i was in middle school and went to olive garden with my parents. the waiter had one of those voices that…you know, that men in the gay community normally have.
and so they had this soup on the menu i wanted called pasta fagioli that i wasn’t sure how to pronounce and also i had social anxiety
and it didn’t go well
In high school, I had a red corduroy coat. I adorned it with patches. I glued Celtic jacquard ribbon to it at the cuffs and hems. I added brass stars and studs to it. I wore it to school and felt really cool. In my mind, I was a wizard.
I’ve never been afraid to stand out, but I’ve learned to do it more judiciously.