GREG SCORZO's Blog, page 2
August 15, 2022
A Lesbian Couple: To Have or Not Have Children?
Alice: If you love me so much, why do you hate the thing that’s most important to me? Why can’t you love a child?
Eve: (speaking hesitantly) The reason I can’t love a child is… motherhood disturbs me, if I’m honest. The idea of some urge in me changing my personality and making me love things I hate is disturbing to me. In fact, I can’t think of anything more horrifying than loving a creature that can’t do anything and treating it like it’s more wonderful than everyone else. It’s like getting a virus that would make me give up research so I could pursue a career at McDonalds.
Whenever someone says they’re going to have a child, I lie when I tell them congratulations. All I can think about is the fact that they’re pushing a stranger into my world and I’m going to have to accommodate that stranger, regardless of whether I like it – regardless of whether she is lovely or some gobby lad with ADHD...
And it never matters to mums whether their babies are intelligent and interesting. Sometimes it feels like when babies turn into wonderful people, that’s when mothers are truly disappointed. That’s why when I hear mums talk about how much they love their babies, I actually feel sad for them. Babies can’t do anything and they get more love and devotion than the kindest, wisest adults. That may be necessary for the survival of our species, but to me…it’s just tragic. It’s a flagrant injustice. And instead of treating it like that, people worship it like it’s some sort of tear-inducing miracle. That’s disgusting to me… in fact, it’s not even disgusting. It’s de-humanising and degrading and I hate it. I hate it with all my heart.
Alice: (incredulous) Are you fucking mental?
Eve: Maybe I am… I don’t know.
Alice: (shocked) This is all because of your childhood! It’s because you actually hate all children! This is coming from such a wounded place of pain in you, I can feel it.
Eve: I’m sorry but this is just how I feel. I know motherhood is necessary and I know it can be done in a healthy way. I don’t condemn anyone for doing it. I just think it should be done for the right reasons.
Alice: Then why do you hate it so much?
Eve: Because it’s not just. It’s not based on what people deserve. Love for babies is your body pulling love in all the directions it doesn’t naturally go.
Alice: But Eve, for most women, it does naturally go in those directions. You’re the one that isn’t natural. I love you but technically, you’re the one who’s more like a freak of nature. It’s not women who love being mums.
Eve: (sighing) Some women are like me. Some women don’t want to be mums, but very few have the courage not to cave in and be like everyone else. That causes a lot of guilt and pain in the world.
Alice: Women don’t cave in, silly girl. They realise there’s no alternative. Women can’t choose their identities any more than you can choose not to be gay.
Eve: (definitely) That’s nothing but extremist bullshit, Alice. Motherhood needs to be a choice! For it to be a choice, you have to be able to say no. It’s not healthy if you can’t say no! It’s coercive.
Alice: Then why are women always encouraging each other to have children? Especially women like you who have doubts?
Eve: Because we live in a patriarchal society where women are socialised to think of motherhood as some kind of obligation, something that makes you decent and feminine. It’s backward and reactionary.
Alice: But if what you’re describing is patriarchy, wouldn’t it be men who think of motherhood as an obligation?
Eve: (thinking hard) …I don’t know, maybe it’s like a twisted dance between men and women. Women are expected to be hot and put out and subordinate themselves to men in most areas of life. In exchange for that, women act like pushy little bitches when it comes to procreation.
Alice: (giggling) You think men benefit from letting women act like pushy little bitches?
Eve: I don’t know. Maybe women put up with being bullied as long as they’re allowed to bully someone else.
Alice: But in this case, isn’t it normally men who women bully? Men who are hesitant about becoming fathers? Men who wait too long before the eggs dry up? Men who won’t commit?
Eve: Maybe it is. Maybe men allow themselves to be bullied.
Alice: (trying hard not to laugh) So, you’re saying men allow themselves to be bullied by women in order to keep the reins of power? Like, women allow men to control society in exchange for being able to push men around at home?
Eve: (sighing) …I can’t think of any other reason women are such bitches about babies. I’ve never met a man who gave a fuck about whether or not I got pregnant. It’s always been women. It’s women who won’t shut up about it, not just you...
Alice: Well, that could be because women are naturally more compassionate than men. We don’t want other women to suffer, especially if some charming stranger convinces them they could be happy living in a “family of two.”(mocking Eve).
Eve: (with disgust) God, I hate that shit! I just wish women had kids because they wanted to be parents. I wish it wasn’t some fucking purification ritual, where new mummies have to give impassioned speeches renouncing the emptiness of childfree life.
