Have you ever had someone challenge you about your relationship with someone? Like, they try to show you up by telling you they're closer to someone than you are? I had one of those really obnoxious experiences today...
I hated it when people tried to be show-ups.
Show-ups are people who try to show you up by saying they're better than you, comparing themselves to you in various ways to show you up. Thus the term: show-ups. Kind of like kiss-ups, but those are different--a story for another time.
So you all remember my unofficial mentor 'Sister Lister' even if it doesn't seem that way to her--I look up to her, you know? I'm realistic. I know we're not that close. I don't try to be.
Anyway--there's this kid (we'll call him Marc), who keeps pestering me about my novel. I was writing in class today and when this other guy saw my writing (only four pages, just by the way), he said: "Whoa! Are you writing a novel?" and he said it kind of mockingly, like 'why are you writing...?'
Some people don't get the whole 'writing for fun' concept.
Marc (the obnoxious one) butts in with a stupid grin and says, "Yeah, she is. It's on her flashdrive."
I ignored them, but they kept waiting expectantly, so I said, very slowly, "Yes, I am." Closing my notebook in the process, I stood, but Marc wasn't done yet.
He kept talking to the guy next to him, though it was obviously meant for me to hear. "Lister is gonna publish it."
I just rolled my eyes. Lister was no publisher, as awesome as she was. As I put my things away, I said somewhat jokingly: "I'm Lister's 'protege,'" with finger quotations around 'protege.'
Marc, of course, had to jump on that train too (though maybe I was asking for it--he didn't have to say it). His tawny eyes alight, he said, "I bet I'm closer to Lister than you."
That made me a little angry. His point was? I knew how close I was to Lister--as I said, I'm realistic. Do I care? Do I look like I care? Nope! Sure don't, Marc. I got over the fight about being Lister's 'favorite' a long time ago. Obviously you haven't.
I just ignored him, but he had to press it, seeing my annoyance. "I went to Lister's birthday party."
"That's weird," the guy next to him commented.
That was weird, even by my standards. I wouldn't want to go to a teacher's birthday party--I mean, awkward much? Even as cool as some teachers were, that would be just plain weird.
I didn't even bother answering. I just walked away, wanting to get as far away from him as possible. That was one conversation I didn't need to continue.
So, my advice for today... show-ups? Thanks for trying (NOT), but back off and keep your comments to yourself. Thanks much!
-Anevay
