Author's Note: So obviously I am devastated by the news that they are canceling Girl Meets World. I think it is sad that we will not see these characters and actors continue to grow, that they will not get the opportunity to talk about even more important topics, and yes that we will not see where these characters end up (including romantically). I am going to hold out hope that Netflix will pick it up, especially considering they will only improve it and I think it will do better as a Netflix original. I appreciate all of your reviews, follows, and favorites as always :)
To summarize the previous chapter (as this one starts directly where that one left off), the characters are introduced to homosexuality through the poem written by Sappho Fragment 31. Everyone is really lost, well everyone but Maya. Harper calls on Maya and now we will see what happens...
Chapter 3: Rainbow Cat is out of the Bag
Maya
Oh shit… did she just call on me? Oh god. How am I going to answer this without giving away my interest in poetry and the fact that after reading this poem I ended up reading A LOT about the LGBTQ+ community. I can try to feign being stupid, but Harper will see through that. She knows I am the most street-wise in here and that I am the one that is most likely to know the true meaning. I bite the bullet. "I think that the woman is more than just Sappho's friend. I think that she is her lover. I think that as Smackle pointed out, Sappho is completely in awe of this woman. She makes her heart beat fast, she becomes tongue tied, and she is jealous of the man that this woman is sitting with."
Everyone turns to me in complete shock. I think this is probably the most intelligent answer I have ever given and on top of that I basically just said Sappho is a lesbian. Zay just says "Wait what just happened?" Harper just sits there with a smirk on her face. She still wants to see where the class will go with this on their own before she reveals her thoughts and the historical facts.
"So class, do you understand what Maya just said?"
Farkle once again raises his hand. Him being the genius he probably has some understanding of what I just described. "Farkle."
"I think what Maya just said, so eloquently might I add-"
I pipe up "No you may not."
He continues "is that Sappho is a lesbian. That she is romantically interested in women. Which now looking at the things that Maya pointed out and connected, I have to agree with her. Sappho seems to be quite distraught over this particular woman."
Riley
Did Maya just give an answer that was really educated and totally based in evidence? I know she is smart, but normally she just responds with a sassy remark when called on. I think I am in shock so it takes me a moment to process. Thankfully, Farkle summed it up nicely. So Maya and Farkle are saying that Sappho likes women. Romantically. So she likes women the way most women like men.
Lucas chimes in "well then I guess she is more than just her friend then."
So my questions are starting to be answered. The woman is Sappho's lover or girlfriend. I think on this for a moment. As I am thinking, Harper begins speaking again.
"So with all of that said, what if I told you all the Sappho was from the island of Lesbos. Do you think this furthers the claim?"
Smackle responds "That would make sense. It would mean that Sapphos is the origin of sapphic and Lesbos is the origin of lesbian."
I am slightly lost at this point. Harper comes back to me. "So Riley do you think we have answered your questions?"
"I am slightly confused by some of this, I am not going to lie. However, I think that I understand that this woman is Sappho's lover or girlfriend. That her relation to Sappho is more than just her friend, that she is romantically interested in her in the way that most women are interested in men. The only question that is left is why do we not know about the husband and child?"
"Well what do you think Riley?"
"Um… well if she is a lesbian. Then it would not be likely that she would get married and have a child."
"That is part of it, Riley. The other part is that when a possible husband is mentioned in her poems the name translates to Dick Allcock from the Isle of Man. And when they refer to her possible child the term that is used can also be used as a term of endearment for a young lover."
Things are starting to click into place. I just do not know how I feel about all of this. I mean this is a lot of new information to take in. I feel very overwhelmed.
Maya
Well it is all out there now. Riley is obviously confused and overwhelmed. I can see that. I am still freaking out. I am confused as well. Like why am I so worried about talking about homosexuality? This is just about a poem and its author. Why is this bothering me so much?
Harper goes into the full history to sum it up and gives her opinions about the poem. Through discussion she had basically gotten us all there on our own. I am always in awe by how she does this with just a few questions. I zone out as I already know all of it.
Riley turns and looks at me directly. This makes me like extremely nervous for some reason. She mouths to me Bay Window, Bay WIndow in 6 hours. Now I am totally screwed… She is going to start asking a ton of questions and I am going to have to answer them because if her brown doe eyes don't do it then she will just say ring power and it is game over. I begin mentally preparing myself now.
