* * *
Natalia Rowan’s eyes were huge. “You want him to be a Maypole dancer?”
Nora and Sawyer were standing directly in front of her. Maddie hung behind them. She hadn’t thought the direct approach was a great idea, saying that Natalia might feel bullied. Nora and Sawyer hadn’t listened.
“Well,” said Nora, “he’s always wanted to do it. It’s like a calling for him. And, here in Helicon, aren’t muses supposed to do the things that they’re the most drawn to? Isn’t it likely that he’ll bring an enormous amount of creative energy to the whole community?” She was drawing on the things she’d heard said last night by the older tweens.
Natalia fidgeted. “It’s just that he’s...not female. And traditionally, Maypole dancers are always female.”
Nora shrugged. “Maddie was saying that traditionally, they were also always virgins, and that’s something you’ve compromised on.”
“I’m a virgin,” said Sawyer, smiling.
“I...” Natalia floundered.
“Plus, I’ll make all the Maypole dancer’s dresses,” said Sawyer. He held out the skirt that he was wearing so that Natalia could see it. It was gold, with intricate stitching decoratively swirling over it. “I made this.”
“Well, that’s really gorgeous,” said Natalia, “and we hadn’t gotten anyone in the clothing and fabric enclave to really step up to make anything, but... I’m just not sure it would work.”
A tall, lean man with long, wavy hair wandered over. He was wearing a form-fitted shirt with sleeves that belled at his elbows and tight breeches. “You look distraught, Natalia,” he said, his voice musical.
“Everything’s fine,” said Natalia. “You don’t need to worry about it.”
The man smiled down at Sawyer and Nora. “I don’t believe I’ve met the two of you. You tweens grow like weeds. I’m Himeros Star.” He put a splayed hand against his chest. “Head of the dance enclave.”
Himeros had a bit of an arrogant way about him. Even the way he stood suggested he seemed to think he was better than everyone.
“It’s nice to meet you,” said Nora.
Himeros completely ignored her. “What’s your name?” he asked Sawyer.
“Sawyer Snow.”
“Are you a dancer?” Himeros looked eager.
“Well, I want to dance on the Maypole,” said Sawyer.
“Himeros,” said Natalia, “we’ve never had boys on the Maypole before. It’s... odd.”
Himeros sniffed. “I don’t see what’s so odd about it.”
“It’s a fertility holiday,” said Natalia. “Men are not fertile.” She seemed to be getting frustrated.
Himeros looked wounded. “Certainly, Natalia, you aren’t elevating heterosexual relationships above other relationships simply because they produce offspring? That kind of prejudice only serves to bar creativity, and I’m sure you know it.”
Natalia’s face went red. “Well, it’s not about that at all. It’s not about being gay or not. It’s about tradition.”
“Yes,” said Himeros, “and traditionally, I suppose all the men in a community were supposed to watch these nubile young women dancing around a Maypole, and be spurred to celebrate fertility, by getting aroused, yes?”
Natalia heaved a sigh. “You make it sound sordid, when it’s actually quite a beautiful celebration of our relationship to the earth. It’s about spring, when the earth is awakening and fertile—”
“Right,” said Himeros, “but we live in a place that’s summer year round. What about the homosexual men in the community? Why are they denied a young nubile thing to ogle on the Maypole?”
Sawyer made a face.
Nora turned to Maddie. “Is this really about us being ogled?”
Natalia threw up her hands. “All right, fine. He can dance on the Maypole if he wants. But stop sounding like a dirty old man please.” She looked at the three of them. “No one’s getting ogled. It’s tasteful, not creepy. It’s a hallowed expression of the kinship between nature and the muses.”
Himeros clasped his hands together, beaming. “Wonderful. I can’t wait to see you on May Day,” he said to Sawyer. He began to walk away from them.
Sawyer turned away, looking a little green.
Natalia cleared her throat, waiting for Himeros to get far enough away that he couldn’t hear them. “He's very old,” she said. “He says what he thinks, even if it sounds horrible.”
Nora patted Sawyer on the shoulder. “I think you were just sexually harassed.”
“No,” said Natalia. She bit her lip. “Well... at any rate, he’s all talk. He’s really a big softy, and he and his boyfriend have been together for nearly a hundred years. They have a wonderful relationship. They’re devoted to each other.” She cringed. “Although I think they might have started dating when Ren was sort of young.” She took both of Sawyer’s hands. “You’re okay, aren’t you?”
Sawyer nodded. “Yeah. It’s just a little weird. I don’t think anyone’s ever been attracted to me before.”
Everyone laughed.
Natalia looked Sawyer over. “Well, really, from a distance, in a dress, you’ll probably look like a girl, anyway.”
“Good,” said Sawyer.