Everyone of us has been through high school. All of us have had many experiences, but one of our readers has sent in a narrative story that may or not be fictious. Once upon a time in a high school, there was a boy. This boy was average, he had average grades, average life, average problems, and average everything. Well, this boy was also very nice. He did have his flaws but all in all, he went out of his way to be nice to everyone, his teachers, strangers, but especially his friends. Before his philosophy was to have many nice acquaintances, but now he would rather have a few close friends, than many acquaintances. “I would rather have four quarters than a hundred pennies.” He would say.
Well this boy’s friend liked him a lot. They enjoyed his company and his kind nature. They would tease each other all the time, but he would always compliment someone. The boy would always go out of his way to cheer someone up. Then all of a sudden, everyone had problems. All his friends started telling him about their problems whether about home, or school, or other relationships.
One of his friends, while they were driving to his house, started spilling secrets and his thoughts of his crazy ex that would never leave him alone. He would ask him for his opinions on whether he should take her back. The boy would quietly listen to his friend ramble on and on about stories of the drama they had when they were together. The boy was glad that his friend felt comfortable enough to talk to him about deep stuff like that.
But soon another one of his friends started telling him about her love life. When he was over at her house hanging out in her room, she was freaking out on why her boyfriend, who was also one of his close friends, just suddenly stopped talking to her. And also on how he went to great lengths to avoid her. One of his buddies, her ex, was telling him how she is feeling exactly what she did to him, and that it was karma. There were three very different sides to this story, and the boy felt that his friends expected them to side with them, but all he could do was listen.
Many more stories like that. His friends telling them secrets or their thoughts on other people. Gossip, rumors, secrets, thoughts, that’s what filled this boys head. And he wondered his secrets, and thoughts. He had feelings and there was nobody to listen to him, or anyone he felt comfortable enough to confide him. He had no hobbies to distract his mind, and even sleep was a curse for all his thoughts take dream forms and force him awake.His listening did save lives though. An acquaintance that was close enough to confide in him her threats of suicide, and being bullied. And for her just having someone to listen to her, was good enough for her to rethink her choices, and she chose to live. Although he did help people, he soon became very cynical. He would walk down the hallway and see a girl he used to think was very nice, it turns out she steals her parent’s liquor and sells it to other kids. He bumps into a freshman that immediately apologizes, turns out he steals his older brothers pot and gets high.
As the boy sits in class he reflects on how his attitude has changed, over the past few months by only knowing secrets, he finally realizes that the world isn’t a nice happy place. The world hurts, reality hurts, but your attitude is the big thing. That’s all he wishes for now, a better attitude.