Teddy

I can't really explain how I felt when he asked me to take a walk with him. We lived next to a shopping plaza that had a big grocery store named Fazio's as the main attraction. Teddy wanted me to walk to Fazio's with him so he could buy some candy. I was thrilled to go with him, mostly because the look of pur hatred Susie gave him made me smile inside. I thought to myself, if Teddy likes me, she will too! He is her older brother and she adores him, so surely she will come around. Rhonda and Susie sat on the steps of Susie's house and just watched as Teddy and I walked through the parking lot and disappeared to the main strip of the plaza. I can't remember a thing we talked about, I'm not sure that we even talked at all. I just know at that very moment, and what felt like for the first time in my life, I was not afraid. Teddy bought his candy and we walked back through the parking lot to our street and there sat the girls waiting. I was afraid of them so I just walked up to my steps and Teddy just said, "see ya," and walked to his house. As I went in the house I do remember this mixed bag of emotions. Happy to have made a friend, but also at this young age, I couldn't shake that they were sitting over there just laughing away at me and making fun of me. This emotion would last most of my 35 years of life.