Gaenvan reclines on his bed, thoroughly confused over the actions of the day.

Gaenvan is Canadian.  In November Canadians wear a Poppy on their lapel to honour their fallen soliders.

...morning...

Gaenvan looks up at the white building, at one time used to be a funeral home.  At the moment it is a real estate office and he has some business there.  Striding up the stairs to the second level, brief case in hand, he bumps into someone he knows.

"Your lapel". Gaenvan asks, "did you lose it?" tapping the poppy on his black long coat.

"What are you talking about?" responds the voice.

Gaenvan studies the eyes of the speaker and sees pure confusion, mutters some nonsense and continues truly disheartened to his business.

A crisp breeze amongst a bright and warming sun greets Gaenvan as he goes about his daily business.  Even thought he is not from here he runs into a few faces he knows and he asks them about their naked lapel.  A quick and disappointed conversation reveals that it is not a tradition in this land.  That is of no matter, things are different.

Later that  day Gaenvan stops in at a hole in the wall, a beer for $1.50, little conversation, and little thought.  The usual, or perhaps not, non nondescript faces grace the dull light of the room.  Eventually one speaks:

"Are you gay?" a voice says.

"Excuse me?" responds Gaenvan, not knowing which piece of cold steel his hands are moving towards.

"Your red flower on your lapel, does that mean you're gay?" the voice asks.

Gaenvan realizes that this is a genuine question, and feels his heart sink.

"In my country we were poppies to honor those fallen before us, those that died in war." Gaenvan responds while he points to the Red Wings game on TV showing the coach also wearing a Poppy.  "Some do it here too"

"Well, we think it makes you look gay" he says.

"I'd rather be confused as gay then be confused as one that does not honor their fallen" Gaenvan responds, standing up, and walking into the night.

True story tonight.

This story put a smile on my face.. Haha.. I love true stories..

hahaha funny story

Very good story definately gave me a chuckle.

This made me smile but i can imagine the horror when someone asks you that. Something which means so much and you wear in honour. I can also see why someone would think that if they don't know about the poppy. Haha

Sid replies, "yes."

Rourke clasps a hand around Sid's shoulder and the two walk off into the distance.

Funny how the word 'gay' is mentioned and good 'ole Rourke shows up...

Like a homosexual beetlejuice.

~G~rin.

I admire your traditions sir but I'm afraid I'm a bit confused as to why anyone would think wearing a flower in their lapel means a man is extremely happy? It is so traditional is our society for many many occasions and with some a daily occurence. Surely this man was slightly, shell we say, inebriated or not in his right mind?

Good story. I always enjoy a bit of a laugh. Thanks.

Good story. hate to be a pedant, actually not really I love to be, but I do believe that unless you were wearing this poppy on your mafia suit and it was a member of our 'community' who comically misunderstood your intentions vis a vis poppy wearing then perhaps the street isn't the place to air this story.