Doesn't GAY Mean Happy?

She heard a young child quietly crying. That child was wiping the tears from watery eyes. She wondered if she should say something. "Give the child a minute," she told herself. "Let the child have a moment. Everyone needs a moment to work through their grief."

As the child's breathing slowed and tears were blotted dry, she asked that small person, "Are you okay? You seem very sad." Deep breath, interrupted with quick short sniffles. "Heave-ho," the chest physically vibrated.
"Some kids said I was gay."
"Gay? Doesn't gay mean happy?" she asked, allowing the child to control the conversation.
"Yes, I think so, but... they meant boys-like-boys, girls-like-girls gay."
"Why did they say that to you, why do you think?" she wondered.
"I don't know. One of them said that the color of my eyes were not like theirs so I must be gay."
The adult in her simply said, "They are just uneducated, uninformed". The feeling miffed person said, "Ignore them."

Gaily, life went on. Mostly, the young child enjoyed happy days; with many days trying to figure out what life means - only in a way a young child is capable of.

~~~

She heard a preteen youth quietly crying. That almost teen was wiping the tears from watery eyes. She wondered if she should say something. "Give the youth a minute," she told herself. "Let the youth have a moment. Everyone needs a moment to work through their grief."

As the preteen's breathing slowed and tears were blotted dry, she asked that not so small, not quite grown person, "Are you okay? You seem very sad." Deep breath, interrupted with quick short sniffles. "Heave-ho," the chest physically vibrated.
"Some kids said I was gay."
Why did they say that to you, why do you think?" she wondered.
"I don't know. Some of the kids think I am different. One day someone is my friend, the next day they don't talk to me".
"How does that make you feel?," she questioned.
"I feel bad. I just want a friend I can trust, be myself with."
The adult in her simply said, "Just be patient. Somewhere, a friend is waiting in the wings". The feeling miffed person said, "Ignore them."

Gaily, life went on. Mostly, the preteen enjoyed happy days; with many days trying to figure out what life means - only in a way a preteen is capable of.

~~~

She heard a teenager quietly crying. That teenager was wiping the tears from watery eyes. She wondered if she should say something. "Give the teen a minute," she told herself. "Let the teen have a moment. Everyone needs a moment to work through their grief."

As the teenager's breathing slowed and tears were blotted dry, she asked that close to being an adult person, "Are you okay? You seem very sad." Deep breath, interrupted with quick short sniffles. "Heave-ho," the chest physically vibrated.

"I don't want to ruin the dynamics of a nuclear family. I don't want to disappoint anyone," the teen emotionally forced the words out of rather strong vocal cords.
"Why do you say that?" she soothingly asked, already knowing the answer.
"I am gay," the teen stated, voice quavering; falling to the floor, emotionally overwhelmed.
She knelt next to that teen; told that teen to always be true, true to who you are.

Gaily, life went on. Mostly, the teenager enjoyed happy days; with many days trying to figure out what life means - only in a way a close to being an adult teen is capable of.