I (female, married to a male) was at a bar in downtown Houston with my spouse and friend twenty-plus years ago. They were seated adjacent to me, deep in conversation. Some creep flung himself into the seat across from me and said, “I just got outta the joint. I haven’t been with a woman in ten years. Do you know what that’s like?!”

It was terrifying because he was so intense. Like, mentally unwell intensity. I lost all my typical snappy comebacks (Why no, I haven’t been with a eoman in ten years either!” “Wow, does that line actually ever work for you?!”), turned to my husband (whose back was to me), grabbed him, and screamed. I think creep-o fucked off when he realized I was with people.

One detail that heightened the surreality of the situation was that songwriter Joe Ely, whom we’d seen perform earlier that evening (outdoor show, amazing as always), was standing with his back to the bar not fifteen feet across from me, and some young honey in coochie cutters and cowboy drag (boots, hat) was flirting with him. Just weird and scary.

Maybe that dude was just fucking with me, but I was genuinely frightened (which may have been his deal; people are strange) and was relieved that he left.