The first club I visited in San Francisco, was Club X. Someone in the class mentioned on our Facebook group that they were having an event. And I think it was free for people with student IDs. It was either free, or at a significant discount.
Our student ID cards weren’t actually ready at the time. We all had our pictures taken a while back, but were yet to receive our ID cards.
The Facebook post mentioned however, that there was a way to join the event guest list. So you could be eligible for the discount/free entry even without a student ID.
All you had to do was to go comment your name on a post on Club X’s Facebook page or something like that.
And so people began to comment their names. We were all very excited.
Mm Clubbing, Mm Club X, Mm let’s go Mm
On the night of the event, it was like we were going for a meeting with school’s founder at the HQ. We were so many.
We were like thirty. Or more. Trooping along the sidewalk and chatting excitedly, our eyes alight with anticipation.
Most of us were new to San Francisco. A lot of us were new to the USA. And so that event provided an interesting opportunity to venture out into the city on our own, while still being surrounded by a group of people within which you generally felt safe.
The event was also 18+ which was great, because very few people in our class were 21 years or older. And so all 21+ events were out of our reach. Well that was unless you had a fake ID.
Club X was fun. Club X was very fun.
Clubbing at Club X became something of a regular thing over time.
At some point, some classmates began to form a negative impression of the club. They would talk about it on the group. Say it was rowdy or disorganized or not very classy, or some other concern that never resonated with me.
People generally go out for events in smaller groups now. SF is less unfamiliar and so people are more comfortable going out on their own. I myself have gradually been curating my personal algorithm for finding events in San Francisco. Eventbrite is generally where it’s at. There’s usually always something of interest happening on Eventbrite, on any given day. Given that, the question then involves which events you’re the most interested in.
Ruby Skye is a cool club people have been talking about. They generally speak very highly of it. Practically all of their events are 21+ though. So it seems to be something people just fantasize about from a distance.
I was scrolling through their website the other day. I don’t even know how I landed there, or what I was looking for.
At some point I saw something about an upcoming event. 18+.
Sorry what? Eighteen what did you just say?
I looked through it more carefully.
Yes. Yes it was an 18+ event.
Ohohohoho
I put a post up on the class’s Facebook group. A bunch of people were super stoked about it. We began to make plans. I think there was like a party Facebook Messenger group or something. We used that to correspond in more detail.
Seemed like something great was up ahead.
We’re in the club.
We’re about ten people from school.
Ruby Skye is super cool. It’s very big and spacious.
We’re dancing and having fun.
The girls go to the bathroom like every ten minutes. I have absolutely no idea what they’re always going to do in the bathroom.
And they go collectively. Like all of a sudden four girls are like, we need to go use the bathroom.
Like, do all of your bladders have synchronised timers or something- I don’t understand.
I just met this guy. He says he’s Australian. He’s a good-looking guy. Seems fun.
At some point I introduce him to one of the female classmates. She’s from Eastern Europe. They look like they might hit it off.
We keep dancing. Dancing and chatting, and there’s some flirting going around too.
The girl from Eastern Europe is back. Doesn’t seem like she and Australian guy really got something going.
We’re dancing. The room is generally very energetic. There are flashing lights and music, and every now end then there’s a super stimulating “beat drop” that just completely revs the energy level of the hall.
The Eastern European classmate looks like she’s interested in dancing up-close with me.
I don’t pay her body language any significant attention. I don’t have the energy for ambivalent and confusing signals right now.
We spent some time together over the winter break.
I used to have something of a crush on her.
We used to watch “How to Get Away with Murder” in my room. Watching steamy sex scenes of Annalise Keating and the tall muscular detective guy.
The guy was weird. Time and time again Annalise would do things to ruin his life. He lost job, his reputation was ruined, but yet he still kept indulging her- I was like dude the fuck is your problem, what is wrong with you, her own life is good- you’re the one who keeps getting in trouble- what is your problem you this guyyy.
One of those nights I indicated an interest in taking things further- I wasn’t exactly interested in spending time alone with a pretty girl in a dark room, and all we’d do would be to watch other people have sex.
She said she want interested in taking things beyond platonic movie watching.
Okay.
Okay.
I didn’t offer to have her over for movies after that night. I needed to reorder my life priorities.
Now she’s sending all of these confusing signals my way.
I don’t have the energy for this. She had her chance.
I’m at a different end of the club.
The view of the stage is different from here, mm.
Two girls walk up to me.
We talk for a bit.
At some point one is like:
“So, my friend”, she points to her African-American friend.
“She has been feeling a bit shy. And she told me she would be more comfortable dancing with someone who’s similar to her. Like racially.”
Hm.
I don’t understand what’s going on, but I don’t intend to protest.
There’s no problem shy African-American girl- I’ll be your black guy. I’ll be your safety-exuding black guy, there’s no problem.
We begin to dance.
All of a sudden she’s not so shy anymore.
In just a few seconds she went from demure-looking girl to vigorous hip-twister.
Oh she’s comfortable alright.
She’s definitely comfortable. This has to be what a mind at ease looks like.
I’m not complaining.
I’m not complaining at all.
Image: View of the Sutro Tower from somewhere. Either Corona Heights or Potrero Hill.
Mayowa Osibodu's Blog. 