“Mind if I sit here?”
I looked up from my ham sandwich and chips to see a pretty brown-haired girl with sparkling blue eyes, and a smile that seemed impossibly wide and bright. I sat stunned anyone would talk to me, much less sit by me, so I didn’t answer other than to nod.
She set her tray down across from me and stuck out her hand. “I’m Jen. And you are?”
I took her hand slowly, wandering if this was some haze the new guy trick. “John.”
“Nice to meet you, John. Just moved here, huh?”
I glanced around the lunchroom, seeing others throw stares and whispers. I frowned and turned back to her. “Is this some kind of trick?”
She looked surprised and hurt. “What are you talking about?”
I gestured toward my body, tall, overweight and unattractive. “Pretty girls just don’t talk to guys like me.”
She grinned. “You think I’m pretty?”
“Uh…”
She swung her hand in a grand gesture which encompassed the entire room. “Look, I grew up here and know all these people already. I love meeting new people and getting to know them. I’m not trying to trick you or anything, I just like making new friends.”
I could feel my face flush. “Sorry,” I mumbled.
“It’s fine. I can understand if you want to be alone.” She grabbed her tray and made to leave.
“No. Wait!” I gestured to her seat. “Please. I…I don’t have any friends here. I would like it if you stayed and talked.”
She smiled at me and I felt my face respond. She sat back down and grabbed her milk. “Okay, but you’re wrong you know.”
“What?”
“You’re wrong. You have at least one friend here.”
***
10 years later
“Mind if I sit here?”
I stand beside a new hire sitting in the break room by herself while everyone else chats with people they’ve known for years. She nods her head and I plop down in the seat across from her. I can see the confusion and suspicion on her face as I stick out my hand. “Hi. I’m John and I like to meet new people.”
_________________________________________________________________
My contribution for the WordPress Daily Prompt. The one-word prompt for the day was Generous. I have had the good fortune to meet many generous people this past year as I go through nursing school and I’m proud to call them friends.
Writing To Be Noticed 