I think it was after that incident with the bullyโthe one I scared half to deathโthat I somehow ended up with a little fan club in high school. There were probably around fifteen guys who hyped me up every day, and honestly, it was embarrassing.
I've always believed that if you help someone, you shouldn't expect anything in return. Maybe I'm making excuses, but I never wanted the attention. I just wanted to help people.
My childhood friend from my old dojo went to the same school, and he never stopped teasing me about it
Even when situations become completely absurd, I can't help but laugh and find something to joke about. Some people see chaos and panic. I see another story to tell and another reason to smile.
What can I say? I like to smile and laugh, even when things get tough. It's what brings out the best in me. My sense of humor is a little unusual, too. More than a few former friends have joked that my optimism borders on insanity.
Looking back, those conversations are some of my favorite memories. Even though there was only about a year between us, he always felt like the little brother I never had.
I remember my childhood friend from my old dojo. After our martial arts classes, he would always show me his dinosaur drawings. He was incredibly talented, and I was always amazed by what he could create.
Then he'd start talking about D&D, pulling out his Monster Manual and excitedly showing me all the creatures inside. Sometimes he could spend hours talking about it.
He would also tell me about his dream of becoming a paleontologist because of how much he loved dinosaurs.