I once heard a British woman say that American bladders must work differently from European ones in reference to the utter lack of public restrooms in the U.S. as compared to Europe. I’ve always thought it was a strange thing that you’re not allowed to use the bathroom anywhere, but it’s also illegal to pee anywhere.

I like to walk late at night because after 10 p.m., I don’t have to deal with people walking their stupid dogs. I have the streets to myself. The one downside to walking late at night, though, is that there are no bathrooms open. I pass by two grocery stores and two parks. One of the stores closes at 10 p.m., and the other has a lock on the bathroom door that requires asking an employee for the code. The park ranger locks up the bathrooms at the parks by 8 p.m. Except tonight, that is.

I don’t know why, but both bathrooms were open, so I took advantage of the rare opportunity. I don’t know why they can’t just be open all the time. Literally, everyone has to pee. Why do bathrooms have business hours?

When I was done, I crossed back over the street to continue my walk, and the very first person I saw was a guy peeing in the parking lot across from the unlocked public restroom across the street. I’ve never seen that before in that parking lot, so why tonight, of all nights?