Spring 2011 - The Heschel School

Bob: Two plates of two eggs sunny-side up with a side of bacon and a couple of
orange juices comin’ right up.
As they look around the restaurant, they notice that men are sitting with men and women
sitting with women. Both boys have the feeling something is strange but are not able to put
their fingers on it.
They eat their breakfast, pay and walk back outside. They do a doubletake at what they see.
Two men holding hands. One has a pregnant stomach. The boys gasp.
Eddie (in utter horror): What is that?
The pregnant man notices their stares and gets slightly self-conscious and agitated.
Pregnant man (snippy, with all the raging hormones of a pregnant woman): What are you
two looking at?
Man: I’d think that at your age someone would have explained this to you by now,
but, in this world, we have two races, man and women. A pair of men, through
intercourse, produce men and a pair of women produce women. Should a man and
a woman come together, there would be no product, and that is why it is unlawful
and prohibited.
George: But this is absurd! Men and women are supposed to be together!
Man: Sir, I don’t know where you come from, but here that theory is heretical and
I suggest you keep your mouth shut if you don’t want to be heavily fined!
George: But –
Eddie: Let it go, George. (to man) Have a nice day, Sir.
George: (to Eddie – on the verge of tears at this bizarre alternate universe) But –
George: You’re… you’re… you’re pregnant!
Pregnant man: Thanks, I hadn’t realized. (pause) Now if you don’t mind, my
husband and I will be off now.
George: Hus… hus… husband?!
Pregnant man: Yes, and the father of my child! (to the boys’ reactions) You know, I’d
think you two boys would be old enough to know where babies came from.
George (indignantly): Of course, I do! However, isn’t it between a man and a
woman…
Pregnant man (shocked and embarrassed): Sir! That is preposterous! Surely you
know how unlawful it is to make such a claim. And if you were to go so far as to be
involved with another woman… I shudder to think what might happen to you!
George (bewildered): You must be joking! What kind of world is this! How do you
reproduce? How do you rear your children?
Eddie: George, don’t you see? By some cosmic force beyond our control we have
ended up in a place where we are supposed to be together. There is no one telling
us what we are doing and who we are is wrong. Ignore the how and why and enjoy
it! Weren’t you just saying last night how you wish we could be free. Well, we are,
George, we are!
As they are about to embrace, they both look around out of force of habit, chuckle at how silly
their gesture is, and embrace.
George (sniffling in Eddie’s arms): I know, I know. But aren’t you the least bit curious
as to how this happened? Why the world is like this?
Eddie: Of course! However, it’s very important that we maintain calm and cool.
In fact, be happy! We will find out, I promise. But for now, let’s enjoy the time we
have together.
Light music plays as they walk down the familiar streets and enjoy the unfamiliarity of the
passersby. Rarely do they see women and men together. There are men carrying babies. Women
in business suits and briefcases on their way to work. It appears as if all gender stereotypes
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