I’m still out two and a half weeks later for the Myth League conference championship, which leaves too big a hole in our defense that the team can’t seem to make up for. Wolfe plays a spectacular game, blocking all but one shot, but it’s not enough, and we lose to the Monsters.
I’m finally cleared to go back to practice the next day, but we don’t even know if our season will continue because while teams who won their division automatically qualify, the rest of us get to wait until tomorrow. Everyone is restless at morning practice, and Hawke sends us home early.
“What do you want to do today?” I ask as we shuffle in from practice.
“Why don’t we watch movies?” Wolfe is digging in the fridge and pulls out a Dr. Pepper. “What’s your favorite gay movie? Let’s watch it. I need to be educated on gay media.” Every time he opens his mouth, I’m shocked.
“What? Why? There’s not a test.”
“I have years of bisexualing to catch up on. I’ve only seen a few gay movies, and I don’t want to be ignorant!”
“To who?”
“Anyone! What if I’m asked about it?” He looks at me like I’ve lost my mind, and maybe I fucking have.
“Who is going to be asking you about gay media?”
“Could come up in an interview–I don’t know.” He makes himself three sandwiches, then puts two on a plate, adds some chips and a pickle, and brings it to me. He’s been taking care of me since the concussion, and I really don’t want him to stop.
“What gay movies have you seen?” It shouldn’t be strange, but I guess I just don’t expect straight men to interact with queer media.
“All the usual well-known ones, Brokeback, God’s Own Country, Castaway?—”
“Wait, what?” I cut him off. “Castaway?”
He has to be getting the title wrong.
“Castaway… Have you seen it?” Wolfe says again, clearer.
“The movie where he’s stuck on the island?” Am I losing my mind? “How is that gay?”
“Have you even seen it?” He sits down with his plate, looking at me like I’m uncultured.
“Yeah, what gay plot?”
“Did you miss the entire intimate relationship?” Wolfe puts a hand to his chest, taken aback.
“I’m so confused. He was alone…” I feel like I’m being gaslit.
“Did you forget Wilson?”
“The ball?” I blink.
“Yes, Wilson. Who he loved. The guy who got him through the most tragic events of his life.” Wolfe is shaking his head at me.
“Are you suggesting he fucked the ball? Did we watch the same damn movie?”
“First off, you do not have to fuck someone to be gay, and you obviously haven’t seen it. It’s very passionately gay and an allegory.” He bites the pickle and sighs.
“Do you even know what allegory means?” I ask, half yelling because this is absurd.
“Better than you, it seems.”
“I don’t think volleyballs have gender.”
“Are you being transphobic right now? Wilson uses he/him pronouns in the movie, and like I said, allegory.”
“I cannot believe I’m about to ask this, but what is it an allegory for?” I’m not sure if it’s worse that he believes this or that I’m asking.
