Junior year (2000/2001), after alternative school I was released back into ‘gen pop’ aka the full run of the school, after my first semester. I started trying to be less angry, less reactive. Despite the lack of consistent therapy, I tried to practice the bits and pieces I had.
Upon re-joining my classmates, I talked with kids who had previously been hurtful, and we apologized to each other (where needed) and during this slow U-turn, I wound up befriending two of the most popular and beautiful (inside and out) girls in my year (2002).
Enter E and B. Upon deciding they liked me and I was ‘cool’ (I was and am not) they took me under their wings, it was like having the protection of the Peaky Blinders, but for kindness. They took me out with them a few times, had me over to their places, they introduced me to Radiohead.
They took me on as part of their posse for the homecoming dance, where one if not both of them were nominated for queen. I know one of them won, but if you asked me which I couldn’t tell you, but I was happy for them at the time!
It was a complete 360 from M.’s gang and machinations, and even M. wound up attempting to bend the knee. People I didn’t know started to talk to me, people who didn’t like me actually got to know me and we liked each other. It was the first time in 13 years of schooling that I felt like maybe I wasn’t trash.
I’ll never be able to thank them enough for the kindness shown, or for their perseverance in not letting people be shitty to me. Those angels did more for me than my own family. They will forever have a place in my heart. All it took to have a significant impact on my fucked up childhood was a little bit of understanding.
I’ve since touched base with them on FB, and B and I ran into each other at our 20 year reunion and we keep in touch. I’m thankful to have had these angels provide positive lessons to contrast with everything my family taught me. It was a vital corrective experience.
EllyRox 