Page 2 of Nearly Roadkill
—WINC
So I wrote back:
To:Winc
From:Toobe
Subj:Read you LOUD and Clear
Got your message. Welcome to the Net! One little note: don’t write in ALL CAPS okay? That means you’re shouting when you’re online. And here’s a hug from me to you!
{{{{Winc}}}} means I’m hugging you. The more {{{{{{}}}}}}}, the bigger the hugs. A lot of people use them but they’re too cutesy. But I might give you a few sometimes. Or you can put stuff in double colons, like this: ::hugging you:: Anything in a double colon means an action, not what you’re actually saying. And if you want to emphasize something, just put an asterisk around the word; you may have noticed there’s no *italics*.
Have fun. I’m glad you’re here.
Your pal,
—Toobe
To:Toobe
From:Winc
Subj:Ohmigosh!
::shaking my head in amazement::
I am having so much *fun* here, Tooberoo! Sorry for the all caps, I’d never shout at you!
My mind is boggling at the possibilities of stretching who/what I am in this space.
—Winc
Winc always makes me feel good. Just when I think ze’s a major flake, ze comes through. Ze’s a friend, a real one. Doesn’t treat me like a kid. I’m glad ze doesn’t have to go to an office for work, which would kill hir like it kills most people.
A couple of weeks later, ze sends me this:
To:Toobe
From:Winc
Subj:Ohmigosh!
This is amazing! ‘Drag Queen’ is a mighty popular thing, I discovered. (Did you know this already?) Thank you thank you for introducing me to all this! And you’ve been traveling in this world all this time? You are one wise cookie, don’t you ever forget that, you hear me?
{{{{{{{{Toobe}}}}}}}}}
This online stuff: I can explore different ways of relating with people. I can be brave one night, timid the next. I can saunter or mince, attract or pursue.
Know what I mean, bean?
—Winc
I totally get what ze means, and I have no idea why ze knows I would, but I’m glad. Even if I act like a shit sometimes, ze still keeps talking to me like I understand, and so… I do.
END TOOBE ENTRY
To:Editor, They/Them magazine