Alice: But that’s how women feel, Eve. After their babies are born, they feel like not having children is a form of self-harm.
Eve: (with contempt) Yeah and those twats never stop telling me how much I’m hurting myself by putting off pregnancy. I wish I could smack them sometimes. I hate having to explain myself to those fucking bitches. I’d love to just–
Alice: (interrupting) Those bitches are the reason you’re here! That’s why your mum tricked your dad: so you could be here with me! That’s a good thing!
Eve: It’s not a good thing, Alice. I hate the fact that I’m here because a man who never wanted to be my father was tricked by my mother. Sometimes I think about killing myself just to punish her for that.
From My Novel 'Love Before Covid', 2021.
Eve: (speaking hesitantly) The reason I can’t love a child is… motherhood disturbs me, if I’m honest. The idea of some urge in me changing my personality and making me love things I hate is disturbing to me. In fact, I can’t think of anything more horrifying than loving a creature that can’t do anything and treating it like it’s more wonderful than everyone else. It’s like getting a virus that would make me give up research so I could pursue a career at McDonalds.
Whenever someone says they’re going to have a child, I lie when I tell them congratulations. All I can think about is the fact that they’re pushing a stranger into my world and I’m going to have to accommodate that stranger, regardless of whether I like it – regardless of whether she is lovely or some gobby lad with ADHD...
And it never matters to mums whether their babies are intelligent and interesting. Sometimes it feels like when babies turn into wonderful people, that’s when mothers are truly disappointed. That’s why when I hear mums talk about how much they love their babies, I actually feel sad for them. Babies can’t do anything and they get more love and devotion than the kindest, wisest adults. That may be necessary for the survival of our species, but to me…it’s just tragic. It’s a flagrant injustice. And instead of treating it like that, people worship it like it’s some sort of tear-inducing miracle. That’s disgusting to me… in fact, it’s not even disgusting. It’s de-humanising and degrading and I hate it. I hate it with all my heart.
Alice: (incredulous) Are you fucking mental?
Eve: Maybe I am… I don’t know.
Alice: (shocked) This is all because of your childhood! It’s because you actually hate all children! This is coming from such a wounded place of pain in you, I can feel it.
Eve: I’m sorry but this is just how I feel. I know motherhood is necessary and I know it can be done in a healthy way. I don’t condemn anyone for doing it. I just think it should be done for the right reasons.
Alice: Then why do you hate it so much?
Eve: Because it’s not just. It’s not based on what people deserve. Love for babies is your body pulling love in all the directions it doesn’t naturally go.
Alice: But Eve, for most women, it does naturally go in those directions. You’re the one that isn’t natural. I love you but technically, you’re the one who’s more like a freak of nature. It’s not women who love being mums.
Eve: (sighing) Some women are like me. Some women don’t want to be mums, but very few have the courage not to cave in and be like everyone else. That causes a lot of guilt and pain in the world.
Alice: Women don’t cave in, silly girl. They realise there’s no alternative. Women can’t choose their identities any more than you can choose not to be gay.
Eve: (definitely) That’s nothing but extremist bullshit, Alice. Motherhood needs to be a choice! For it to be a choice, you have to be able to say no. It’s not healthy if you can’t say no! It’s coercive.
Alice: Then why are women always encouraging each other to have children? Especially women like you who have doubts?
Eve: Because we live in a patriarchal society where women are socialised to think of motherhood as some kind of obligation, something that makes you decent and feminine. It’s backward and reactionary.
Alice: But if what you’re describing is patriarchy, wouldn’t it be men who think of motherhood as an obligation?
Eve: (thinking hard) …I don’t know, maybe it’s like a twisted dance between men and women. Women are expected to be hot and put out and subordinate themselves to men in most areas of life. In exchange for that, women act like pushy little bitches when it comes to procreation.
Alice: (giggling) You think men benefit from letting women act like pushy little bitches?
Eve: I don’t know. Maybe women put up with being bullied as long as they’re allowed to bully someone else.
Alice: But in this case, isn’t it normally men who women bully? Men who are hesitant about becoming fathers? Men who wait too long before the eggs dry up? Men who won’t commit?
Eve: Maybe it is. Maybe men allow themselves to be bullied.
Alice: (trying hard not to laugh) So, you’re saying men allow themselves to be bullied by women in order to keep the reins of power? Like, women allow men to control society in exchange for being able to push men around at home?
