The Big Mistake........................Arion

Fifteen years ago I was a successful bookseller. I had my own shop, and there was nothing I liked better than cruising other people's bookstores and meeting my colleagues. Besides the fact that 95% of other bookdealers were very friendly people, we loved to swap stories and trade marketing tips.

So, on this particular day I was in a little hole-in-the-wall bookshop called Fantasy Etc. It was a Sci-Fi-Only shop located in the heart of the biggest Gay neighborhood in San Francisco. The owner was a guy named Charlie, and he loved his work. I had been telling him about how I had scored a First Edition of the Lord of the Rings (true story!) when one of his regular customers came in. I politely excused myself and began to examine his vintage Tarzan books on a nearby shelf.

Now, this customer was a very Butch-looking woman: overalls, heavy boots, buzz-cut hair. It was easy to tell that she was a resident of the neighborhood.

Now, for some reason she got into a quarrel with Charlie. I think it was about music, but whatever it was she was shooting down his argument with great scorn. Finally, after he tried to make his point, she snarled at him, "That's about as likely as THAT guy," she pointed at me, "asking a girl out on a date!"

I turned, looked at her, and I went very cold. Then I walked over and put my hand on my chest and turned my face into a dramatic look of tragedy. "Oh, us poor forgotten heteros!"

The woman went bright red, turned, and walked out the door.

Charlie was laughing out loud, and didn't stop for several minutes.

To this very day I have to wonder: do I really look Gay to other people?

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