Puddle

I was away at school once. All the kids seemed nervous around me. Our accents were very different. I wasn't from around there. Everyone was friendly, but polite. There was a guy there from out of town too, and he was fitting in great. I don't think it takes guys long to size up one another. Girls watch. A lot. Guys jump right in.

One day a group of girls and I were walking back from class. - All of whom were friendly. None were mean. Just stand-offish. One of them, one I knew a bit better, gave me a shove as we passed by a puddle, trying to knock me into it.

You'd think I might have been upset by that, but I was ecstatic. I knew she didn't hate me. She wasn't trying to be mean. Finally someone had taken a risk! Finally someone had felt comfortable enough interacting with me, to do something besides smile, nod, and stare!

(FYI, had someone tried that with me once we were friends, THEN I might have been pissed! ;) )