High school Quote by Rosemary Clement-Moore
““Is Lisa going to the prom?" I shelved my worries for the moment. "I don't know, Mom. We don't talk about the You-Know-What. We made a pact." "You could go together, if you didn't want to mess with dates and things." "I don't want to mess with the prom at all, Mom." She ignored me, placidly eating popcorn, piece by piece. "Some girls in my high school class did that and had a wonderful time. They weren't lesbians or anything. Not that it would matter if they were." "That's nice, Mom. I'm glad you're so open-minded." I grabbed my Coke and the popcorn bowl and headed for the stairs, because I could go my whole life without ever hearing my mother talk about lesbians again. "Maybe you could take Justin to the prom," she called after me, laughter in her voice. "He is such a hottie." Shoot me now.””
About This Quote
Source Short story: “The Prom Pact,” 2021, online literary magazine
A mother navigates awkward family conversations about sexuality while trying to be supportive yet indirect
In simple terms: Mom tries to be open but avoids direct talk about lesbianism
Key Takeaway
Encourage honest, respectful dialogue about identity
Themes
family
identity
communication
sexuality
generational gaps
Mood
empathetic
tense
Type
narrative
conversational
When to use this quote
- family dinner
- school events
- personal counseling
- friendship discussions
Key Concepts
social norms
parental guidance
coming‑out experiences
Questions to Reflect On
- What would change if the mother spoke directly?
- How can families create safe spaces for such topics?
A Different Perspective
Avoiding the topic can perpetuate stigma and misunderstanding
![“[W]hen Ben was kissing me, the whole world retreated. I felt things I'd never felt before, in places I never knew were connected. But I was pretty sure that whatever was buzzing against my thigh was not normal. For one thing, it was ringing. Ben dragged his mouth away from mine and mumbled a curse…” quote by Rosemary Clement-Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/377/rosemary-clement-moore-13051_cell-phone_w-hen-ben-was-kissing-me-the-whole-world_309710.jpg)
