N. has a typically Russian name that ends with an “a.” In Russian, your last name has to end with an “a” for you to be a woman, not the first name.
So yesterday N. called an insurance company and introduced himself. Let’s imagine that his name is “Misha Ivanov.”
As soon as the insurance company employee heard this name, she started addressing him as “Mrs. Ivanov.”
N. felt it would sound stupid to respond with something like “I’m a man”, so he decided to drop a hint and mentioned that his wife was also going to drive the car he was insuring (even though I don’t drive yet.)
Still, the insurance company employee continued addressing him as “Mrs. Misha” and “Mrs. Ivanov.” Apparently, it was easier for her to accept gay marriage than recognize the possibility that a male name can end with an “a.”
“What about Santa Claus, though?” my father asked when he heard this story. I didn’t know what to respond. I get to sign for N.’s packages all the time because postal workers refuse to believe that a big, burly man can be called “Misha.”
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