am feeling so bad for her, that I am tempted to say yes to save the day, but then realize I would have to come up with a fictitious child[ren]: names, ages, gender, schooling etc and decide to be honest, no matter how embarrassing it is at the moment.  So I say no. She’s crest fallen, I can see and at a loss for words.  And I don’t know what to say to make things better either. So she says not to worry, God has not forgotten me, and it will happen someday.  And I am thinking this is why I don’t go down this road… I am not worried, and I know God has not forgotten me. But I keep that to myself and somehow manage to exit gracefully.

So back to the present, I realize that coming clean is the best option, in light of my previous experience LOL! So I say no, I do not have children.  “You’re married, right?” She asks. No, not married.  Awkward silence… And then comes the inevitable “Don’t worry, God had not forgotten you. It will happen very soon…” And I am thinking, why does it always come to this?  And I say my goodbyes and somehow make a graceful exit hehehehe.  The story of my life…