Page 42 of Nearly Roadkill

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Mythter:Right.

Gyrl:But everyone in the town *wanted* to see her.

Mythter:Hey, who’s telling this story?

Gyrl:::clamping hands over my mouth::

Mythter:They wanted to know if she was a boy or a girl.

BillJo:So, Gyrl, why do you suppose gender is such a big deal, nowadays?

Beatitudes:A time to go along, a time to question.

Gyrl:Zactly, and maybe now’s just a time to question.

Mythter:And it’s gonna get worse before better.

Webster:Worse?

Gyrl:Mythter’s right. When folks in power hear the voices of people who’ve got no gender… there’s gonna be a mighty big backlash… and it’s not gonna be pretty.

Genuine1:{{{{{Gyrl}}}}}

Webster:I fear you’re right. Backlash enough already.

Private Message to Mythter

Gyrl:Sorry, I had to jump in there big time. You were saying…

Mythter:You’re really good, carrying on with me and with them.

Gyrl:Well you too!

Gyrl:::gently:: OK, Genuine1… do you have a gender?

Private Message to Gyrl

Mythter:The mayor and the town council convened to do something about it. They brought her to trial on charges of sedition.

Gyrl:Eeeep!

Mythter:“You are disturbing the natural order,” they said to her. “You must tell us if you are a boy or are you a girl!”

Mythter:On the day of the trial, a fool happened to walk into town.

Gyrl:::softly:: And this fool stood up to speak?

Mythter:::nodding:: Uh huh. And the fool asked the townspeople what all the fuss was. And the townspeople said “This gyrl is an abomination.”

Gyrl:::wincing::

Mythter:“This gyrl is disturbing the natural order,” they said.

Mythter:“How?” asked the fool. “She will not tell us if she is truly a girl,” cried the townspeople.

Gyrl:::curling up closer to you, listening::

Mythter:“We cannot see her!” cried the townspeople.

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