Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Gender (07/06/23)
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TITLE: What Do You Think About That? | Previous Challenge Entry
By Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom
07/13/23 -
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The mom was scowling at the little boy. A group of kids came up, pointed at him, and laughed. They all shouted at once. “Sissy!” “Real boys don’t wear purple!“ “You look like Fancy Nancy!”
Putting his hands on his hips, the boy said, “I can like any color I want.” He bent over and picked up a doll and held it close. The obnoxious kids just pointed, laughed harder, and muttered some really mean words before running off.
Suddenly, the mother yanked the doll out of the boy’s arms and started shouting. “I told you not to bring that with you. You never listen! Your father will be furious if he finds out I let you come out wearing purple and carrying a doll.” She chucked the doll across the blanket and shoved a truck in front of him. “Here play with this.” The doll rolled down a hill, quite a distance from the boy, who started to cry.
Wrigley sighed and snuggled closer to Grandma who wrapped her arm around her granddaughter. Raising her eyebrows, Grandma whispered, “What do you think of that?”
“Pitiful!” Wrigley shook her head. “I don’t get it. Couldn’t she tell the boy was embarrassed by those other kids? Why would she make him feel worse? It’s obvious the doll is a comfort item, yet she threw it away. Why, Grandma?“
Grandma and Wrigley looked back at the group. The little boy had tears plopping down his face. Shrugging her shoulders, Grandma said, “Know what Grandpa Fieldings said when your father was teased for playing with dolls?“
Smiling, Wrigley nodded. “Yep, that he’d grow up to be a good dad. And he was right, huh? He’s the best dad ever! So why does that boy’s parents care? You know Grandma, there’s so much stuff I don’t understand. There’s a kid in 6th grade who used to be called Tim, but now he wants to be called Tiff and she or her.”
Grandma looked Wrigley in the eyes. “What do you think about that?“
Tapping her finger on her chin, Wrigley hesitated before she answered. “I think it must feel terrible to think you don’t belong in your body, and Tiff must really hurt and feel broken. If me calling her by a different name helps that pain, then I don’t mind. I feel bad if I forget and say he, but Tiff said at least I’m trying and that means a lot.“ Wrigley kicked her feet against the bench. “What makes you feel like a girl, Grandma?“
“Mainly being a mom and grandmother. What about you?”
Again, Wrigley shrugged. “Nothing. I don’t really like make-up, girl clothes, and I’m smart. Smarter than most of the boys, even in math and science. And I’m really good at soccer. Remember when I played on the co-ed team? Those boys were older, but I played just as good and never whined when I got smacked with the ball.” Wrigley wiggled her eyebrows. “But I like stuffed animals and purple looks fabulous on me.” This time she sighed. “I don’t feel like a girl or a boy, I just feel like Wrigley.”
She glanced at the family again and slipped her hand into Grandma's. “I think if people accepted everyone for who they are, maybe it wouldn’t be such a big deal. Instead people judge on skin color, looks, who they vote for, silly things. It didn’t hurt Dad to play with dolls. And it shouldn’t matter if Tiff wants to be called she. It only matters how we treat people. If we’re all made in God’s image, God probably doesn’t look like anything we can imagine. And I bet he wants us to be empathetic.”
They got up and started to walk by the little boy. Wrigley frowned when she noticed he was still crying. She ran over, picked up his doll, and handed it to him. “Ya know what happens to boys who play with dolls? They become great parents. Oh and you look fabulous in purple!”
The mother stood there with her mouth hanging open, but at least she let the boy keep the doll. The little boy smiled and said, “Thanks.“
Grandma kissed Wrigley. “I’m so blessed to be your grandma. You’re one of a kind! I love you, Wrigs.”
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