Mom: So, what are you doing today?
Me: Still working on the garage. Casey’ll be here on Saturday, and I want to have a place for her to sleep.
Mom: *Surprised* Casey’s coming again?
Me: *A bit flustered that I spoke without thinking* Er, yeah. Heart is one of her favorite bands, and they’re only playing a few places, including San Francisco, so we’re taking her to see them. (Weasel #1) is going, too.
Mom: Oh…couldn’t she sleep in one of the kid’s beds?
Me: Er…not really…
Mom: Oh, I guess she might not like sleeping on the top bunk…well, couldn’t she sleep in your bed with you? Would that be a problem?
Me: *Staring at her carefully, trying to gauge her meaning* Um…well, it would be nice for her to have her own space.
Mom: Well, she could always stay with us – we have a spare bedroom.
Me: *Laughing* Well, if the garage keeps going this way, I may just take you up on that. Thanks.
Mom: *Smiling* So, what else happened this weekend?
Me: Um…I went to help out at the Dyke March.
Mom: At the…?
Me: Dyke March, on Saturday up in the City.
Mom: *Silent pause*
Mom: Well, isn’t that nice. Did they have the breast cancer survivors marching? When we went to go see the parade they marched without their shirts on, right behind the Dykes on Bikes.
Me: I didn’t see them, I think that might have been on Sunday, for the big Pride Parade.
Mom: So…then what was Saturday?
Me: The Dyke March. The Dykes on Bikes were there.
Mom: Oh.
(Pause)
Mom: *Getting up* Do you need a pit stop before you go? I need one.
(Heads to the restroom, returns after a bit.)
Me: Thanks for lunch, Mom. It was good to see you.
Mom: You, too, (Roxy.) We should do it more often.
hmmm.. you know, if my mom were to suggest you sleep in my bed while visiting, I would most likely flush beet red and stammer, a lot. You are very good.
I think it’s cute your parents went out to see the Pride Parade.. do they go every year? If I’m judging her reaction correctly, going to the Pride Parade is a perfectly legitimate thing for straight people to do, but going to a Dyke March? That’s a bit suspect. Kudos to you for being open about it.
Can you imagine if you’d told her you marched in it?
My parents are actually very open and accepting of various orientations, although I know that poly would not be ok. They don’t go to the parade every year, but they’ve been more than once. I very nearly told her I marched in it…but then it was abruptly time to go.
Sometimes I think she can see what I’m going to say and thinks it best to keep me from saying it.