Page 3 of The Broposal

“Alejandro!” an anxious voice called as I lost control of the wheel and fell out of the circular formation.

I didn’t stop screaming in joy as the play car zoomed down the hill, going faster and faster until it was suddenly stopped by a thick tree.

“Alejandro!” the voice called again from a distance, though as she ran closer, her face was no clearer to me, even if I knew instinctually she was my mom.

The real car pulled to a stop much more gracefully than the one I’d crashed into that tree all those years ago.

Thanks to Kenny’s initial speeding, we got to the ball well before it started, so we were able to catch Leti before they got too busy.

Kenny and Jackie trailed behind as Tatiana eagerly pulled me inside. Tonight’s ball was at an art center that’d been decorated for the event. The walls had cobwebs, and there were pumpkin decorations on the tables. A stage and makeshift runway were set up in the middle of the room so the competitors could show off their personas.

All the categories were spooky. Kinky Kanines (werewolves), Sexy Spirits (ghosts), and Alluring Undead (zombies) in drag were scattered around, waiting for their turn to shine. Ballroom music played through the speakers, the bass shaking life into my veins. I wasn’t a Halloween fanatic or anything like that—that was all Kenny, at least before Jackie got weird about the makeup—but I always enjoyed Leti’s events, whatever season they came in. Being autistic, you’d think the loud music and crowds would be overstimulating, but these particular events were so familiar, they just felt safe.

I took Tatiana’s hand and guided her behind the stage to find Leti.

“Han! Tati!” Leti waved enthusiastically from across the room, then made their way toward us in style. They walked slowly to draw attention, snaking their hand around the shoulder of a would-be contestant and dipping, then twirling as they reached us. They wore a sparkling purple catsuit, a long pink wig, and a face full of drag makeup.

“My God, Tati, you look gorgeous!” Leti winked, “And, Han, you look… like my dad.”

I grinned, and Tatiana giggled at the compliment. She suddenly seemed way more Diana Prince than Wonder Woman. Still cool and confident but less like the star of the movie. Now Leti was the star.

“You look pretty great yourself,” Tatiana said, playfully touching Leti’s arm.

“As always.” Another wink. “So, Han, where’s your husband?”

“He’s with Jackie.” Kenny and I were voted “most likely to get married” in high school as a joke, but people still played it up whenever Jackie wasn’t around. Shehatedbeing reminded Kenny and I got that vote, considering she and Kenny were dating back then, and I doubt anyone voted forthatpairing.

“Jealous she’s hogging up your hubby?” Leti gave me a fake pouting face, and I rolled my eyes. I knew they were joking, but just because I wasn’t a fan of my best friend’s cartoon-villain girlfriend didn’t mean I was jealous.

“Five minutes.” Someone came from behind Leti, tapping their shoulder. Leti peeked over to the common area, which was getting crowded. They nodded and shooed us away.

We walked back to find Kenny and Jackie at a table next to the runway, so we’d be getting a great view. Elaborate costumes were everywhere, some folks sitting at tables and some standing idly around. I was surprised Jackie had agreed to come. Shewas the type of girl who made fun of Kenny for being soft and expressing his feelings “like a woman.”

Still, inviting Jackie was the only way Kenny could come. She bounced her leg and bit her nails. If I didn’t know better, I’d think she was anxious, but that wasn’t Jackie. She was just way out of her element. Who even knew what Jackie’s element was—she seemed to hate everything that wasn’t her job or being alone with Kenny.

I caught eyes with Tatiana, who glanced at Jackie and back at me.

She okay?she mouthed. Tatiana just didn’t know Jackie for the judgmental asshole she was.

Before I could respond, Leti stepped onstage.

“Welcome to the Ghoul Ball,” they said in a deep, sultry voice I’d only ever heard them use for moments like this. As they introduced themself and the judges, I got distracted by Jackie again.

“Sorry, he’s straight,” she called out to a drag queen who was making eyes at Kenny from another table. The queen rolled her eyes and got back to her conversation, but I couldn’t push down the embarrassment in my chest.

“What was the point of that?” I said, arms crossed. “He’s not even—”

“Kenny can speak for himself,” Jackie said, and I let out a bark of a laugh at her inability to see the irony.

Kenny looked a little offended, and I realized he might have thought I was laughing at the idea of him having his own agency, so I went on to clarify. “You’re right, so why did you say he’s straight?”

“Because heis,” Jackie said through gritted teeth.

“I’m not though?” Kenny said, shifting uncomfortably. “We’ve been over this, babe…”

Jackie rolled her eyes. “Of course you are. You’re with me, and I’m a woman. So you’re straight.”

As a straight man, even I could tell Jackie was completely missing the point. “That’s not how that—” I started, but Jackie interrupted, again.

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