"Do you really want to hurt me? Do you really want to make me cry?"

In elementary and middle school, I was in a class where I was teased and made fun of for being slightly different.  Since then, I've learned to laugh at some of the things they said about me.  It helped develop in me my sense of humor that some people find unique.  I laugh at almost everything, even if it really isn't funny.  Like, come on, who said a panda pulling its fur out with its paws was funny?  I'm laughing even now.  But really, if you think about it the way I do, it is absolutely hilarious.

People have called me a strange bird.  But who ever said a bird was in any way strange?  Birds are birds.  A vulture, no matter how repulsing, is still the same as a beautiful red-breasted robin.  So what's the difference?  I know the answer to that quite well.  The reason a vulture is called a strange bird is because it has a reputation for being a nasty, carcass-eating bird of prey with an ugly bald head, while a robin is tiny and delicate and has beautiful colors, and who lays tiny blue eggs and sings a sweet song.

But enough about birds and how I'm a strange one, even though I am obviously NOT a bird.

Sometimes I can't forget what things were said back then.  Some comments, like "You'll never fit in" have still stuck with me.  But look, I can make anything funny, so that kid who said "You'll never fit in" actually ended up leaving the school because he was the one who didn't actually fit in.  That's true.  I'm not making it up.  (So haha to him, because I ended up winning the war even though I lost 98% of the battles!!)

When you laugh at me,

I know you don't mean well.

But when I laugh at you,

I laugh because you make me.

--Emma Keynes

© 2012 Emma Keynes