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[8] CHAPTER EIGHT: The Great (and very boring) Airport

I took the bus to the airport, and tapped my Snapper card for the final time. I would keep it, though, as both a souvenir and for when I might visit New Zealand again.

I'm at the Gateway to Other Lands (the airport gate), and I am very bored! The flight takes off in five hours, so why not go and get some food? Let's see.. Subway? No. How about The Blue Lady? I approached the little stand and got the cashier's attention. No line, good.

"I'd like a meal from here, any meal," I said.

The cashier happily replied: "Sure! I'll surprise you, though." He? She? opened the cash register and gave me some change for a $20 bill I handed to him or her.

And that is when I noticed their pronoun pin. It said: "My pronouns are they/them."

I was curious about it, as I had never met someone who used "they/them" as pronouns before, so I asked. "May I ask why your pronouns are they/them? I am sorry if I come off as rude, I am curious."

They responded: "Oh, I'm non-binary. That means I do not see myself as male or female. I might see myself as somewhere in between, none at all, or something else entirely!"

I responded: "I see. So you're neither male or female. That is very interesting. Thank you for telling me. Have a nice day, even though I may never see you again. I'm actually moving to Canada today!"

The cashier replied: "You too! And good luck in Canada! I heard lots of great things about it. actually!"

I then paid and waited for my meal, and the cashier called me over several minutes later. I thanked them, said our goodbyes, and took my meal to the gate with me. It was a burger, but I don't know what kind.

I then went into deep thought as I was on the conveyor belt: Even if someone's involved in a life for a fleeting moment, they could make a big change, like me and the cashier. I'm rethinking my gender right now, and my entire identity. For so long, I thought people had to fit into one of two boxes, and in came this new knowledge, this key to a wholly new world, something that could make a radical change to my-

Oh, I've arrived at my gate now.

I set down my carry-ons, and ate. It was a.. I don't think this is on the menu. This burger has chicken katsu, on.. salad dressing, mixed in with lettuce and tomato? Now this is amazing! I continued the meal, until an announcement came on. 

"As a reminder to all Air New Zealand flight 448 passengers bound to Vancouver: You have a layover in Auckland, transferring to Air New Zealand flight 24. You will not have to pass through customs at Auckland, as this layover is still in New Zealand."

What a relief, layovers are really tedious if you have to go through customs again. I decided to go to sleep after finishing my meal, but I couldn't. It was simply too loud.

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