"What kind of a name is Riley?" the man heading the tavern bar asked. The subject of his question sat in front of him: Long and lanky, messy short hair, rags for clothes, and a cocky grin.
"It's my name, surely," Riley replied.
The man peered closer. "You'll have to forgive me, but are you a boy or a girl?"
"Now that IS a question," Riley replied.
"Damn it, son!" the bartender exclaimed, slamming his fist down. "Or miss, or whatever you'll be. Now, I don't like surprises, and I don't like things I can't figure out. The point is, you're too young to be drinking here. I just don't know whether to send you to the workshops or home to your mother."
Riley sighed and leaned forward. "Listen, Mister. Tell me, does it really matter what I am? You've already said it doesn't, to you at least. You only care about my age. What am I? I'm a person, and I may conduct myself as I please."
At that moment, two large gentlemen appeared on either side of the child. With a nod from the man behind the bar, the men picked Riley up, tossing the trash out the door, so to speak.
"Sissy! Sissy, what are you doing in there?" a young girl called.
"Aha! A girl! Well, I'll be. All the more reason for you to stay out!" the bartender called.
Riley rubbed her sore rump. "Sorry, Sis. I was just trying to get some water for us, that's all. Are you hungry?"
"No, a nice man gave me some bread. Can we go home now?"
Riley looked around her, at all the pretty dresses, the nice suits -- the things she never dreamed of wearing. "Yeah, kiddo. Let's go home."
--
Looking back on that moment, Riley grinned. She straightened her vest, cocked her hat, and went for a stroll. Several women looked up and smiled attractively at her. "Hey, Riley," they all called.
For she had become a lady's woman, and there was nothing she was happier about.
"It's my name, surely," Riley replied.
The man peered closer. "You'll have to forgive me, but are you a boy or a girl?"
"Now that IS a question," Riley replied.
"Damn it, son!" the bartender exclaimed, slamming his fist down. "Or miss, or whatever you'll be. Now, I don't like surprises, and I don't like things I can't figure out. The point is, you're too young to be drinking here. I just don't know whether to send you to the workshops or home to your mother."
Riley sighed and leaned forward. "Listen, Mister. Tell me, does it really matter what I am? You've already said it doesn't, to you at least. You only care about my age. What am I? I'm a person, and I may conduct myself as I please."
At that moment, two large gentlemen appeared on either side of the child. With a nod from the man behind the bar, the men picked Riley up, tossing the trash out the door, so to speak.
"Sissy! Sissy, what are you doing in there?" a young girl called.
"Aha! A girl! Well, I'll be. All the more reason for you to stay out!" the bartender called.
Riley rubbed her sore rump. "Sorry, Sis. I was just trying to get some water for us, that's all. Are you hungry?"
"No, a nice man gave me some bread. Can we go home now?"
Riley looked around her, at all the pretty dresses, the nice suits -- the things she never dreamed of wearing. "Yeah, kiddo. Let's go home."
--
Looking back on that moment, Riley grinned. She straightened her vest, cocked her hat, and went for a stroll. Several women looked up and smiled attractively at her. "Hey, Riley," they all called.
For she had become a lady's woman, and there was nothing she was happier about.
