March 16, 2008: False Confessions

So Scott and I are tilling my front yard today, peeling back a layer of weeds and topsoil in preparation for sod later next week.

As we're working away, two men walk up, all excited and friendly. They shake my work-gloved hand and wave to Scott, whom I introduce as "my buddy Scott."

Now, I'll admit that people sometimes aren't my priority and I just run a mental shell script while they talk at me, thus freeing my mind for more interesting things like story problems or the enduring mysteries of human existence.

So after I said that, the nodding routine ran.

Which is when one of the men motioned to his companion and said, "You mean buddies like us, right?"

And I kept nodding.

A few seconds passed, and then I realized after a mention of how cool the "scene " is in Avondale and an invitation to cocktails that I'd in fact told two gay strangers that Scott and I are also gay.

Now there's the awkward issue of correcting the impression without effectively repudiating them by saying, in effect, "Holy shit. Did I accidentally say we were gay? 'Cause we're not, just FYI."

Still somewhat stunned and distracted, I watched as they left without saying anything. They're seasonal visitors to the area, so maybe I won't see them very often. I don't mind being thought gay, particularly; I'm just concerned about how to explain the mystery of Aimee without making it look like I was conning them.

Here's hoping it doesn't come up, at least until the next episode of my sitcom life.

The lesson in the meantime? When in conversational autopilot, SHAKE your head instead of NODDING it.

Posted by Will Ludwigsen on March 16, 2008 6:05 PM | Permalink