Page 9 of The Secret to Belonging

in the same storm at the same time

you’ve always felt completely

alone

you lift the needle and Carousel

goes back on the shelf

you pull out The Fantasticks

(the original cast recording with Jerry Orbach)

feminists have a legitimate beef

with The Fantasticks, too

in fact, it’s hard to find a Broadway musical

that isn’t sexist or misogynistic

(ahem, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers)

you can’t help it

you’re a feminist who loves musicals

you’re a paradox

when you were little

your granddad played the records for you

he let you hold the album covers

and read along with the lyrics

in between numbers

he told you the story of every show

number one rule for life in a musical:

when the shit hits the fan, burst into song

no one in a musical is told to lower their voice

to avoid a scene

they belt their feelings to the back row

of the theater

not that you want to be a performer. you don’t

but you like the honesty of it

you and your granddad both loved The Fantasticks