Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!rice!uw-beaver!milton!blake!unicorn!n8442349
From: n8442349@unicorn.WWU.EDU (joy ralph m)
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
Subject: A lurker with a problem
Message-ID: <427@unicorn.WWU.EDU>
Date: 18 Jan 90 02:14:56 GMT
References: <20940028@hplred.HP.COM>
Reply-To: n8442349@unicorn.WWU.EDU (joy ralph m)
Organization: Western Washington Univ, Bellingham, WA
Lines: 72


		The door opens somewhat slowly and a small centaur
	steps somewhat hesitantly inside.  She looks like what you
	would have if you crossed a hobbit with an overfed Shetland
	pony.  She shakes the damp out of her chestnut hair and stops,
	then with a look of resolution and hope on her face, she 
	clops over to the bar.  "Bailey's and chocolate milk" she 
	says, laying a dollar on the countertop.  Then taking a deep
	breath, she steps forward.

		"I'm usually pretty shy, and even in a place as warm
	and friendly as this I have a hard time speaking up.  But I
	need some sympathy right now, so I decided to tell my story
	and then see if any one here has any good ideas."  She shuts
	her hazel-green eyes for a moment.  "Last spring, my advisor
	told me of a job that particularly suited what I was studying.
	My other form is a biology/anthropology major, with an interest
	in forensics.  The position was of caretaker at a local funeral
	home.  I would live on-site, in a very nice apartment, and do
	odd jobs around the place - wash the cars, set up for services,
	vaccum, etc.  And as a bonus, if I were interested (as I most
	certainly was), I could take the opportunity to study enbalming
	and other aspects of funeral operation that relate to forensics."

		"I jumped at the chance.  Even better, when I interviewed
	for the position, they told me they prefered couples." She pauses
	and drinks.  "Now, I happen to have been involved in a relation-
	ship for two years at the time of the interview, and we had been
	living together for 4 months.  We consider ourselves married, 
	though there are no papers on file anywhere to that effect.
	I still remain somewhat naive, however, and so, when they asked
	me if I was married, I chose honesty and answered that no, I
	wasn't, but that I was part of a couple."  She stops.  "Well,
	you can guess the result.  They hired the other guy who also
	interviewed with them, despite the fact that I was better 
	qualified academically and in the other _stated_ areas of need."

		She takes another drink, and sighs.  "Why am I telling
	all of you patient people this somewhat grisly story?  I talked
	to my advisor again today, and she said that (surprise, surprise)
	the position is open again because the man they hired left/didn't
	work out.  (I know him, and am not surprised.  This is not personal
	jealousy, either, as other people expressed surprise that he was
	chosen over me, my advisor included.)  BUT, she told me, they
	won't consider me unless I am willing to live there alone or
	unless my SO and I get married officially."  She stops again,
	and a look of anger flits across her face.  "Now, she (my advisor)
	told me that the owner of the funeral home had said that this
	was because of their elderly and conservative clientel; that
	apparently they were afraid that if word got out that they
	employed a couple who were LIVING IN SIN (not her words) it
	would be detrimental to business."

		Her right forefoot begins to stamp lightly in agitation.
	"I wasn't aware that living with someone was a condition that
	made itself apparent merely through physical appearance.  Or 
	perhaps I have an invisible sign on my forehead visible only
	to elderly, conservative people.  Considering the contact that
	I would have with patrons of the home (very little), I don't
	see that they would have the chance to find out, let alone
	spread the word.  We both wear rings on the appropriate fingers,
	so, if called upon, we could present the illusion of being
	married, if that truly was the problem."  One last stamp, 
	rather loud.  Mike frowns.  "Sorry.  Anyway, if that's their
	attitude, there's not much it seems I can do about it.  I'm
	not willing to move out on Corey (my SO) if only because he
	has been supporting _me_ through school for the last year, 
	and I'm not going to take this break if he can't share it.
	And that doesn't even touch on the fact that he'd have a
	problem with me living apart, anyway, he's pretty possessive
	sometimes.  I just needed to blow off some steam.  Thanks for
	listening."  She finishes her drink.  "To listening ears --
	all of them."   __CRASH__