Eve: (sighing) …I can’t think of any other reason women are such bitches about babies. I’ve never met a man who gave a fuck about whether or not I got pregnant. It’s always been women. It’s women who won’t shut up about it, not just you...
Alice: Well, that could be because women are naturally more compassionate than men. We don’t want other women to suffer, especially if some charming stranger convinces them they could be happy living in a “family of two.”(mocking Eve).
Eve: (with disgust) God, I hate that shit! I just wish women had kids because they wanted to be parents. I wish it wasn’t some fucking purification ritual, where new mummies have to give impassioned speeches renouncing the emptiness of childfree life.
Alice: But that’s how women feel, Eve. After their babies are born, they feel like not having children is a form of self-harm.
Eve: (with contempt) Yeah and those twats never stop telling me how much I’m hurting myself by putting off pregnancy. I wish I could smack them sometimes. I hate having to explain myself to those fucking bitches. I’d love to just–
Alice: (interrupting) Those bitches are the reason you’re here! That’s why your mum tricked your dad: so you could be here with me! That’s a good thing!
Eve: It’s not a good thing, Alice. I hate the fact that I’m here because a man who never wanted to be my father was tricked by my mother. Sometimes I think about killing myself just to punish her for that.
From My Novel 'Love Before Covid', 2021.
August 14, 2022
A Couple's Argument.
Loraine: (sighing) I know… you’re right. Maybe the problem is… I feel like I haven’t been asserting myself enough in this relationship. Maybe I’m not standing up for my needs and I’m assuming it’s because you’re not happy.
Joe: If that’s the case, just tell me what you need! I’m your boyfriend. I’m here to make sure you get those needs met.
Loraine: I know and I appreciate you so much for that. No one’s ever loved me as much as you.
Joe: (awkwardly) That’s because you’re the love of my life. Now tell me what I can do to make you happier in this relationship.
Loraine: Well for starters, I’m really tired of you pressuring me to hang out with your poetry friends. I don’t understand what you guys talk about half the time and I’m sitting there bored out of my skull. I’d prefer it if you go have coffee with them somewhere else rather than have them come here all the time. There’s a lot of things we could be doing together on those nights. We’ll be missing the fireworks for the Caribbean Carnival if they come over this weekend.
Joe: I understand. But what about your friends that we see in Derby?
Loraine: You like my friends.
Joe: Well, I think they’re okay.
Loraine: The point is, it doesn’t irritate you to spend time with them.
Joe: Jill and Claire irritate you that much?
Loraine: Joe, all they do is speculate about pointless shit, moan about austerity and read aloud pretentious rubbish they’ve scribbled on those little note pads.
Joe: I like their poems.
Loraine: You are so much better than them, Joe. I don’t understand what you’re on about, but I can still tell it’s more well written and imaginative than their self-righteous bullshit. Every time Jill reads her menstruation slam poems, I want to fucking punch her.
Joe: (rolling his eyes) I’ll meet them at Starbucks.
Loraine: The other thing I need from you is more evening meals. I get home at eight and you’re home by seven, most days. When I get home from work, you know I’m stressed and need satiation to get a sense of calm. I hate cooking that late after work. It’s too stressful.
Joe: Okay, I’ll make sure to have something ready.
Loraine: The third thing that irritates me is on weekends when we have the day to spend together, you’re often in your room with your headphones on.
Joe: That’s really the only time I have to listen to music. I don’t put that on in the living room because I know you hate it.
Loraine: Joe, the only time I get to spend the entire day with you is on the weekend. What’s more important, a day with your girlfriend or listening to Eric Dolphy for the umpteenth time?
Joe: (reassuringly) Of course you’re more important to me! I can’t tell you how sorry I am if I ever made you feel like music comes first. That was never intentional on my part.
Loraine: And the last thing I want to talk to you about is something I need to be completely honest with you about.
Joe: Okay.
Loraine: Now I’m not saying this at all because I’m trying to hurt you.
Joe: I know, I know. What is it?
Loraine: Joe, I wouldn’t be with you if I didn’t think you were a handsome guy.
Joe: I know. And you know how beautiful I think you are.
Loraine: But at the moment, you’re a handsome guy who is buried under way too much fat. It’s embarrassing.
Joe: I know it is. I’ll go online tonight and research a diet plan I can get on. Maybe I can–
Loraine: (interrupting) Take off your shirt.
Joe: What?
Loraine: Take off your shirt. I want to show you something.
Joe: What, right now?
Loraine: Just take off your shirt.
