The Awkwardness in Silence

Why is the bathroom an awkward environment for people?

A couple of days ago, I ventured into the bathroom--like many including myself do everyday. This day, however, I was in a public restroom with only two stalls. I walked in and the silence of the bathroom seemed normal at first, but as I approached the only two stalls, I noticed a pair of boots underneath one of them. The boots seemed fixed--bolted to the ground. They did not move as I entered the room and as I began my approach to the only other stall--which was close enough to his that I could hear him breathing. But, I could not. He was not breathing or so it seemed. No sounds were coming from the stall next to me as I sat down on the toilet. While I was sitting there, I wondered who would create the first sound waves to echo across the silent room. Our stalls were so close that I could see the corner of one of his boots--which were still unmoved. We sat there for over three minutes. Three long, silent minutes. Not knowing each others names. Not knowing what the other one of us looked like, and yet we were only separated by a couple of feet.

Finally, I decided to break the silence. I released a small, heavy breath. Loud enough so I know he would hear it and hopefully feel at ease. Maybe he would take the "loud" breath as a symbol to overcome the awkwardness of the situation. He did not. His boots were glued to the floor and his breaths were undetectable.

After the long, awkward silence, I decided I needed to actually use the restroom. My stomach was tired of playing the silent game. If I did not end the silence with my heavy breath, my digestive system surely did. It did so with a thunderous "breaking of the silence." After the fart, I wanted to literally laugh out loud, but I tried to contain myself. My body could not do the same containing. I continued to repeatedly "break the silence." Thus, I ended the silence in the bathroom, but most likely made the situation more awkward.

I finished using the restroom and exited the stall. I looked back at the new "friend" I had made. His boots were in the same position from when I first entered, and his breath was still silent as ever. I left the restroom thinking the scenario was the oddest he and I have ever faced, but hopefully his and my confidence to deal with the awkwardness in silence is better.