By Tracy
Note: This play is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual events may or may not be coincidental.
SCENE 1: BOSS’S OFFICE
The boss is sitting at his desk. Tracy enters.
Tracy: Good morning. I have the status reports ready for you.
Boss: Excellent! Thank you for getting them done so quickly.
Tracy: You’re welcome.
Boss (looks over the papers): Nice work!
Tracy: Thanks!
Boss: So…what are your plans for the weekend?
Tracy: Not much. How about you?
Boss: My wife and I are going to Cape Cod this weekend. I am really looking forward to it!
Tracy: That sounds like fun! Which island?
Boss: We’re going to Nantucket. I’ve been there many times, and it’s my favorite. Martha’s Vineyard is OK, too, but I definitely would not go to Provincetown.
Tracy: Why not? Boss (sneering): I don’t like those people!
Tracy (to self): Uh, oh. Provincetown is a famous GLBT spot. I hope he doesn’t mean what I think he means!
Boss: Those queers flaunt it way too much. They should just shut up and mind their own business.
Tracy (to self): Uh, oh!
Tracy (out loud): Uh, huh.
Boss: For example, they’re demanding the right to get married. That really burns me up! Since their numbers are so small, we shouldn’t have to change the definition of marriage just for them. [actual quote!]
Tracy (to self): People said the same thing when white people wanted to marry black people!
Tracy (out loud): Uh, huh.
Boss: And it’s getting worse all the time! Now, they want to teach queer “tolerance” to kids! And you can’t stop it. Believe me – I’ve tried.
Tracy (to self): Of course they want to teach tolerance – so that we don’t end up with more adults like you!
Tracy (out loud): Uh, huh.
Boss: All right – enough about that. Good job on the status report. Have a nice weekend.
Tracy: Thanks. You too.
Tracy (to self): Good thing I didn’t tell him about my weekend plans, when he asked. I’m going out for a romantic dinner with my girlfriend!
SCENE 2: WATER COOLER, FIVE MONTHS LATER
Boss: Hi! What’s going on?
Mark: Not much. How about you?
Boss: Did you hear? Tracy is leaving! She found another job elsewhere!
Mark: You’re kidding! Do you know why she left?
Boss: Not really. I was really surprised when she told me! I thought she was happy here.
Mark: So did I.
Boss (introspective): It’s a shame to lose her. She was a really valuable employee. I wonder if I did something wrong.
Tracy works as an engineer in Boston. She is very happy at her new job, which is much more LGBT-friendly than the previous one.