“You don’t talk much, do you?” I ask, chewing my sandwich. He doesn’t talk, so I use the same approach I did with Hector. I start with a simple hello and begin eating.

He’s a miscellaneous Social Outcast, like me. I see Beto, a boy from my ninth-period class, sitting alone at lunch today. I decided that being alone was better than being trapped by lots of people. There were days when I’d sit alone in the freezing snow waiting for the classes to line up, wishing recess would end. But I struggled to maintain those friendships, so most of the time I was on my own. Don’t look for her.”Įventually in elementary school I met a few nice girls. “Meep-Meep went to go live with her sister, Maude. But her hand became so cramped that she enlisted Dad to put an end to it. In fact, my closest companion was my mother’s hand puppet called “Meep-Meep.” It wasn’t even an actual puppet, it was just Mom’s fingers opening and closing like a mouth. When I started preschool at four years old, I had no friends. I know how it feels to be alone and friendless. I laugh and talk, getting her to come out of her shell. Without hesitation, I walk right up and sit down next to her. She looks sad and out of place, and I feel awful for her. When I walk in, I see that there’s someone I don’t recognize. That evening I arrive a little late for a youth activity at church. Anyway, Kenzie is at a band competition so she can’t give me lip about chickening out on my new endeavor and “crawling back to them.” I really don’t want them to think I’m avoiding them. That’s why today I sit with my own Social Outcast family. But as nice as it was, I knew everyone there and didn’t get to meet anyone new. And, having predecided to accept any invitations to other tables, I went willingly. “Look, Maya, do you want to come sit at our table? It’s kind of crowded but we don’t want you to sit alone.” After a little while two Choir Geeks came over. Even though it’s usually crowded, no one sat down next to me. Yesterday I went to the cafeteria early and sat at an empty table. Is it working? Am I actually making friends? I walk Dulce to her class and she smiles at me. Kenzie ends up staying, and we all talk for the entire lunch period.

She slowly narrows her eyes and sinks down on the seat.

Vintage wisdom for a modern geek