Man invites my child into the bathroom

I'll admit I am conflicted about this blog, as much as I am conflicted about the story I am about to relate.

It happened here in Fairmont just a few months ago. My son needed to use the bathroom after swimming at an indoor pool. He found the door to the room locked and waited for the room to be free. A man opened the door upon hearing the handle rattle and invited him in, saying he was just changing his clothes and my son could use the bathroom while he did.

I found out about this weeks later, when my son finally told me. His biggest concern was that I would be mad at him. I was not at the pool that day, and he was being supervised by a competent babysitter who was horrified when she learned about the incident.

I have asked my child six ways from Sunday about what happened when he went into the bathroom, and he insists he just went potty while the man put on his shoes, facing away from him.

I didn't want my kid to see my panic, so we talked about different ways that situation could have been approached and left it at that. But I am haunted by it.

The eternally sunshiny part of my personality wants to shout about the goodness of people — my kid wasn't molested by the stranger who invited him into the bathroom and closed the door! Yay humanity and small town people.

The cynic wonders what this guy could have been thinking? Could he not have put his shoes on in the hall, or just finished and then let my son go without an audience? Was he an idiot, or just a guy so used to not being considered a molester that he did what he would have done with his own kid, assuming he had one.

As you can see, I am conflicted about this. Angry one moment, relieved beyond measure nothing terrible happened.

So, to you, guy who invited my son into the bathroom. Thank you for not hurting him, but next time, please put your shoes on in the hall.