Sweet treats for the literary, the musical, the feminine, and the generally filthy.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Q & A With Ms. Grace

The following are a cross-section of actual questions I have been asked (some as recently as last week), the answers I gave or wish I had given. Actual answers will be in normal typeface, and time-reversal fantasy answers will be in italics.

On Prostitutes:

10 year-old: What's a prostitute for?
Me: Sad men.
10 year-old: Yeah but what are they?
Me: (Trying not to get fired) Women who get paid to be pretty. Er...no...
10 year-old: Models in magazines get paid, right? They have to be pretty too, right? Are they prostitutes?
Me: Actually prostitutes don't have to be pretty at all.
10 year-old: So why do they get money?
Me: Because people are lonely and sad.
10 year-old: Why don't they just take Prozac?
Me: Good question.

On Homosexuality:

55 year-old man: Why do girls want girlfriends?
Me: Why do you?
Man: 'Cause I'm a man.
Me: ...
Man: And because they're beautiful, inspiring creatures.
Me: ...
Man: Ohhhh.

20 year-old art student: Why are girls with short hair lesbians?
Me: You're asking two questions.
Student: All the girls with short hair at this school are lesbians. So why do lesbians have short hair?
Me: Not all girls with short hair are lesbians. Not all lesbians have short hair.
Student: Then why does everyone ask if I'm gay because I have short hair?
Me: Maybe you're too friendly?

On Women:

20-something man: Then she asked me to spank her, like requested it. Why do women fight domestic violence so much if they actually want to be punished?
Me: *Swung and missed.*
Me: Domestic violence is not a fetish, it's a CRIME.  If women want pain with their pleasure, they have the right to request it.

20-something man (different one): Why are women attracted to assholes?
Me: It's usually something else they're attracted to, like high testosterone levels or confidence.
Me: Are you asking why anyone bothered to have sex with you?

With Strangers:

Man on the street, to me: HOW MUCH? 'EY! 'EY! HOW MUCH?
Me: Well, it's like 7k for butt implants, so I'd wager it's around $200 for your castration.

Man on the street (different one): Wutup, snow bunny??
Me: Oh, nothin', just doing white girl stuff.

With Ex-Boyfriends:

Me: Please don't fuck her.
BF: Why not?
Me: Because I'm in love with you.
BF: Why would you say that?
Me: *dies inside*
Me: Because I have the ability to express emotions with words instead of my dick, you heartless piece of shit.

BF(different): (In a rage) Why do all the cute girls like bird-chested skinny-ass dudes?
Me: Um, not ALL of them, obviously...
BF: No, no, I mean the really cute girls.
Me: Maybe because there's a lesser chance of their getting physically overpowered in a fight, you monster.

Then: A coworker: Haha, what happened to you? He beating you again? Haha.
Me: ...
Him: Oh, shit.

Then: the E.R. doctor: Why are you so embarrassed to be here?
Me: Because there's so many other people worse off.
Doc: Not really. He came close. You are very lucky.

Then: His "bros": Why did you file a restraining order against him?
Me: Because he tried to kill me.
Them: Why did you stay with him so long then?
Me: Because I was trapped in my own home, malnourished, forcibly sleep-deprived, physically overpowered and threatened regularly, and surrounded by witnesses too cowardly to help or speak up or do anything other than step over my bleeding body and then testify against me in court.

Then: My best friend: Are you going to quit your job and everything now?
Me: No.
Her: But you're in bad shape, why not?
Me: Because he won't take THAT from me also.

With Another Young Woman:
She: Has anything ever happened to you that you swore would never happen to you?
Me: Yes.

She: Are you a feminist?
Me: Yes.
She: Do you hate men?
Me: No.

With Current Boyfriend:

Me: Do you think you could help me load more boxes into my car today?
BF: I will help you load boxes until I'm old and gray.

Me: Why do you have to be SO handsome all the time?
BF: 'Cause you're so beautiful all the time.

Me: Darling, I'm sick and shat the bed. Can you please not look or breathe in??
BF: Oh, whatever. It's not that big a deal. I'll take you to Patient First.
Me: Should I bring a towel for your car seat?
BF: *wipes my tears*

BF: I love watching this show with you.
Me: (first time) I love...you!
BF: Well, I love you!
Me: You DO??
BF: Duh!


A note: All of these conversations happened in very close language to that which I used here, otherwise were summed up to indicate actual tone and meaning. These conversations only represent one profound snippet of those longer conversations. Hopefully some people's minds have broadened, and I'm glad I didn't get a call from an angry parent. 

In my job I often have to act as a cultural diplomat for many different cultures than my own, and my responses, delivered on the spot, required a great amount of understanding of the larger sociopolitical constructs that confuse and alienate citizens of the world. When delivering enlightening information to someone hearing it for the first time, therefore, we should be sensitive and empathetic while indicating the local implications of the question itself. 

I'd also like to note that while I have had more than two terrible relationships, I have had many more wonderful ones like the one I enjoy now. This represents not only my ability to connect with many different kinds of people (even the horrible ones), but my ability to bounce back, to forgive myself and not blame entire bushels for one bad apple. I encourage others to do the same, and read this if you're ever unsure about someone you're with: http://www.wikihow.com/Identify-a-Psychopath

Here's to living bravely, sincerely, and compassionately.

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JG