Bloom
Pride on the Page Day #7
Each of the mini-essays I’m publishing for the month of June are part of a creative challenge to share joy during Pride. You can find out more in the link below. You can even participate, if you’d like!
7. Bloom
I was at the grocery store. It was the weekly stock-up trip. I had a list. I even stuck with it for once (references available upon request, but please don’t ask my wife). Produce and boxes and cans on the belt in tidy order, my reusable bags splayed out in the cart ready to load up. The person behind the register started scanning my stuff.
“Did you find everything you needed today, sir?”
I turned around to look for someone standing near me who fit the “sir” profile.
“Oh.” It was me. I was the sir. “Yes. Thanks.”
Nervously, I checked myself, my flat chest, the bit of beard scruff I was finally growing, my voice that was lower almost each day I tried it out, and I realized I’d been gendered correctly by a stranger. It was terrifying and amazing. I felt like I’d just gotten away with something. And then I corrected that inner voice and reminded myself that this is who I am. This is the real part.
And I bloomed.
Your trans friend,
Robin
@Robin Taylor (he/him)—what a moment. I read and felt the pulse of it — the quiet checking, the breath between the words, they look over the shoulder, than the recognition.
This sentence: “Oh. It was me.” — it says everything.
You let us witness it here without adding a single false note. And yes: you bloomed. I’m grateful you shared this moment with us.
Thank you for this contribution to today’s prompt: BLOOM in #PrideOnThePage, the creative challenge during Pride Month.
Sorry, but I had to laugh out loud at this. 😂 Yeah, man, she was talking to you. Felt good, huh? Stick that chest out. It's time to exhale. 😉 Happy Pride, SIR!