After a long and arduous day at my internship, I decided it would be a good idea to drive some of my friends and head over to Art’s (class of 2023) birthday party. After schmoozing with some friends, walking around, and looking for food, I picked up a cup of Sprite and looked around. We arrived late to the party so it was already at peak attendance. There were faces I didn’t recognize, but the majority were Westridge students or recent grads.
Soon enough, I was separated from my group and left alone by the kitchen sink. Almost immediately, a boy walked up to me. He wore a beanie, big shirt, baggy jeans, a style I can only describe as “skater boy.”
“Do you know where I can find a cup of water?” He asks.
It was for his friend who was throwing up in the backyard. I didn’t know where he could find water but I proceeded to dump out my cup of soda and fill it with tap water. He grabbed the cup, thankful, and left but quickly returned after handing it off. We had a decent conversation that ended in the exchanging of our phone numbers and a plan to meet again in the near future.
We made plans for the following week. A date. He picked me up in a cute blue truck and we drove to get sushi. Settling down at Lacy Park, we finished our food and got to know each other. He was definitely the silent type.
Directing the conversation, I asked, “So, what are your hobbies?”
“I like to read, write. I also like to skateboard. Skating is probably my favorite hobby.”
I was right. He’s a skater.
“So then, what do you like to read?” I press on.
“The Bible.”
What.
I soon found out that he was a devout Christian, going to church more than once a week and often reading excerpts from the Bible more than I ever had (which was one time). I never hated religion. But… Christianity comes with a couple of traditions, all of which I do not abide by/ care for—the idea of a nuclear family, a straight couple, a wife, and a husband.
During our date, we got drinks at Starbucks where I taught him how to write on a PDF and watched him redownload Gmail. As we walked back to the car, he spotted a family on the side of the road holding up a sign saying, “Need gas”. He walked over and asked where they were headed and how much gas they needed. I chatted with the mother, finding out she was recently released from jail, and pet their dog while he filled up the tank.
When he finished paying, he wished them luck on their journey and asked, “Can I pray with you guys?” And pray they did. I felt awkward. I had never prayed before so I stood there with my eyes closed and said a delayed “Amen”. It was a moment of clarity for me. I probably would’ve ignored the family and moved on with my day, as would many of the people I know. But by showing some empathy, we found out that not many people had been kind to them.
The rest of the summer was strange. I met some of his friends, he met some of mine. The initial interest fizzled out but we maintained a very casual friendship. There was a lesson stemming from my Christian Boy Summer: Don’t discriminate against sk8ter bois! Also, religion can be a wonderful motivator to help others. For me, I try to do good whenever possible.
Soon enough, I was separated from my group and left alone by the kitchen sink. Almost immediately, a boy walked up to me. He wore a beanie, big shirt, baggy jeans, a style I can only describe as “skater boy.”
“Do you know where I can find a cup of water?” He asks.
It was for his friend who was throwing up in the backyard. I didn’t know where he could find water but I proceeded to dump out my cup of soda and fill it with tap water. He grabbed the cup, thankful, and left but quickly returned after handing it off. We had a decent conversation that ended in the exchanging of our phone numbers and a plan to meet again in the near future.
We made plans for the following week. A date. He picked me up in a cute blue truck and we drove to get sushi. Settling down at Lacy Park, we finished our food and got to know each other. He was definitely the silent type.
Directing the conversation, I asked, “So, what are your hobbies?”
“I like to read, write. I also like to skateboard. Skating is probably my favorite hobby.”
I was right. He’s a skater.
“So then, what do you like to read?” I press on.
“The Bible.”
What.
I soon found out that he was a devout Christian, going to church more than once a week and often reading excerpts from the Bible more than I ever had (which was one time). I never hated religion. But… Christianity comes with a couple of traditions, all of which I do not abide by/ care for—the idea of a nuclear family, a straight couple, a wife, and a husband.
During our date, we got drinks at Starbucks where I taught him how to write on a PDF and watched him redownload Gmail. As we walked back to the car, he spotted a family on the side of the road holding up a sign saying, “Need gas”. He walked over and asked where they were headed and how much gas they needed. I chatted with the mother, finding out she was recently released from jail, and pet their dog while he filled up the tank.
When he finished paying, he wished them luck on their journey and asked, “Can I pray with you guys?” And pray they did. I felt awkward. I had never prayed before so I stood there with my eyes closed and said a delayed “Amen”. It was a moment of clarity for me. I probably would’ve ignored the family and moved on with my day, as would many of the people I know. But by showing some empathy, we found out that not many people had been kind to them.
The rest of the summer was strange. I met some of his friends, he met some of mine. The initial interest fizzled out but we maintained a very casual friendship. There was a lesson stemming from my Christian Boy Summer: Don’t discriminate against sk8ter bois! Also, religion can be a wonderful motivator to help others. For me, I try to do good whenever possible.
