Strangers on the Shore — The Firefly pt.4

“Is it really bad? Her situation” Youngman broke the silence. “I was an outcast too in high school.” He looked at Store Owner, waiting for him to share his uneasiness.

I was still trying to process the Store Owner’s worry but then Youngman’s unexpected confession stupefied me. Was that for real, or did he just trying to give him some encouragement? Store Owner, on the side still hesitated to share his worry and it left us in the dark, trying to offer consolation without picked on something wrong.

But then, this one young guy just broke through it confidently without looking around. “Being an outcast for a boy was not a big deal back then, because you can always find ones who can’t fit in everywhere, then they will sure flock together to survive. But for girls, I heard it’s something different. You never see a teenage girl hangs out alone, right? That shows the importance of it for girls.” Youngman offered his opinion, fair and square, honest words without sweet additives.

Store Owner sigh became longer and his head sunken further. I sent scorn look at Youngman, I had to say he was really something. Oldman shushed us and patted Store Owner’s back as a gesture of support.

“Maybe she is just a loner, not an outcast. Or just feeling under the weather and doesn’t interacting much these days.” Oldman tried to comforted him.

“Yes, it could happened. Moreover, how are you so sure she’s an outcast?” I supported Oldman’s idea.

“I thought so too at first, maybe it was just occasional or a misunderstanding. But now it happened again I can clearly see it.” Store Owner answered flatly.

“And what does she say? Do you confront her about it?” Youngman asked.

“I didn’t want to bring it up first and just let my wife talk to her, but then she said my daughter ignoring her every time she brought it up. So I tried to ask her and she exploded.”

“How were you asking her? I mean were you asking her directly? Were you pestering her?” Youngman continued to ask for details, but the tone was sound more like an accusation to me.

“I guessed… But it was because I wanted to know. I care about her, I don’t want her to be an outcast. I want her to have friends, to experience normal school days.” Store Owner flustered.

“And what did she say?”

“She said she will take care of it and don’t meddle with her business. And don’t ever pry into her private life.”

“You pried into her privacy?” Youngman pushed through. No, he was near to bulldozing Store Owner. I thought he took the 8th grader’s perspective to religiously.

“No —” Store Owner denied strongly.

“Then how would you knew she’s an outcast at school?” I cut him off suddenly. “Well, I’m sorry but issue about prying their privacy is very big to teenagers her age. Beside the point of being accused as outcast, she could also be irritated by how her parents prying her privacy, too.” I added. Well, from my experience, this issue was really huge for teenagers since decades ago and it seemed like it still was until now.