More Things Unspoken

By: Kristi Stevens (View Profile)


My children are now eleven and eight, and although I do realize their sexuality is not fully developed, I see no signs that either of them will be gay. My mom has dodged an enormous bullet here. I confess I have a teeny-tiny fantasy that involves me calling my mom and explaining to her that one of my children will be having a destination wedding in California because they aren’t allowed to legally marry their betrothed in Texas. All indications are, this will remain a fantasy.

However, there is one bit of wedding drama hope left, thanks to my fabulous son. This past spring, I suspected he had a crush on a girl in his class named Autumn. Our family is new to the school this year and Autumn doesn’t live in our part of the neighborhood so I knew nothing about her. One morning in carpool, just before my son’s eleventh birthday party invitations were due to be sent out, he says from the back seat:

“Hey, there’s Autumn!”

Me, rubbernecking to get a good look: “Where? The girl in blue?”

Him: “No, the other one.”

Okay …  there were lots more than just ONE other one.

Me: “The one in the red shirt?”

Him: “No, the one in the pink.”

Me: “Which one in pink?”

Him, with a huge eye-roll: “Mom! The one with the pink pants and the braids.”

Braids? Plural? I don’t see a girl with even one braid … ohhh, wait …

Me, realizing I had failed to see the beautiful little black girl in pink pants and a white shirt: “Oh, I didn’t see her at first. She looks nice.”

Him: “She is.”

Me, silently praying the answer to this question will be yes: “Are you inviting her to your birthday party?”

Him: “No, I don’t think so.”

Damn … and my mom dodges another bullet. Oh well, there is always the wedding.

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posted: 11.17.2008
Jamie
ok, i was lmao'ing thru this WHOLE story.
posted: 10.17.2008
Kimberly Hampton
OMG.. I laughed out loud!!! It is always fun to see people's expressions when toddlers and pre-schoolers use the appropriate terms for their body parts.
posted: 10.13.2008
Heather Snyder
Sounds like my grandmother. I dated a black guy once and my mother took great pleasure in informing my grandmother of this. The expression on my grandmother's face was priceless.
posted: 08.06.2008
Ella
What a great story. I was hoping your son would invite the little girl in the pink pants to his birthday. But at least your mom dodged another bullet.
posted: 07.31.2008
Pinkyfinger
the fantasy about one of your kids being gay really made me laugh. I've done that too.
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