Who could possibly object?

An Alys-500 - a story that anyone can build on for a new story...

I go to the clubs – sometimes. Pubs, Winebars, Quiz Nights, Golf very occasionally, and a couple of others.

Sometimes, it’s me. Sometimes, increasingly often, it’s my sister Catherine who goes. She looks nothing like a Princess although she does have hair about the same. But she doesn’t have the shape – and she doesn’t have the style or the glamor. It’s a lot harder when you’re only a gurl.

We – and it’s kinda deliberate to use that pronoun – we’re both, so to speak, over 50, married with 1 son.

When it’s me at the club – I do sometimes look for people to talk to. Not the simple chit-chat that fills the time while meaning nothing – but the bigger subjects. I avoid the really big issues like Politics or Religion. Love one Another –what a joke.

How about a more complicated example, homosexuality. Even if I still let myself use that particular word -I don’t know any homosexuals well enough to discuss the subject – although I know 2 or 3 who are. I’m not particularly interested in who does what with what to whom – but – aren’t there some questions that can be asked. I don’t like not knowing about an issue that means so much to some people. And I don’t know anyone non-white to discuss discrimination.

Widening that topic and trying to avoid the physical bluntness of ‘Who does What with What to Whom and Where and When and Why’ – how do you talk about Love or Like let alone Lust. I’d like to have been able to turn at least a few female people from friends who are girls into girl-friends or even lovers. Somehow, it hasn’t happened very often.

I can’t think of anyone with whom I can discuss any subject of real import. I know people with very strong feelings on Christianity, abortion, Conservative-Labour, Trump-v-Republicans, Tax, NHS. Good-or-Evil. But available for discussion? NO.

Anyone who cross-dresses or has cross-dressed even as a teen? I know nobody who indulges in any fetish, BDSM or the like. How could I ask? It’s like the bible says -women who are having or recently had their period are banned form the temple – WHO is going to ask?

Strangely, NONE of these are topics that get talked about in the average bloke-gathering – or at least not in my experience.

My particular variety of strangenesses include – I like cooking, I like Gilbert & Sullivan, folk music, Vivaldi and Ragtime. I like waistcoats, I love rugby, I love panties and sleek satin, long hair, mathematical puzzles, Loire wines, photography. Over the years, I’ve avoided video games, computer games, Netflix and all social media.

I’d really like to be able to share more of who I am. I don’t like hiding Katherine. I actually think that Katherine could easily be a better, more interesting person than just-James.

And all I need to do to find out if this is true – is say to my friends -next time, "Hey folks, my names James and I like, love wearing dresses."