We met in first grade. He was younger than me though, that much I could tell. His face always had a troubled expression with a twinge of longing. I'd never seen anyone look like that, but for some reason I was drawn to it. To him. So, on the second day of school I said,
"Sit by me."
It came out more demanding then I'd intended but you know how kids are. The boy looked at me for a moment then pointedly sat at a table on the opposite side of the room. This of course made me even more determined. To do what though? I hadn't actually considered what I wanted to get out of any of this. Maybe I just wanted to know his name. My dumb kid self was too busy internally monologuing to pay attention during roll call. Typical. But now that I think about it, I didn't hear him say anything. I would've at least heard that. I'm not that dense.
Some time passes, ten hours, a week maybe, and I hear the bell ring for lunch. This is my chance. We line up single file and toddle our way to the cafeteria. I sit down with some other kids, as I place my super awesome dinosaur lunchbox on the table. The kids around me aren't nearly as impressed as I want them to be, so I had to up the ante.
"Look at this guys!"
I made sure they were all looking, then I dramatically flung open the lid of my lunchbox, revealing my seemingly endless array of goodies any kid would drool over. Potato chips (name brand), Oreo cookies, lollipops in every color, Cosmic brownies, Cheez-its, M&M's, animal crackers, jelly beans, Tootsie rolls, Skittles, and Kool-Aid in three flavors. My hand starts to hurt from picking up each and every one my classmates' jaws off the table. I was totally convinced their eyes were going to pop right out of their faces. I could practically feel their mouths salivating at the sight. Which was kinda gross actually but, I enjoyed the attention. I look over at the mysterious boy, who's isolated himself to the far edge of the table. He's not looking at me. Really? All that and I can't even get a glance?! It was time to take matters into my own hands. Infuriated, I stomp over to his side of the table, my face red, black smoke coming out of my ears. I'm about to lose it when, I notice he has a torn paper bag, which he's flattened to use as a makeshift plate for something that barely resembles food.
"What is that?" I ask this skeptically.
"Ketchup sandwich." He replies solemnly.
"What?"
I didn't understand why anyone would want to eat that. He doesn't repeat himself, even though he knows I'm confused. It looks like this "ketchup sandwich" is the only thing he has. I don't know what compelled me, but I reach into my lunchbox and set the Cosmic brownies down on the table in front of him. They're my favorite, yet I seemed to forget that when I gave them to him. He looked bewildered, but I just smiled and walked back to my spot. Maybe I'll learn his name tomorrow.
YOU ARE READING
Kind. (boyxboy)
General Fiction"Caleb I don't understand! No one wants me! So why the fuck do you?! Are you trying to mess with me?" I grab his hand and pull him close to my heart. He's hard to work with when he gets like this, but it never bothered me. He doesn't even know I'd...
