John at the Mall

Date: 1/8/2023

"You're fat," he mutters under his breath. Then, with more restraint, "You've really rounded out!" Then, to himself, "Doh! Why did you say that?!!!" I ignore the soliloquy and insult. "I used to be fatter. I'm actually losing weight pretty fast now." "That's good," he allows. I think he's in health care. Very smart, just a little autistic. I've missed John. I follow him to a table in the food court where his friends are waiting. "I'm sorry about your Mom. I heard she died." "No," he says nervously, perhaps in denial. "We just got a call that she was in hospital." I stare at his nerdy friends, obviously not used to girls. "Do you fellows have a special Walk?" I ask. The scruffy one admits, "Yeah." "Show me!" I challenge, but they don't. I have a class at 1:30 so have to go. I've missed too many classes. John walks me but we stop at a big Ted Talk in the corridor outside the lecture hall, taking some loose folding chairs at the back. Two presenters start "rapping" about micro economics and John is fascinated. They are really bad, middle-aged, scruffy white rappers. I push my chair back a bit. Not my thing. John looks around but doesn't see me, stands up and walks away, clearly upset. "John!" I call out, chasing after him. He turns, relieved. "I wanted to say Good-Bye. It was so nice to meet you again." I give him a big hug. He pulls me in tight, releases, then hugs me again.