Me Redefined

Jeans, panty hose, and high heels. It was probably trendy somewhere that year in the 1980‘s, but not in our town, not in our school. Theresa’s locker was next to mine and I heard her sobbing as she gathered her books. I had heard the snide comments from the popular girls as they walked by a moment earlier, taking an easy verbal jab at her.

She was another outcast. Not so far down the social ladder as Terry, but not so high as the average crowd either. I’d known her since first grade, but hadn’t spoken to her much. “Don’t let them get you down,” I heard myself saying. “They’re such jerks. You look fine.”

It wasn’t much, but I felt good trying to reassure her. Ever since Terry had moved away after fifth grade, I had moved up into a socially better crowd. Nothing drives survival in Junior High like popularity.

But Theresa’s predicament was one of many events during that time that kept me grounded. It kept awake my resolve to be a friend to the friendless and give dignity to people who are on the outside. I doubt my words did much to help her. But saying it out loud defined for me once again whose side I was on.

It takes only a small word or gesture to redefine who we are.