Joe takes off his shirt. Loraine then pulls down Joe’s trousers and underpants. Loraine is staring down at Joe’s flaccid penis and protruding belly.
Loraine: Now, babes… I know you haven’t got the biggest cock in the world. That is not the problem. But look at this.
Loraine puts her hand against Joe’s flabby belly.
Loraine: This right here… this is nasty.
Joe: (embarrassed) I know, but I can’t really do anything about that right this minute.
Loraine: Your gut hangs out further than your erection, Joe. I can handle the eye patch. I can handle the man boobs. But this is disgusting.
Joe: (uncomfortable) I know, but this isn’t the nicest way to talk to me about this, Loraine.
Loraine: I’m being honest with you because I want you to be more self-confident. I don’t want to hear you whinging about how you feel unattractive.
Joe: I appreciate that but there are more tactful ways of helping than insulting me.
Loraine: (irritated) I’m not interested in beating about the bush anymore. I want you to become more self-confident and I want you to have a body your beautiful girlfriend is happy with! Confident guys are way more sexy.
Joe: I know that but–
Loraine: (interrupting) You know as well as I do that If I sugar coat what I’m trying to say, you won’t take it on board.
Joe: (loudly) Of course I’ll take it on board!
Loraine: (yelling) THEN BE A FUCKING MAN AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! You’ve had enough time to do something about it already and you keep eating the same nasty shit! I’m sick of it, Joe! It doesn’t look good when we’re walking down the street together and people are staring at me, wondering what the hell I’m doing with you! That’s not good for either of us.
Joe: I know.
Loraine: (loudly) I’m going to be pregnant next year! You need to model good habits for our kids. You need to be there for our kids without having a fucking heart attack at forty!
Joe: I know, I know.
Loraine: Now tonight you’re going to get a diet plan and we’ll order the food in for the week. I also want you to start working out on the Wii again doing those press ups. You’ll feel so much better once those boobs start shrinking. Who knows? I might feel like I’m having sex with a man.
Joe: You don’t have to put it in such a crude–
Loraine: (interrupting) You’re the one person I can say whatever I’m thinking to Joe. Whatever I’m feeling about you I can say to your face! I can’t do that with anyone else.
Joe: I know but… sometimes you can be rather blunt.
Loraine: My honesty is how I show my love. Don’t talk about that like it’s a bad thing.
Joe: I’m sorry.
Loraine: Now I’m famished. If you start cooking now, it’ll be too long before tea is ready and I’ll have a headache. Nip to the shop and get me a small pizza with a green salad. You’re having just a green salad. And don’t buy any pop or anything. You can have a glass of water with lemon when you get back.
Joe: Okay, I should be back in about fifteen minutes.
Joe proceeds to walk out the door.
Loraine: Joe…
Joe: Yes?
Loraine: Thank you for being so sweet to me today. I knew everything would be okay if we talked this out.
Joe: I love you, Loraine.
Loraine: (smiling) I love you too, Joe. I’ve never had a boyfriend as giving as you.
From my novel, 'Love Before Covid', 2021.
Joe: If that’s the case, just tell me what you need! I’m your boyfriend. I’m here to make sure you get those needs met.
Loraine: I know and I appreciate you so much for that. No one’s ever loved me as much as you.
Joe: (awkwardly) That’s because you’re the love of my life. Now tell me what I can do to make you happier in this relationship.
Loraine: Well for starters, I’m really tired of you pressuring me to hang out with your poetry friends. I don’t understand what you guys talk about half the time and I’m sitting there bored out of my skull. I’d prefer it if you go have coffee with them somewhere else rather than have them come here all the time. There’s a lot of things we could be doing together on those nights. We’ll be missing the fireworks for the Caribbean Carnival if they come over this weekend.
Joe: I understand. But what about your friends that we see in Derby?
Loraine: You like my friends.
Joe: Well, I think they’re okay.
Loraine: The point is, it doesn’t irritate you to spend time with them.
Joe: Jill and Claire irritate you that much?
Loraine: Joe, all they do is speculate about pointless shit, moan about austerity and read aloud pretentious rubbish they’ve scribbled on those little note pads.
Joe: I like their poems.
Loraine: You are so much better than them, Joe. I don’t understand what you’re on about, but I can still tell it’s more well written and imaginative than their self-righteous bullshit. Every time Jill reads her menstruation slam poems, I want to fucking punch her.
Joe: (rolling his eyes) I’ll meet them at Starbucks.
