Chapter 4
Frankly, I stared. It gave me something to distract from contemplating our current situation.
We had been walking for maybe twenty minutes when my companion chuckled.
“What?” I said automatically.
“So, you really like the word?”
“What word?”
“Faggot.”
“Oh.” I felt a frisson of something then, but said, “Yeah, I do.”
“Why’s that?” He sounded amused.
“Well,” I said. “For one thing, it’s a great word, very—pungent, earthy, to the point. And for another, taking it to myself, I’m like—you know—what Blacks have done with the n-word—made it a word of affirmation.”
“Empowerment?”
“Oh, no!” I said. “I hatethat word!”
My companion made a surprised noise. Then he said, “Why’s that?” Again he sounded amused
“Well,” I said. “What is power? It’s the ability to push other people, or things, around. I don’t want to boss anybody—well, not most of the time,” I added. “I just want to live my life, and let others live theirs.”