Tales from a fly

We're Going To Be Friends

Fall is here, hear the yell

Back to school, ring the bell

Brand new shoes, walking blues

Climb the fence, books and pens

I can tell that we are gonna be friends

I can tell that we are gonna be friends

-We're Going To Be Friends by The White Stripes.

I was sitting on a random wall cleaning myself when I heard a kid cry out in frustration. To be honest, I didn't even notice he was there until I heard him. 

I moved a bit closer to him to get a clearer look at him and the cause of his distress, the light from his computer illuminating his face. He looked like he was on the verge of crying. 

I heard a few frantic clicks on his mouse until he threw his headset in frustration and started crying. His frantic breathing was the only sound audible in the otherwise quiet room. He angrily wiped his tears away using his hands but he still kept on sobbing. 

I felt sorry for the poor boy. He reminded me of how I would feel when I'm stuck in a strange place, mostly some human's house and all the humans are trying to kill me.

I was snapped out of my thoughts by the boy talking to himself. At first I couldn't hear him well but then he spoke louder:

'Why!? Why was I so stupid?!? Now everyone thinks I'm a weirdo at school,' he sobbed a little.

'Oh, so it's about school. Well, I can't really help him with that. I can't really help him with anything, but especially not something school related,' I thought to myself.

'I noticed all those looks everyone threw at me the whole day... they probably think I'm even weirder now or something. God, and I have history tomorrow...' he groaned.

I think he then realised crying's not going to do anything, so he started browsing on his computer for something. An hour later he seemed to have calmed down and even smiling so I decided to get a closer look and went and sat on his shoulder.

Turned out, he was chatting with another person. I couldn't understand what they were talking about but he seemed to be into it.

A few minutes like this went by before I suddenly got startled by seeing a boy on the other side of the computer. I think he was the kid the boy was talking to, and so, naturally I decided to listen to their conversation. 

'Yeah man, it's so difficult making friends at school. It's just so much easier talking to people on the internet...it's so much easier talking to you, espacially. I mean you get me. Even today, I decided to talk to people and it went horribly; Huh? do I want to talk about it? I-I guess.'

'It's just that normally-I'm normally a very socially awkward person and I don't really have friends at school. I decided to change that to...because uh...I wanted to have more friends and be more confident...so-so I went up to a...went up to this kid in my history class and tried to strike up a conversation and he just...and he just asked me who I was. So I decided to participate more in class and raised my hand when the teacher asked a question and the teacher...and the teacher just looked surprised and exclaimed "Oh, you're in my class?" and she picked me but then I... and then I got super nervous and stammered and...and told the wrong answer. No one laughed, but after class a girl came up to me and asked why I was doing it...why...why I was trying to act so extroverted now and she told me it was annoying. She...she isn't a bully or anything, but she asked me that queation and I got pretty sad. It's just...just that even when I want to change myself and my situation...it's-it's not working. I don't know what to do.'

'Yeah I totally get what you're saying. It can be pretty tough making new friends, especially if the kids are assholes,' he mumbled the last part. 'I mean even the teacher straight up told you that?! That's messed up, man,' the other kid replied.

'But yeah, even I have trouble with friendships sometimes. For me, the problem lies with maintaining my relationships. I can make friends easily, but maintaining those friendships? not so much, so I get where you're coming from, the other kid continued. 

'So what project are you working on right now? you told me you finished that cow plushie you were crocheting the other day,' the other kid asked, trying to change the subject.

'I'm working on a cardigan right now,' he replied, delighted to talk about his hobby.

'Rad. Can I see?' he asked, to which the boy excitedly took out his half finished cardigan and proudly showed it to his friend.

It was a black cardigan with dark red details on the sleeves, the collar, and the pocket. It also had a gold 'R' embroidered on it.

'Yo it looks so dope. I don't know how you have the patience to do these things, man. I tried making that- uh what's it called? A-a granny square? I made like two of those but then got tired and gave up when I realised I had to make hundreds of those so it could be wearable.'

'Thank you,' the boy replied. 'But then again I could never solve sums like you do. I mean your talent in math is something else,' he finished saying.

After that they talked and talked till I myself got tired of listening to them talk and I dozed off for a while. They chatted all throughout the night and they only stopped only when the boy noticed the morning sun flowing into the room, illuminating everything in an orange glow. 

'And remember what I said. Don't change yourself for anyone, but it's important to get out of your comfort zone and to challenge yourself,' the boy on the other side said.

'I remember. Thanks for being my friend, man. I love you.' 

'Of course. I love you too,' the other boy said before hanging up the call.

'Wow, only five hours? It seemed like we were speaking for only five minutes,' the boy mumbled to himself as he turned off his computer and went downstairs. 

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