A Wardrobe Malfunction in London

Every travel narrative needs a good wardrobe malfunction story, right? Well, today I had mine.

I’m 31 weeks pregnant and spent all day yesterday on my feet, trying to see all I could in our second to last Saturday in London. I woke up this morning still in pain and it was all I could do to drag myself to church. I picked out my most comfortable maternity item – a loose flowing, colorful skirt with a very forgiving waistband.

My first inkling that the skirt might be a risky choice came when I stood up to give the opening prayer in a meeting, my 3 year-old on my hip, and felt the waistband slip down. I caught my skirt before disaster struck, made it to the stand with most of my dignity intact, giving an internal sigh of relief.

I concluded the rest of church without incident and walked to the local bus station with my family. Like all Sunday afternoon rides in London, the bus quickly crowded with passengers. My toddler and I ended up sitting in the back, with multiple people between us and the exit. I chatted companionably about the States and London with my neighbor and nearly missed our stop.I stood up in a hurry, flustered at the mass of bodies blocking our way.

Departing the bus meant pushing through people, my big belly in front, and a screaming toddler on my hip. I kept my sites on the door and nothing else.

Then it happened.

I stepped off the bus and felt my skirt fall to my feet.

Some awesome survival instinct kicked in and, as soon as the breeze hit me, I immediately looked down and kicked the skirt in front of me, stepping onto the sidewalk as if nothing had happened. I quickly moved behind the covered waiting area (blessedly without strangers) and slipped my skirt back on.

I didn’t look back at the bus and reminded myself that I would never see those people again. Plus, everyone now had a good Sunday afternoon story to tell.