My Mother Says

Photography by Emily Kennedy

My mother says “hi.” She still thinks you’re a girl. I don’t know if it’s because you have a gender neutral name or because of a strong self-delusion. I know it has something to do with the prevalent social norms and opinions, but it takes more than one person to change that.

She caught me leaving to meet you and we got into a conversation that felt an argument. It went something like this.

MOM: Where are you going in such a hurry?

JACK: I’m going to meet Alex, I’m already late.

MOM: Who is this Alex? Why haven’t I met her?

JACK: You haven’t met her because there is no her to meet. Alex is a he. And I haven’t brought him to meet you because I’m afraid you’ll dress him up like a girl to fit your preconceived notions.

MOM: You’ve been spending a lot of time with her.

JACK: I like him, a lot, and I think he likes me.

MOM: How did you meet her?

JACK: After class, at the Varsity Stadium. He was one of the players, not one of the cheerleaders, though you should know there are male and female cheerleaders now.

MOM: Is she athletic? What sport does she play?

JACK: Yeah, he plays rugby.

MOM: Rugby? That’s a dangerous sport for a girl.

JACK: It is a dangerous sport, but he’s not a girl. I don’t think it’s any more dangerous for girls than it is for boys.

MOM: In my day, we played tennis and volleyball; none of the contact sports. And what ever happened to cooking and hair dressing as an extracurricular activity?

JACK: They’re still around. As a matter of fact, Alex and I went to a cooking class the other day, learned how to make a –

MOM: That’s good. One of you needs to know how to cook; better her than you.

JACK: I don’t think either of us needs to know, it’s not like we’re getting married.

MOM: If she’s a nice girl, I think she’ll want to settle down.

JACK: It’s not a question of whether or not he’s a nice boy, it’s a question of whether or not gay marriage will be legal, and whether or not I care about getting a tax break. That’s what it boils down to, right?

MOM: Do you think your father and I got married for tax breaks? We married to start a family. I expect one day you’ll want to settle down with Alex, get married and have children.

JACK: In the unlikely event that I am able to impregnate a man, how do you expect me to explain the damn thing to his parents?

MOM: How long do I have to wait for grandchildren? What’s wrong with this girl? Doesn’t she want children?

JACK: When was the last time I brought a girl home? Five years? Ten years? How many boys have I brought home?

MOM: You have a lot of friends, I’ll grant you that, but you shouldn’t let your friends keep you from meeting a nice girl.

JACK: I can’t stay and talk, I’m already late to meet Alex.

MOM: Okay, run along.

JACK: I’m serious when I say we need to talk about this.

MOM: Say “hi” to her for me.

JACK: I will.

That’s it. I know she means well, but I can’t help feeling she’s trying to brainwash me by setting her expectations to a heterosexual standard. I look forward to the day when sexual preference is not assumed heterosexual by default.

And anyway, she’s in for a surprise when she meets you.