We're fine, or so they say

Well I survived the nite in Alabama without incident nor interaction with anyone. The rest area I spent the night at was almost totally empty when I pulled in, but first thing this morning it was teeming with folks, mostly white and dressed in their Sunday best on this Saturday, seemingly avoiding eye contact.

Last nite, when I used the bathroom, there were three young womyn in various stages of undress, washing and applying heavy make up to their fresh, expressionless faces. A couple backpacks lay strewn at their feet, bath towels and washcloths hung over sinks and stall doors.

I tried to say good evening, but they didn’t stop to acknowledge me nor halt applying thick layers of eye shadow and lipstick. More skin was showing on their skinny bodies than covered.

I went to wash my hands next to one of the young womyn and said hello again; then I asked her if she was okay. That’s when I got her attention. I was wearing my “Rise Womyn Rise” t-shirt that she could see clearly (although backward) in the mirror.

She stopped to smile broadly at me and I could see she was not as young as I thought, but still young adult, not young teen.

“I’m fine” she retorts quickly, after halting her make-up applying for about 2 seconds.

I decide to ask her again “Are you sure you’re okay?”

This time I get a much bigger, longer smile as she says yes of course she is.

I look around her and ask the other two young womyn if they’re okay. The are giggling loudly, although trying not to laugh too loud. Then they both say in unison “we’re fine”.

I don’t believe them but who am I and what do I have to offer. They all appear to be Hispanic, maybe first generation as I could not detect any hint of an accent. I’m sad as I think about the lines of 18 wheelers and truck drivers sitting behind the building, probably waiting for them.

I also wonder about the “security guards” sitting out front. They must know these young womyn are in here and I know one of their jobs is supposedly to be aware of “traffickers”.

When I leave the bathroom, I walk in a circle around the entire building but could detect no random man hanging around with eagle eyes on the bathroom door. I also try to peer into the cabs of trucks, but again I see nothing suspicious – like I would know what to look for.

So I pull back onto the highway, heading for I10 and Missafuckinssippi!