Pool Gal
January 5th, 2021
Starring: A (male, 20’s-30’s) & B (female, 20’s-30’s)
Morning. An apartment, in an amenities building. B is booting up her work computer at her living room makeshift office as A comes in from the front door, in a t-shirt and a towel around his waist. He wears slider flip flops and his hair is wet.
B
Back so soon?
A
I was halfway through, they made me get out. Weekly cleaning.
B
Huh. They must’ve changed the time with the new year.
A
Apparently.
B
Bummer.
A
Whatchagonnado.
But get this, the pool person who came? A woman.
B
Mm.
A
Yeah. First time I’ve ever seen a female pool person in my life.
That’s why I was so surprised. It finally took me seeing one to notice.
B
Notice...?
A
That every pool person I’ve ever seen has been a man. I sort of accepted it as fact.
...
Was that crazy to assume?
B
I don’t know what you’re asking.
A
Have you also assumed that all pool people are mostly male, because through lived experience, that has proven to be true, or am I making an unrightful assumption given my sex?
B
I don’t have enough to go on. I didn’t grow up with pools.
A
But if I say the word pool person, does your mind jump to a man or a woman?
...
Just humor me: There’s a knock at the door, and you know behind the door is the pool person. Who do you assume is behind the door?
B
The pool person.
A
Ok, but do you imagine they’re a girl or a boy?
B
I’m not sure. Really, I’d have to wait and see until I opened the door, then I’d know for sure.
A
Come on. There’s no way. There’s just no way that—
B
I’m not trying to be difficult—
A
This is pure curiosity, nothing else. You’re who I’m going to spend my life with, and given that you are that person, I am interested in how your brain works in this way.
B
Maybe the biggest takeaway is that you really care about this and I don’t.
A
But do you think that says something about our respective sexes?
B
It might. Or maybe just about you and me.
…
…
I gotta start work.
A
I’ll hit the showers, then.
...
Pool person’s still at the door, whenever you’re ready.
B
Oh, could you get it? I’ve got a meeting.
A
Wow—
B
Bye.
B smiles, waves, and pulls a curtain across the center of the living room, blocking A’s view. We hear B log into her virtual meeting. A stands and listens for a moment, then shuffles off to the shower.