You Were, You Will

His name was Nicholas. Also my neighbor. My friend's dad. Andrew and Charlie- if I remember correctly. He used to talk to me when I'd sit outside. He'd actually listen to all the things a 13-year-old had to say. I really liked him. I liked his attention. The way he looked at me with kind and wise eyes. He'd ask me questions only someone like me could answer. He knew I enjoyed that. He knew.

"I'll never understand why Charlie doesn't like you that way," he'd say. Funny thing is that I had a crush on Charlie for the longest time. I used to think that he'd be just like his dad. "You're smart, funny, athletic, witty- you're such a catch. I am in love with you but he doesn't see what I see." This felt nice. This "love." I wanted it- almost needed it.

The same way you ought to take a test and be of a certain age to drive, I think you should also take a test and be a certain person to treat others. Growing up, I learned two important things, respect the older and protect the younger; I was basically trained to care for others. But most people don't grow up to this. Most people grow up to make fun of the kids for being innocent and make fun of the older for being slow.

As I made my way to the Math Lab, a lady (over 60) walking the other direction carried her umbrella open. "It's not raining inside, grandma," someone said. She wasn't hurting anyone. If anything, I think she was just trying to protect herself from us.

What is it about grownups and their need to take advantage of a child's innocence? What is it about teenagers and their need to laugh at the elderly? You were a child too. You'll be old later also.