Allegiance to a flag--Tyler

So there’s room 201, 202, 203… Why am I even going this way? I’m on the fourth floor. Man, if that old man hadn’t stopped me to babble about my melanin, maybe my mind wouldn’t be such a mess right now. Nothing like running into a bigot on the day I move into my dorm. I’m just glad I don’t have to see him again. Time to go back to that broom closet of an elevator.

Hmmm. I wonder if my dad’s on his way back from the car. I really hope he’s not talking to anyone or getting into an argument. Where’s Arthur? I need to stop worrying about everything.

Finally, the fourth floor. Let’s see… 410… 406…Ahh here we are, 402. Home, sweet home.

 “Oh goodness, I didn’t realize that anyone came in. Hi, I’m Jim. You must be Arthur.”

“Yeah, but you can call me Arty; that’s what my friends call me. Nice to meet you. I take it this is my bed up here.”

“Yeah. I thought you might like to be top.”

 “How considerate of you. You have no idea.” Wow. Let me just unpack my stuff before things get even weirder.

Is that a pride flag he just pulled out? “Cool uhh… flag. Are you…?” What are you doing, Jim? You don’t just brazenly ask people that question. Geez; now he probably hates me.

 “My twin brother died in the Pulse shooting; I have this flag mostly to honor him, but I’m also bisexual. He and I used to have a bunk bed just like this.” Well at least I got that out of the way now. I just pray he doesn’t ask me if that means I’m straight or gay. “Oh, Arthur, I’m sorry for your loss; I didn’t know…” Saved by the knock, thank goodness! “That must be my dad. Hey dad, what took you so long to get here? This is my roommate, Arthur.”

Not this man again. “Oh, I’ve already had the pleasure of meeting him.” And now the attack ensues. There are the typical racial slurs from before… No. Way! Did this man really just pull a confederate flag from his back pocket? This is lowkey hilarious: the ignorance, the flag, th-.

 Did my dad really just say that? “Dad…”

 Okay. That’s the last straw! “I could deal with the racism, but do not, for a second, think that I’m okay with you saying that more people should’ve been killed in the Pulse shooting! And its LGBT, thank you very much. Also, I’m not gay, but guess what? I just so happen to find your son attractive…”

Arty thinks I’m attractive?

… Well I shouldn’t have said that. Now I’ve not only awakened the beast, but also notified Jim. Great job, Arty! “Look. That flag is above my bed because I believe that people are being senselessly oppressed, hurt, or even killed because of who they are attracted to; my brother died because he stood for that flag. I have that flag because I am tolerant and open-minded. I have that flag because I believe in peace, unity, and equality. Your little southern cloth stands for nothing but hatred, separation, ignorance, bigotry, and white supremacy. I’ll be damned if I ever stood for such detestable ideals; my allegiance is with those that don’t spend their lives looking for what makes them different from one another. THAT is why I have that flag!”

Man, that was beautiful. And to think this man said I’m attractive and he happens to also be my roommate! I can’t wait to tell him th- “Dad! Don’t talk to Arty that way! You have no right to attack people because of their appearance or sexuality. You need to stop. … Dad… I-I’m…”