Deli Adventures

Today I present a cultural study. Admittedly, I am a character in this story, so there's only so much I can read into it. Bias noted!

I visited my parents today. Nicky and I needed to step out of each other's pockets for a moment so I took the opportunity to get up really early (read: 10am) and hop a train to the south-west. Mum was her usual brilliant self, and took me to a deli to stock up on good things

While at the deli, Mum and I bumped into the mother of a guy I went to school (primary and high school) with, let's call her Mrs Z. Pleasantries were exchanged, smalltalk was made. My mother asked after her two sons (the second had gone to school with my brother). It was then I discovered what one of my old classmates had been up to recently. He'd moved in with his girlfriend almost two years ago, and within two months, she was pregnant. Their son is currently six months old and, by all accounts, he is a great father. From all I remember of him, I'd imagine the man does make a good father.

After the obligatory viewing of baby photos, Mrs Z launched into a story about her son and his girlfriend going to see the local priest to set up their son's baptism (get 'em young). The priest had asked when my old classmate was going to marry his girlfriend. He mentioned financial barriers and was quickly rebuffed, something about love, the point being that you don't need to have a big celebration and why don't you just get married already?


It was at this point that I dearly wanted to interject with a joke about same-sex marriage and how, if Nicky and I could get married, we probably wouldn't want to throw buttloads of money away at our wedding. Picnic on a beach is my vote. Alas, the conversation moved on without an opening for me. Not to worry though! The baby grabbed focus again.


It was at this point that I did get to interject, apologising to Mum and saying that Nicky and I are aiming to have pets, and that it would be infinitely more difficult for us to have children.


Score for me! I got my brief moment of casual coming out laced with smiling snark at the patriarchy/haters!


Honourable mention goes to this moment in the conversation:
Mrs Z: So, did you move in with a bunch of girlfriends?
Me: No, just one girlfriend.


I am so witty.