“It’s like a gay wonderland, isn’t it?”
“What do you mean?” I turned, shocked.
“Well, look,” he pointed out the rainbow. “It’s like it was made for me.”
“Oh,” I said blankly, unmoved. “Okay…” Did that mean he was gay, or… God, I hoped he meant happy. My loins twitched.
He ran out into the clearing. Okay, so he didn’t like bushwalks. But did he really have to look so gay? It made me nervous. I walked slowly after him.
“Come on, Matt, don’t be such a stiff!” he called back to me.
I had to repress a shudder. Telling your mate you’re gay then making jokes is not cool.
—
Prompt from Madison Woods‘ blog.
littlewonder2 
May 17, 2012 at 10:57 pm
this is a good example of having to separate the writer from the writing. what i mean is that the character seems to possibly have an anti-gay attitude. not sure, but it seems that way. i don’t like anti-gay attitudes, but that’s the real world. there are lots of anti gay people out there. so then i have to wonder (which you have no obligation to answer) are you writing because you are anti gay, or are you writing to show us someone who is anti gay? so, while i don’t like the character, i’m affected by the character, which is what good writing is supposed to do. like when i wrote about an abused dog, people hated out that felt to read it, but that’s what’s supposed to happen, and we have to separate the two things. so, further so, you’ve successfully affected me by showing me a character that i don’t like.
May 17, 2012 at 10:59 pm
Thanks. And no, I’m not anti-gay.
May 17, 2012 at 11:00 pm
didn’t think so, but it’s a valid question. many years ago i was, but then i learned i was wrong.
May 17, 2012 at 11:02 pm
That’s good. I like when people turn around like that. 🙂
May 17, 2012 at 11:16 pm
when i was a kid, “fag” and “gay” were like “is” and “are” for me. i didn’t have negative intentions. i wasn’t putting down people who were gay. if i saw a movie i didn’t like, i would say it was “gay.” but i didn’t realize that people who were gay would make the connection that i was calling something “gay” as equal to “bad,” and they would equate that with me calling them “bad.” i did not mean or feel that, but that doesn’t stop someone from being hurt by it. if i called someone a “fag” it was because they did something i didn’t like. when we called someone “fag,” we didn’t mean gay. we meant, “not cool.” but we didn’t know how gay people might feel about that. we weren’t smart enough to care.
May 17, 2012 at 11:27 pm
Okay, I suppose I can see where you’re coming from. I actually had never even thought of “fag” as anything else.
May 17, 2012 at 11:32 pm
well, when i was in that frame of mind, it was about 35 years ago. things are a lot different now.
May 17, 2012 at 11:37 pm
Well, I guess I was taught differently. I learned the word kinda late, but still.
May 19, 2012 at 2:24 am
Interesting thread. Back when I was a kid words like “fag” and “gay” were never used, but “homo” and “moe” were. Obviously they were negative but they were never meant (at least in my circle) to be hurtful, just as a way to say that someone wasn’t ‘tough’ or ‘cool’.
May 19, 2012 at 2:28 am
“Moe”. That’s one I haven’t heard.
I’ve heard “homo”, though. Sometimes, in my sister’s circle, they extend the word “gay” into being “homosexual”, though.
It seems to me there can be no doubt in that word, but I tend to think they don’t mean it hurtfully, no matter how it sounds to me.
May 18, 2012 at 1:21 am
Good incorporation of the prompt. Too bad the gays have stolen the rainbow, eh? Between them and the goths there’s a monopoly on all the freakin’ colors.
(And I mean this jokingly, of course. But still. XD)
May 18, 2012 at 5:30 am
That is such a good point. 🙂 But what about white?
May 18, 2012 at 8:35 am
I thought about that. Probably Evangelical preachers?
May 19, 2012 at 1:39 am
Maybe brides?
May 18, 2012 at 12:02 pm
I loved this! Definitely not expected. What a great way for the character to come out of the closet. Talk about seizing the day! 🙂
http://theforgottenwife.com/2012/05/17/friday-fictioneers-2/
May 18, 2012 at 12:16 pm
I noticed the twitch of loins maybe if he gets over himself he mayfind his rainbow
May 18, 2012 at 12:17 pm
Here’s mine http://createrealitylivelife.wordpress.com/in-the-eyes-of-tragedy/
May 19, 2012 at 1:53 am
Interesting, really, and could be taken so many ways. I get the feeling that the one being told is perhaps repressing some of his own feelings in there.
Mine: http://writetuit.wordpress.com/2012/05/18/friday-fictioneers-rainbow-faeries/
May 19, 2012 at 2:00 am
Okay, it took me a while to figure this one out – because where I live, “mate” means “romantic/sexual partner, probably gay because otherwise you’d just say husband or wife as appropriate”. (It’s probably a temporary usage – likely to fade away come legal gay marriage.) So when the narrator called the other man his “mate”, I assumed they were a couple. It wasn’t till I started reading the comments that I made the Australian connection.
