Mrs. S, the lady
of the house next door
came to call
with a pan of banana bread
to welcome me
to the neighborhood.
She had heard
I was a lesbian
and was relieved
I didn’t flaunt my lifestyle.
She watched Ellen Degeneres
every morning but not
everyone was as understanding.
I looked at the crumbs
clinging to the side of the pan
and considered telling her
I believe in being open-minded.
Heterosexuality isn’t a choice, after all.
They’re just born that way.