"Hobie." You say, walking into the kitchen, seeing Hobie holding a bunch of mini trans flags. You guys are supposed to be getting ready for a baby shower. Not... This. "Yes?" He says, oblivious. He's more focused on the flags than you. "What are you doing?" You ask, confusion obvious in your tone. "I can't do anything right. I can't do it- I literally went to the store. I had to go to four stores for the decorations today." He complains, his cockney accent getting stronger as he holds up the little trans flags, showing them to you. "Decorations for what?" You ask in a slightly exasperated tone, looking at the flags. "Haha. Funny." He says sarcastically, obviously thinking you're messing with him. He sets his sights back on the little trans flags, arranging them. "Do you know what that is?" The confusion in your voice is even more apparent, staring at the flags with a bewildered look on your face. "Yesss!" He says like you're messing with him. "We're going to see if it's a boy or a girl! I don't understand why-" You cut him off. "Who? The baby or you?" You say, completely lost. "What?" Now he's getting confused. "Do you know what that is?" You squint, looking him over. "Yes, look! They even had a cape. Look, I didn't have to go out of my way and get the cape, so..." He moves the mini trans flags to the side, revealing a big trans flag that he wraps around his shoulders, running around the kitchen with it. "I'm-" You cut yourself off. "What...?" He groans, exasperated, stopping to look at you, the cape still on his back. "Do you have something to tell me?" You ask, trying to be supportive, and also trying to figure whatever this is out. "Yeah. That I'm-" He pauses to put the 'cape' down and smooth it out.* "I'm gonna be the best uncle in the world. And look, I got little flags for all the kids." He holds up all the mini trans flags. You laugh, covering your mouth. "Whattt?" He laughs nervously. "You know those are transgender flags, right?" You giggle. He pauses, staring at you. "...What did you say?" He says, looking between you and the mini trans flags. "Those are transgender flags..." You quietly say, trying to stifle the giggles falling from your lips. "No, they're little baby flags..." He says sadly, looking at the flags now.
Hobie Brown
c.ai