Rayshawn hosts a day at the privately funded Pride Event, held for the second year by Zenobia Malfoy. This gives him a chance to get acquainted with the families of his prospective brides... at least, the ones with family in town. Doreen's goes first.
Tommy: It will be so cool if we end up being stepbrothers! Do you think your dad would adopt us? Can you adopt grownups?
Marty: I'd get two brothers and a sister just like that - BAM.
Tommy: And Peeta. Someday he's gonna be a brother in law. Not sure about Jimin, he's pretty new.
Rayshawn: If your mom wins this thing, would any of you be interested in going to work at The Point? She says she intends to continue to teach, but her weekends and summers are negotiable.
Bonnie: Absolutely not. I have a career at the Probation Office.
Ken: I don't see why not, if it doesn't get in the way of school. I plan to be a teacher like Mom.
Peeta: Does that offer include in-laws? (To Doreen) Yes, we're finally getting around to planning a wedding.
*****
Next, he meets Gwen's sister and niece.
Rallee: Before you ask... no, I will not work at The Point. I busted my butt to be Superintendent of Schools and plan to stay on track to better education for as many kids as possible.
Gwen: She's gonna be Secretary of Education someday, just watch. If not President.
Rallee: President? (laughs) Can you imagine?
Rayshawn: Actually, I can. Gwen speaks very highly of you, and so does almost everyone else in this town.
Rallee: Well, I speak just as highly of her. Gwen's been my rock, all my life.
Marty: So you might be my cousin soon. I don't know what to do with a cousin.
Luna: Neither do I! (both laugh) It's always just been the three of us, ever since I can remember. My grandparents died when I was a baby and my dad ran off before I was born.
****
After lunch, it's time for the Hernandez clan. Charlotte shows up with them, having taken Esperanza under her wing.
Daisy: We wouldn't come to work for you, no. Bertie is an anchor on the local news and I'm happy at the grocery store. Besides, we wouldn't want to meddle in Esper's marriage.
Rayshawn: That's not a bad policy, generally speaking. My first marriage was a disaster because meddling is all her family did. They're having fits now because I kept Marty for the summer, said I should just do this on my own and Marty would have to live with my choice.
Bertie: As unorthodox as this is, I applaud your including the boy. He's going to have to live with the woman, he should have some say in the matter.
*****
Rayshawn takes Esperanza on a carriage ride, as he's done with each lady after meeting the family. Charlotte's sister finds her sitting alone after Bertie and Daisy leave.
Charlotte: Why are you carrying that child? Her legs work.
Batgirl: She's exhausted. If I stood her up right now, she'd just crumble to the ground.
Jenny: Wainbow Day makes me sweepy.
Batgirl: I saw the camera crew following the carriage. Mace didn't look happy about it.
Charlotte: I really don't understand Rayshawn's priorities. For one thing, why is Martin getting a vote? He's a child! And there's been no romancing of the women... it's almost like he's interviewing them for a job.
Batgirl: Well, I imagine it's hard to romance anyone with a camera crew over your shoulder. And in a sense, courtship is a job interview. If Joe hadn't met my requirements for a husband, I wouldn't be with him now.
Charlotte: You and I have very different requirements for a husband, clearly.
******
Rayshawn joins Charlotte before his time with Sally and Seven.
Rayshawn: What do you think?
Charlotte: I'm still stuck on Rallee Jones as a government figure. With her half-shaved head and bastard daughter? Seriously?
Rayshawn: You have a bastard of your own, if memory serves.
Charlotte: I do not! Billy adopted Christopher!
Rayshawn: What about the Carsons? The only one of them unwilling to help was Bonnie, and she had good reason. Marty's already friends with Tommy, too.
Charlotte: Dullest family ever. And I don't even think those boys are really gay - they certainly don't act like it. Holding hands... big deal.
Rayshawn: Well, your pet's mothers weren't exactly slobbering all over each other, and none of them want to work at The Point. Not even Esperanza - she thinks she's going to be a star. (melodramatic gesture) I'm not even sure how that girl came from Bertie and Daisy, honestly, they're so grounded.
*****
Since neither of the two remaining ladies have family nearby to meet, Rayshawn takes each of them on an extra long carriage ride and discuss the matter.
Marty: Hey, look, Sally, we match!
Sally: Yes, we do. (To Rayshawn) Honestly, I don't understand. You allow him to play with girl toys and wear girl clothes and now we're at a Pride Rally. Is he gay? Do you want him to be?
Rayshawn: Do you have a problem with gays?
Sally: It's just not natural. If men were intended to be with men, children would result. It's like a cat mating with a dog or something.
Marty: Boys and girls do lots of stuff that don't make babies. (starts to list them, beginning with condoms, but Rayshawn hushes him) So, Sally... do you come from a big family?
Sally: I do. We all work with livestock, in some form. None of them would be willing to confine themselves to living or working in town like this, but I can't do that anymore and must find something!
Rayshawn: None of your family can take you in?
Sally: No one has room for dead weight. Why, I can't even work as a flag girl at the rodeo anymore, not with my face disfigured. My only option is to find a husband who doesn't mind that. I'm a great cook. I'll make a good wife.
******
Seven's turn!
As they start out, Tierra runs over.
Tierra: Thank you so much, Rayshawn! I got the best job from your friend! (to Seven) She owns an amusement park and wanted to bring in costumed characters, maybe a little show or two... and I'm totally in charge of that!
Rayshawn: I hoped you could work with them. Not exactly Broadway, but it pays good and you can keep your dignity.
Tierra: Yes! Some women like (glances at Marty) exotic dancing, but not me. The theater I was interning at got mad when I said I was staying in Barbieville, but I gotta do what I gotta do!
Seven: I'm so happy for her! And you - a lot of men would've just rejected her and shipped her off.
Rayshawn: I rejected her as a wife, not as a person. Remember, I did ship off Reggie V.
Marty: She was so stuck up, she probably thinks she rejected you.
Seven: Well, I guess you want to hear about my family, since that's today's focus. I've got 3 siblings. We've all got diplomas, but there was no money for college. We all went right to work. Some of us even worked before graduating. We're all single, no kids.
Rayshawn: What about your parents?
Seven: Nasty divorce, a long time ago. None of us have much to do with either of them, honestly, because it's constant rant about how horrible the other parent is. Just toxic.
Marty: Do you like gay people?
Seven: I would have refused to come here today if I had a problem with anyone represented by this festival. (glances at Rayshawn) Is that part of today's test?
Rayshawn: It wasn't originally. I made the mistake of assuming anyone who participated in something like this was pretty open-minded.
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