"Mom, what's this?" Sam stares at the hat in bright rainbow colours and the gloves in blue, yellow and pink, probably both hand-knit.
"It's your present, sweetie."
"I know that", Sam deadpans. Jonah snickers, curled up on the other couch next to dad. Sam glares at him.
"Your mama, dad and I wanted you to know we really accept and support you in every way, so I made that hat and those gloves."
"Of course you accept me. I have two mothers and a gay dad! How much more LGBTQ friendly could it get?"
Mom goes to answer, but dad holds up his hand. It amazes Sam every time how their mothers - full-blown extraverts, confident and loud - listen to that man who is not even a part of their relationship but comes down every weekend to barge into their house to see his children. "You know that even within the community, not everyone believes non-binary people exist and are not just making things up for attention or for the sake of yet another identity or that pansexuality is a thing."
"I know, but seriously? I'm not going to wear this. Everyone will assume I'm gay. Only pans know the pan colours."
"We knew them", mama butts in. "Otherwise that coming-out of yours last month would have been a flop."
"Yeah", mom agrees, flapping her hand in front of her face. "I'm still not over that. Dyeing your hair was a bit extreme, don't you think? A good old talk would have done the job just as well."
"Jeez, mom! It wasn't meant as a coming-out! It was just a bet."
Mom and mama snort in unison and Jonah snickers. Sam shoots him another glare. "Sure, keep telling that. If you had just dyed your hair pink, I might believe you, but blue and yellow, in the right order? No way, mister. Wait, no. I can't say that, can I? What's the gender-neutral alternative for 'mister', Fred?"
Dad shrugs. "No idea. Sorry, Sam." The way he looks at them, Sam assumes it's also meant as an apology for their mothers' behaviour, kind of a what-can-you-do-about-it look.
"No worries. You've called me a boy for most of my life, so I'm not going to be offended if you mess up sometimes."
"Of course, sweetie", mom coos. "So, you're next, Jonah. I made you a hat and gloves as well!" Grinning cheerfully, she tosses him a present from under the tree that he barely catches. When the hat and gloves appear to be f*cking fluorescent orange, it's Sam's turn to snicker.
"You always complain about cold ears and fingers and how the girls never notice you and I thought this was the perfect solution to both problems", mama exclaims. Dad covers his mouth.
Sam decides that if that was the incentive for Jonah's, theirs aren't so bad and they might wear them sometime - when only their family is there to see it, that is. Better not to turn up at church with them.
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