Humor (or lack thereof) and Awkwardness in "You're Ugly, Too"

"'Just kidding,' she said, whipping around. But he gazed at her appalled and frightened...". Pg. 570
This story was down right uncomfortable. Zoe was the definition of awkward. Every time she tried to make a joke she just freaks whoever she is talking to out. Also when asked about love she tells an incredibly depressing story about a girl who kills herself. Also there's the fact that she is talking to a man dressed like a woman. She also has a sister named Evan and when she tries to pluck a hair from her chin, she looks like she just shaved. In fact there was a whole paragraph devoted to how women may start to resemble men when separated from their company long enough. All this gender reversal is strange and unsettling. Why can't these characters just stick to the sex they were given? I guess the gender role switch could be considered ironic but I see absolutely no humor in it. All I got out of the uncomfortable comments and jokes was a big dose of awkward. What's more, it felt like the story had no point. It started with a weird girl with a depressing life who can't tell a good joke, and ended the exact same way. Next time you could just spare me the strange story, and save me some time.