Name

“Is that your real name?”

“Yes.”

“Isn’t that a boy’s name?”

“Apparently not. I’m pretty sure I’m not a boy.”

“But really, usually isn’t it a boy’s name?”

“Well, I’ve had this name for decades and I’ve been a girl the whole time. Well, anyway, I don’t remember ever being a boy. I think I would remember.”

“Now you’re being silly.”

“No more silly than you telling me that my name is a boy’s name. Who gets to decide these things?”

“I don’t know, it’s just the way it is I guess.”

“Maybe it’s just the way it was. Maybe it isn’t that way anymore any maybe there are lots of girls all over the planet with the same name as me.”

“And lots of boys too?”

“Sure! It’s a pretty great name. I don’t think we mind sharing it with boys, we even share it with a couple dogs I know.”

“Really?”

“Darn right! Mr. Hanson, down in the blue house there, he has a golden retriever named Jacky!”

“Can we go meet him?”

“Well, you can go meet him, Mr. Hanson, but if you want to meet Jacky you’ll need to go meet HER. She’s a girl too!

“OK, Gram, I believe you. Girls can be Jacky’s too. Let’s go meet Mr. Hanson’s Jacky. Oh! And from now on, I think I’m going to call you Gramma Jacky!

“Perfect, I’ll love it.”