W - What?? A wife??

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This really could have turned out badly for me.  But thankfully, guardian angels were looking after me or something!

I had a habit of breaking rules and going places alone while in Bahrain.  We were supposed to travel in at least pairs but the 2 people I had originally left to do stuff with that day were WAY too cozy and I felt like a 3rd wheel.  So I ditched them and did whatever that day.  Later that evening I took a cab to what was the Bahraini idea of a karaoke bar that we'd gone to several other times.

Nothing was going on there, so I hopped a cab back to the hotel barracks.  The cab driver wanted me to sit in front with him.  I thought it was odd and felt slightly uncomfortable, but I did. He kept trying to hold my hand and commenting about how strong I was.  Um yeah - I haul 100 lb bags of mail around so it happens!

We stopped at a light and he turned and grabbed both my hands and looking into my eyes, declared he desired me to be one of his wives!

Picture a deer - in - headlights look from me!

I shook my head and said NO, I really can't.  I need to get back to my ship and go home to America!  At the next possible minute, I jumped out of the cab and took off as fast as possible.  Didn't pay the fare or anything!

That could have been so bad.    

I found out from a nice gentleman (see post "M") that a fenced compound near the hotel belonged to a rich sheikh or someone like that.  There were 4 identical houses in this compound - one for each wife.  He was not allowed to show favoritism and had to spend equal time with each woman.  So these ladies lacked nothing and were treated well, but that lifestyle is not for me.

Whew!

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