On gender, look, sexuality and all that.
This is Paula. Long time ago, she lost one of her breasts due to breast cancer, but she was lucky enough to have it detected early that she is now still alive and leading a quite happy life. She has no boyfriend.
This is Marco. He’s a gay and he’s gone public about it. He spends most of his time in the gym, developing his muscle mass and building his macho look.
This is Angela, who has a girlfriend named Lora. She always prefers to be called bisexual to lesbian. However, her close friends can tell that she is indeed a lesbian although she doesn’t want to admit it. She hasn’t seen any guy in a while.
This is Claire, previously known as James, a cheerful and obsessed transsexual. Until now, she has undergone numerous surgeries and transplantations. She’s still working it out: her ideal female look.
Now, this is the bar where they are hanging out as close friends. This is the glass which Paula is holding while telling her story and concerns about getting breast transplantation.
“I feel like I’m about to tip over! The problem is that my remaining breast seems bigger and is awkward without its match.”
“Well,” Claire says, “go for it, babe. I notice that your shirt always wrinkles where your left breast had been. If it gives you back your confidence, I’ll definitely say go for it.”
“Think how stressful the surgery would be on your body,” Angela adds. “Are you ready for that sort of stress? Is your body ready? I’d do it for a nose or an ear. But probably not for a breast.”
“What’s the difference?” Claire wanted to know.
“If a body part that is basically just flesh and fat turns on you, if it’s sick, who wants it?”
“You can say that now,” Marco says, “because you’re a lesbian.”
“I’m not a lesbian. I have a girlfriend, but I’m not one. What does my sexual preference have to do with any of this anyway?”
Claire says, “Back in high school, you would have chosen the transplantation, when you were straight, or pretending to be.”
“I wasn’t pretending!”
“Come on you two, don’t fight.” Paula is worried.
“We’re not fighting, we’re discussing,” Claire says. “Now that you are with women, Angela, you don’t have to look as good. You don’t have to worry about pleasing men.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Angela says, looking at Paula and Marco.
“It’s not ridiculous,” Claire argues. “Listen, men get pleasure visually, from seeing. Everyone knows this. You know this, Angela. And you’d admit it if you’re honest.”
Claire takes a sip, “It’s not about vanity; it’s about a man’s judgment. That’s why you, Angela, get to be fat, and in contrary, Marco lives at the gym. Not to mention that’s also why I am what I am now.”
Marco laughs hard. “She’s not saying that you’re fat, Angela, you’re fine.”
Claire adds, “Yup, I’m talking about a majority here. Think about your new girlfriend. What’s her name, Leona, Laura?”
“Lora,” Paula adds, “She’s very nice.”
“That’s right. I’m sure she is nice, sweet as can be, heart of gold and all that, but I bet her buttock is as huge as that girl’s, over there,” Claire’s pointing at a short-haired girl on the other side of the bar. “And I bet she doesn’t have to worry about her buttock because she’s nice; because you, Angela, and women in general, don’t care one way or another about her butt. What we care most is how nice a person is. Or, in the worst case scenario, a financial support, I guess.”
Claire finishes her drink and says, “Do you want another? I’m going to the restroom first.”
When Claire’s already far from the rest, Paula says, “I want my breast.”
Angela, who seemed to have lost her voice minutes ago, now talks, “She’s nuts. I can’t believe what comes out of her mouth.”
“She just likes to talk.” Marco says.
“She’s right, you know. Claire’s right. I hate it when she’s right.”
