THE PENDULUM SWINGS DUE QUEER

THE PENDULUM SWINGS DUE QUEER BY MATTHEW LUCAS BECKETT Sandra and Sara watched as President Frag's right hand put the final signature on The Marriage Readjustment Act, legalizing Gay Marriage throughout the entire country. “YES!” shouted Sara, jumping to her feet. “Take that, Homophobes!” Her sister Joyce and brother-in-law Troy, sitting on the couch next to the two of them, were less excited. But even their expressions couldn't match the maroon color of Conser Votive Omoplohf's face. “And with that signature,” he said through clenched teeth. “President Fag, I mean, Frag, ends marriage as we know it. This country is literally going to Hell in a Hand Basket. And I will not be part of it. Bad Bye. I'll see you all in Hell.” Then he puled a gun out from under his desk, put it to his head and pulled the trigger. All four gasped. They had chosen to watch the event on this channel because they wanted to see his reaction, but none of them had expected quite this strong a reaction. “Of course,” said Troy. “None of us were expecting quite such a sweeping bill. Don't get me wrong, Sara. . .” he quickly added as his sister-in-law started to speak. “I've always supported you and Sandra's right to marry, I just didn't expect it to come accompanied by the termination of Joyce and my marriage.” For The Marriage Readjustment Act redefined marriage as exclusively between two man or two women. “I sympathize,” Sandra offered. “But maybe in a few years, the pendulum will return to center and there can just be equality. On the other hand, we've been denied for seven years, so, obviously not you two, but the larger heterosexual community can get a taste of what it's like not to be. . .” Troy nodded. “I understand, Sandra, there's no need to explain.” He turned to Joyce. “I love you very much, but since we'll now be living in sin anyway, as our marriage has just been invalidated. Well, to be perfectly honest, there's a part of me that's always had a thing for your brother Frank. . .” “Troy,” said Joyce. “I understand. I've known from the first time we made love that your heart, more to the point your hormones, weren't really in it. I was just the closest you could get to him under the old system, and I know you've had a crush on him since High School. Go be with him. Our marriage was always more of a friendship than a romance anyway.” Ten seconds later, Troy was gone. Shocked by how suddenly this had happened, even though she'd kind always known that it was really Frank, too, Sara turned to her sister. “What will you do now, Joyce?” she asked. Joyce thought a moment. “If it's all right, I'll stay with you for a few days. You'll be planning a wedding soon, and that is what I do.” “Of course,”said Sara, after looking to Sandra and getting a heart felt nod from her. Then she went to a drawer, pulled out a small box and got on one knee in front of Sandra. “Sandra Davidson Elia, Sammy, will you marry me?” “Yes, I will, Sara Hearthstone Loveall,” Sammy replied. “When we're ready, we can adopt children, or go through some kind of artificial insemination.” “Yes,” said Sara. “But that's YEARS away. For now, let's just focus on the moment at hand.” “Agreed,” said Sammy. Joyce nodded her agreement also, she and Troy had obviously never had children either. Then the three of them started planning a wedding.