8.

I made myself a new friend today. Her name is Alison. She is kinda posh and polite, pretty and perfect, something I am anything but. Distracted by her smart phone she was about to step out onto a street. Being close enough to her at the time, I grabbed her and pulled her back. Just as well that I did for she surely would have been hit by a car travelling at a speed way too high for the area it was passing through.

She was clearly shocked by this moment and appreciative too, once she gathered herself, appreciative to the point that she invited me for coffee, her treat, and being appreciative of an invite coming my way, I accepted. Seemed like a good idea, accepting the coffee invite for it is nice to have somewhere to go and someone to go there with, such is life though. It wasn't Alison's fault, can't place any blame on her, not that I would, if anything I credit her for her kindness. People can be so judgemental, rude and insensitive especially other girls.

I noticed their stares straight away. This particular coffee shop, it must be some sort of local for school gatherings, a kinda hangout more so for the female population rather than that of the male persuasion. Girls of my age and older all more or less looking my way as if I am the source of some contagious illness and their stares are what could eradicate this illness. If only they could realize that they are the illness.

Yeah, I am a little different; I don't conform to what the majority accept as normal. I am my own form of normal. Doesn't give anyone the right to stare and treat me as if I were contagious.

No way could I stay there for any length of time so I ordered my coffee to go. I think Alison understood for when I was handed my coffee, she gave me a hug and thanked me for the umpteenth time then told me she will see me again. Hopefully we will meet again; I think I would like that. I would also like to think that the actual illness I witnessed will be cured one day.

Strange, that girl who waved from the yard next door, Judy can imagine her to be a good fit for an Alison without actually being the Alison from the book, sorta like and unlike the girl she thought could have oddly been Ellie. Next time Judy sees that girl from the yard; she might just go and introduce herself. Yeah, that would be a nice thing to do. Things may be beginning to improve.

That illness, however, that Ellie refers to is something Judy knows only too well, except maybe in a kind of reverse. Instead, as being looked at as something different, Judy is not looked at, at all. She may be an illness others are ignoring instead of staring at. If something is ignored then it is not really there at all, is it?

Sitting in an open top vehicle on the edge of town on a Saturday afternoon four friends share a number of alcoholic beverages as well as also sharing some illegal substances, well at least three of them are doing the sharing.

'Come on Steve, don't be such a wuss.'

'Yeah Steve, what Mike said.'

'Guys, guys, I am just looking after these bones of mine. You know my football comes first.'

'Football, football, baloney if you ask me, live a little bro will ya?'

'Alright, take it easy, suppose one drink won't kill me, remember I will be the one to drive us all home in this rust bucket, someone has to stay sober.'

It may be more than a little unusual for someone to think or act in such a way in such a moment, for Steve though there may be other motivating factors in effect in this moment other than wanting to keep match healthy, one such factor may be about to make an appearance.

'Hey Steve, isn't that your lady friend over there?'

'Huh? Where?'

'Across the street, your seven o'clock, your lady friend from the football stand.'

'Ellie ...' Steve says to himself once he sees the girl herself.

Straight away, Steve hops out of the car and moves quickly across the street, blocking out the jeers that his so-called friends are throwing his way. Within seconds he is just a few feet ahead of her. She sees him of course but keeps on moving to the point she has passed him without even acknowledging him.

'Aren't you gonna say hi?' he asks as begins to move to keep up with her.

'Hi' she says with no intention of slowing down.

'You are not going to talk to me, are you?'

She stops and turns towards Steve. 'How about I talk to you about your friends?'

'Huh?'

'They are about to leave you behind.'

'What?'

Steve looks back across the street. That car he had been in has started up and is slowly moving away.

'Damn' he says being torn between going after them and staying to try get through to Ellie. 'I am the designated driver.'

'Good luck with that ...'

Go after his friends he does. They are driving slowly and surely, taunting Steve and making it difficult for him to completely catch up with them. This makes Ellie laugh. She is surely getting somewhat of a kick out of this moment.

Judy too is amused by this part of her book; she can't help but smile and even chuckle a little as she reads. She sees it all so clearly in her head as if she were watching a movie rather than reading a book. At the same time, she is also a bit weary of this Steve guy. At this point, she takes a minute to stare out that bedroom window of hers. There is nothing special happening out within her line of sight though it is a pleasant view all the same. Before she can become lost in a daydream her mum calls out for her.

'Everything alright?' Judy asks in reply of her mum's call as she moves out of her room.

'Yeah, yeah, fine. Just letting you know I am heading down to the store. Want to come for the spin?'

'Nah, I am going to hang on here.'

'Alright, bring you back anything?'

'I wouldn't say no to some ice-cream.'

Mum smiles and heads outside. Judy follows her outside more so to stretch her legs than for anything else.

'See you in a bit' mum says getting into the car.

Judy moves to sit on a garden wall. That girl from next door so happens to be arriving home.

'Hey' she says.

'Hi ... I'm Judy.'

'Suzie. Erm ... there are a few of us going bowling tomorrow if you would like to join us. We could do with a sixth player.'

'I'd like that' responds Judy surprised by the invite.

'We can head together about six from here if you like.'

'Sure.'

'See you then' says Suzie before heading inside.

'Bye.'