Proud Couple

By Tristan, Irene, and Sally

It was a July day, around 7:00 pm. Holding a cupful of coffee, Mark was strolling on the road to the London Drugs store.  He was distractedly glancing at Facebook news, when he saw an announcement about a pride event.  That made him very excited because he was looking for a new boyfriend, so he kept walking delightedly focused on his phone.

A woman with a buzz-cut hair style was in a gay fashion shop, browsing through the men’s clothing section to get a new outfit for pride festivities. After a few minutes, she was leaving the boutique and admiring her new rainbow stockings.

However, one second after having unlatched the door, somebody bumped her. It was Mark. He was awkwardly apologizing; his cup of coffee had stained her new pair of socks.  “Oh God, how stupid I am. I feel so regretful!” Mark shouted.

Not very convinced, the girl groaned, “Hmm... It’s okay. Never mind.”

Mark tried to plot a fast way to compensate for his mistake. “Could I invite you to drink something tonight to indemnify this awful blunder?” he asked.

“Okay, I’ll grant you a chance,” she uttered.

“Perfect!  So, what’s your name?” Mark asked.

At that juncture, the girl recognized him and all of a sudden remembered everything. Mark and she had been schoolmates a long time ago, and it seemed like Mark hadn’t realized yet that she was a girl.

Not to disappoint him, she pretended to be a male and she hid her authentic name, Susan, by declaring, “My name is Sam...Sam Waterford.”

"Okay, Sam. Where would you like to drink? You look agitated. Just relax and choose the best pub around here!” exclaimed Mark with joviality.  

#

The place Sam chose was her favorite pub. Sam and Mark were of the same age with similar interests and values, and Sam knew Mark and he felt familiar with Sam. They quickly became friends with endless beer and conversation.

However, at this time, Sam failed to control the amount of alcohol she drank in the excitement of meeting her long-loved friend again, and eventually fell into a state of high spirits.

"You know this, Mark?" Sam abruptly opened her mouth and began to speak randomly.

"I'm your high school classmate. Do you know Susan? That's me!"

"Pardon me?" Mark asked back. "You and I are alumni? I don't think I've seen you at school." 

"That's normal, Mark. How did you see me before? I'm not a man, but soon..." Sam replied vaguely. 

"I think you're a man, Sam. I don't know what you're talking about. I think you're drunk," Mark answered with embarrassment, and he tried to end the drinking.