Anyway – good job of characterization from within! And I wonder what happens next…
My story – http://newpillowbook.wordpress.com/2012/05/18/friday-fictioneers-finding-the-gold/
May 19, 2012 at 2:07 am
Really. I’m Australian, so mate always just means friend.
Well, anyway, thanks. And indeed, what happens next… 🙂
May 19, 2012 at 2:12 am
I thought this subject might come up. I am pro-human but have a problem with the ‘too much information’ homosexuality demands. The human emotion of joy is universal as well as feelings of discomfort. Your post expressed both accurately IMHO….
May 19, 2012 at 2:26 am
I see this as a great play on words. The narrator is also trying to hide his real self, otherwise why would his loins twitch? A clearly different and unexpected take on the prompt and boldy written to generate debate. Mine is here: http://readinpleasure.wordpress.com/2012/05/18/friday-fictioneers-sinking-low/
May 19, 2012 at 2:27 am
And making jokes using the word “stiff” is probably also not cool. One thing that confused me is when the narrator’s loins twitched. It seemed that he was put off by his friend’s appearance and possible sexuality, but the focus on his loins made me think that maybe he liked that?
Mine is here:
http://michaelsfishbowl.wordpress.com/2012/05/18/and-the-angels-sing/
May 19, 2012 at 2:40 am
He’d be the last to admit it though, even to himself, I think.
May 19, 2012 at 2:44 am
I didn’t read anything negative in it at all, more tongue in cheek and a realistic thought process. It was a weird setting to come out, although I imagined he’d been looking for a way to say it and not make it a big deal – relieved that the rainbow gave him a prompt and an opportunity to make a joke. I liked the story.
http://mysocalleddutchlife.wordpress.com/2012/05/17/friday-fictioneers/
May 19, 2012 at 2:54 am
Many thoughts entered my mind reading this. Some people very dear to me are gay. I love them dearly. I got a notion of anti-gay attitude, but then, ‘his loins twitched’, so is he repressing his own feelings? Good post, Left me hanging, wondering what was going to happen. Good job. http://oldentimes.wordpress.com/2012/05/17/can-it-be-friday-fictioneers-may-18-2012/
May 19, 2012 at 3:37 am
A good piece, which asks as many questions as it answers – and his discomfort was so well portrayed.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment on ours!
http://www.lazuli-portals.com/flash-fiction/a-cordello-memory
May 19, 2012 at 4:06 am
A thought provoking piece. And nicely done too.
http://castelsarrasin.wordpress.com/2012/05/17/pursuit-friday-fictioneers-may-2012/
May 19, 2012 at 4:31 am
An interesting look at how the mind twists upon itself when there’s something a person doesn’t want to / can’t admit just yet. Good job with this one.
Brian (http://pinionpost.com/2012/05/18/wake-up-where/)
May 19, 2012 at 4:50 am
I think my room mate and I would love this story. It’s great and funny with full on snark. I’m not going to read into whats not there and just enjoy the story for what it was…HIL-LA-RI-OUS. Here’s mine: http://remakingme-atiyatownes.blogspot.com/2012/05/friday-flash-fiction-country-walk.html
May 19, 2012 at 6:27 am
Totally different interpretation of the prompt! I didn’t think he was anti-gay, but the twitching loins comment mighta been what threw me (assuming that’s loins for groin and not the alt definition for the term). He didn’t quite seem disgusted to me. I guess it’s a matter of interpretation. Made me thoughtful for sure. Good on that.
My attempt: http://unduecreativity.wordpress.com/2012/05/17/fields-of-wildflowers/
May 19, 2012 at 7:04 pm
I thought this an expertly written play of words inspired by the prompt. I strive to never go where others might when considering each photo and it strikes me that you nailed it to the wall here. Good job.
Aloha,
Doug
May 20, 2012 at 12:05 am
Hi littlewonder! I thought you conveyed the character’s disgust or at least discomfort at his friend’s revelation really well. It made me feel uncomfortable to read it, but as other commenters have pointed out – that makes for successful fiction, and kudos to you for braving that place!
Thanks for your comment on mine. your readers can find it over here: http://elmowrites.wordpress.com/2012/05/18/friday-fiction-the-lie-of-the-land/
May 20, 2012 at 12:13 pm
A homo-phobe’s worst nightmare?
This was fun to read! 🙂
Parul
http://faitaccompli.wordpress.com/2012/05/20/alicia-in-wonderland/
May 21, 2012 at 7:03 am
I liked this, in part because I’m left wondering if the Matt’s not more afraid of what’s inside himself than his friend.
Kathy
http://notforallmarkets.wordpress.com/