Loraine: The other thing I need from you is more evening meals. I get home at eight and you’re home by seven, most days. When I get home from work, you know I’m stressed and need satiation to get a sense of calm. I hate cooking that late after work. It’s too stressful.
Joe: Okay, I’ll make sure to have something ready.
Loraine: The third thing that irritates me is on weekends when we have the day to spend together, you’re often in your room with your headphones on.
Joe: That’s really the only time I have to listen to music. I don’t put that on in the living room because I know you hate it.
Loraine: Joe, the only time I get to spend the entire day with you is on the weekend. What’s more important, a day with your girlfriend or listening to Eric Dolphy for the umpteenth time?
Joe: (reassuringly) Of course you’re more important to me! I can’t tell you how sorry I am if I ever made you feel like music comes first. That was never intentional on my part.
Loraine: And the last thing I want to talk to you about is something I need to be completely honest with you about.
Joe: Okay.
Loraine: Now I’m not saying this at all because I’m trying to hurt you.
Joe: I know, I know. What is it?
Loraine: Joe, I wouldn’t be with you if I didn’t think you were a handsome guy.
Joe: I know. And you know how beautiful I think you are.
Loraine: But at the moment, you’re a handsome guy who is buried under way too much fat. It’s embarrassing.
Joe: I know it is. I’ll go online tonight and research a diet plan I can get on. Maybe I can–
Loraine: (interrupting) Take off your shirt.
Joe: What?
Loraine: Take off your shirt. I want to show you something.
Joe: What, right now?
Loraine: Just take off your shirt.
Joe takes off his shirt. Loraine then pulls down Joe’s trousers and underpants. Loraine is staring down at Joe’s flaccid penis and protruding belly.
Loraine: Now, babes… I know you haven’t got the biggest cock in the world. That is not the problem. But look at this.
Loraine puts her hand against Joe’s flabby belly.
Loraine: This right here… this is nasty.
Joe: (embarrassed) I know, but I can’t really do anything about that right this minute.
Loraine: Your gut hangs out further than your erection, Joe. I can handle the eye patch. I can handle the man boobs. But this is disgusting.
Joe: (uncomfortable) I know, but this isn’t the nicest way to talk to me about this, Loraine.
Loraine: I’m being honest with you because I want you to be more self-confident. I don’t want to hear you whinging about how you feel unattractive.
Joe: I appreciate that but there are more tactful ways of helping than insulting me.
Loraine: (irritated) I’m not interested in beating about the bush anymore. I want you to become more self-confident and I want you to have a body your beautiful girlfriend is happy with! Confident guys are way more sexy.
Joe: I know that but–
Loraine: (interrupting) You know as well as I do that If I sugar coat what I’m trying to say, you won’t take it on board.
Joe: (loudly) Of course I’ll take it on board!
Loraine: (yelling) THEN BE A FUCKING MAN AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! You’ve had enough time to do something about it already and you keep eating the same nasty shit! I’m sick of it, Joe! It doesn’t look good when we’re walking down the street together and people are staring at me, wondering what the hell I’m doing with you! That’s not good for either of us.
Joe: I know.
Loraine: (loudly) I’m going to be pregnant next year! You need to model good habits for our kids. You need to be there for our kids without having a fucking heart attack at forty!
Joe: I know, I know.
Loraine: Now tonight you’re going to get a diet plan and we’ll order the food in for the week. I also want you to start working out on the Wii again doing those press ups. You’ll feel so much better once those boobs start shrinking. Who knows? I might feel like I’m having sex with a man.
Joe: You don’t have to put it in such a crude–
Loraine: (interrupting) You’re the one person I can say whatever I’m thinking to Joe. Whatever I’m feeling about you I can say to your face! I can’t do that with anyone else.
Joe: I know but… sometimes you can be rather blunt.
Loraine: My honesty is how I show my love. Don’t talk about that like it’s a bad thing.
Joe: I’m sorry.
Loraine: Now I’m famished. If you start cooking now, it’ll be too long before tea is ready and I’ll have a headache. Nip to the shop and get me a small pizza with a green salad. You’re having just a green salad. And don’t buy any pop or anything. You can have a glass of water with lemon when you get back.
Joe: Okay, I should be back in about fifteen minutes.
Joe proceeds to walk out the door.
Loraine: Joe…
Joe: Yes?
Loraine: Thank you for being so sweet to me today. I knew everything would be okay if we talked this out.
Joe: I love you, Loraine.
Loraine: (smiling) I love you too, Joe. I’ve never had a boyfriend as giving as you.
From my novel, 'Love Before Covid', 2021.
