Mistaken Identities

A few months ago, when I'd cut my hair real short, boy short, several kids screamed at me while I was on my way to work: "hey you? What are you? What gender are you?" I thought it was funny at the time that they used such a clinical word like gender in their scream.

A few days ago, I opened the door for the man who monthly comes and sprays the outside of our house for bugs. He asked first if my parents were home. When I chuckled and told him that my parents didn't live here, he was startled and asked how old I was.

A few minutes ago, I was buying little circle hashbrowns from a fast food place. The man behind the counter called me buddy and son. The only thing I can think of is that I had a masculine hat on and maybe that did it. Or maybe he calls everyone son. Could be.