"The Question" normally annoys me...

[Nighthawk]

...but every so often, someone asks in such a way that it just cracks me up! I drove my mom to her eye doctor appointment this morning, and I was sitting in the waiting room, reading a book called A Brief History of the Druids, when a lady about my age came over to me and asked if something special was going on. I explained to her the meaning of Samhain as a pagan holiday, and how by Celtic tradition, it runs from moonrise to moonrise, so it was still Samhain, and I felt the need to dress in a more traditional manner to mark the day. She said "Oh! That's really interesting!" and she stood there just looking like she wanted to ask something else, so I asked her what she wanted to know. I was wearing a Ghost Hunters t shirt that says "What the fetch?" on it, which she asked me about. And then... She leaned over to me, got really blushed and asked "Are you wearing underwear?" in a very rushed and clandestine way, and then looked away like she was thinking "Wow! Did I just ask that?" It was the totally embarrassed look on her face, the almost little girl shyness, that just cracked me up! And she was so totally interested in the kilt! Most of the time, that kind of question is just annoying... but she so obviously had to work herself up to it! This was one of the few times when being asked that question was more positive than annoying. I cracked up laughing which I think made her embarrassment a little worse. I answered "Maybe" and winked at her, which her put her more at ease. All in all, it was the most positive way for The Question to be asked!

[Bugbear]

Shame on you, Nighthawk! You didn't give the author of the book...

[ali8780]

I'm blushing on her behalf right now

[Nighthawk]

I'm blushing on her behalf right now

Shame on you, Nighthawk! You didn't give the author of the book...

[English Bloke]

It does seem to be a fixation with some folk. I must be asked that at least once everytime I put a kilt on. Not always in such a nice way though.

[bchunter]

That's cool. The last time I was asked was by two mature women, one about my age and the other a bit older, and they had all sorts of questions about the fabric, the event, the pleats, if it was hot, etc, then one got her nerve up and asked what I was wearing under the kilt. She was already blushing a bit and they both were giggling under their breath, a lot like your experience I imagine, so I merely leaned over and looked at my feet and legs and then looked up at them and said the standard, "why, socks and shoes." They looked wide-eyed and smiled. I see one of them from time to time and she always gets a little blushed and smiles at me. I think it's cool from the older gals like that.

[McFarkus]

I had 'the question' asked of me in the most roundabout way ever a couple of days ago. An old lady with a walker looked and me and said, "some people wonder what men wear under a kilt," carefully avoiding a direct question. I replied, "I think it's better if it remains a mystery."

[Mindrop]

My friend asked me if I was really not wearing anything the other day. I unnerved him with my answer, which was no. It was a blast. My friend still thinks I dont have the guts t nopt wear anything, she is wrong.

[Orthzar]

Nighthawk, that is the most creative response to the why-question I have read thus far. I almost always say, "because it is comfortable," but "it was still Samhain, and I felt the need to dress in a more traditional manner to mark the day," is just original.

As per answering the question, "maybe" and a wink is also original. I had thought that instead of saying, "I am can't say," that I would instead alternate between, "to tell you the truth, I have not yet decided what is worn under the kilt," and "it is a secret from days long past, which none have told the uninitiated." Hmmm, a secret ancient kilt cult, that sounds like a good theme for a mystery novel.

[Livingston]

One young woman wanted to see what was under my kilt. I just pointed at my hose and shoes and told her she already had.