PASSING FOR NORMAL

JIJ, here’s one for you...

Talking one day with this teacher, mother, researcher, from my floor..

- So your hair is blond now i see.
- Yes.
- Blond helps you fit in.
- Excuse me? We are still in the Bronx, are we not?
Do you fit in with your brown hair?
- Then why blond.
- I dyed my hair black for years. Black hair is too good for me.
- How do you mean?
- Never mind.
- So your hair is naturally what?
- Red (not really)
- I have a friend who went to your country once.
- Aha...
- People followed her on the street.
- Did they now? and why is that, i wonder..
- Yes because she had long blond hair, color of gold.
- Gold is cheap in my country (mumbling).
- Beg your pardon?
- That surprises me.
- And girls would rub her locks on their own hair hoping it would...
- But girls in my country don’t show their hair, they’re all hidden in veils.
- Oh yes.
- Yes, they wouldn’t be on the streets either.
- Really?
- Really, in fact after the dark, some come out.
- Only in the dark?
- Only with men pulling them behind. They go into dark alleys…
You’re totally buying this aren’t you…
- …