Andy

 

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It happened a really long time ago...

...though not so long ago that we've forgotten the harm that can be done to someone with a thoughtless word or gesture.

I lived with my family in a nice brick house. We were happy, and although we didn't have a lot of money, we never suffered from hunger or poverty. My sisters and I went to school, even though it wasn't mandatory back then. Our parents worked hard so we could get an education and live better lives than they did. At least that's what my father always said when one of us didn't feel like doing homework or studying. Overall, I enjoyed going to this Sanctuary of Questionable Knowledge, even if we were sometimes tortured by tests or long and difficult homework assignments. I had a great group of friends in my class, and we did everything together, and the rest of the gang was alright too; we always managed to get along. Only one person, the only one, didn't fit in. And that was Andy, a boy of slight stature, short, and inconspicuous. He lived in a dilapidated cottage on the outskirts of the village with his father, mother, and younger siblings.

They were truly poor, and everyone, without exception, had to work in the fields to support the family. That's why Andy didn't fit in. Because he had to work the land, he rarely showed up at school. When he finally did, however, he always sat alone, away from the others, and no one bothered to lend Andy a textbook, which he didn't have because he couldn't afford it. Only at the teacher's explicit request would someone, with a martyr's air, sacrifice themselves and lend him a book. During breaks, no one approached him, no one spoke to him—why would they? None of us had anything to talk to him about, because he was so infrequent that we had no common ground. He knew nothing about school events or news, was never "in the know," didn't understand subtle situational allusions, and had no idea why his "friends" laughed at every gesture or half-word that meant so much to them. Why was Andy the one who stood out? Nobody knew him, and probably, really, nobody even wanted him. And the most amazing thing about him was that he always smiled. Always. When they called him a weirdo, he smiled; when they saw his classmates' hostile looks, he smiled; when no one wanted to lend him a book, he smiled, and we couldn't understand it. How could that be? For someone so disliked and rejected to flash radiant smiles at everyone at every opportunity? Unheard of. But no one ever asked him about it because Andy stood out; that was the accepted norm, and that was the way it had to be.

One day, the whole class decided that in a few days we'd have a bonfire with sausages in the evening. It was supposed to be great; everyone had to bring something. We planned games, activities, dancing... suddenly, while we were discussing the details, Andy, who was standing on the sidelines as usual, approached and asked if he could come too. Everyone looked at each other, embarrassed. How could they say no? After all, like it or not, he belonged in this class. After what seemed like an eternity, someone quietly said a shy, hesitant "yes." But that was enough for Andy; he smiled broadly, and he rushed home to ask permission and do his daily chores around the house and fields. Everyone, without exception, secretly hoped his parents wouldn't let Andy come.

"He'd ruin everything! How can you have fun with someone like him?" they all asked.

Basically, Andy was a perfectly normal boy, but who cared? He was always a standout, that was how it was.

Unfortunately, the next day, Andy showed up at school to announce that he'd been allowed to come. He said he'd be late because he still had chores to do, but no one cared. We were all furious that this weirdo would ruin our fun! But what could we do? We just nodded and spent the rest of the day blaming each other for having the idiotic idea of ​​letting Andy come.

The day of the planned bonfire arrived. Everyone was too worried to dwell on Andy. Besides, the weirdo hadn't shown up that day, and we were hoping he'd gotten sick and wouldn't come.

In the evening, we all gathered, the fire was lit, someone sang the first notes of some familiar songs, and the party was getting underway. Suddenly, someone in the crowd shouted a slogan to shoo Andy away as soon as he showed up. Everyone was in favor, but there was a small problem. Who was going to tell Andy? We drew lots; I don't even remember who it was. Andy appeared with an armful of sausages in his arms, enough to feed his family for a month, but he had destined it for the bonfire that would finally bring him closer to the rest of the class. One person stepped out of the crowd and said simply,

"Go away, we don't want you here!"

And suddenly everyone started shouting,

"Yes, we don't!"

"You don't belong here, go away!"

"Changeling!"

And Andy... did something incredible... he... smiled, and tears welled up in his always smiling eyes and cascaded down his always cheerful face.

He turned on his heel, ran, and soon disappeared into the darkness. Only now did we realize our mistake. Someone wanted to run after him, someone even ran, someone called out to him, someone shed tears over their own stupidity, but it was too late...

We never saw Andy again. He didn't show up at school, and we couldn't find him because no one ever cared where Andy lived, everyone only knew it was somewhere on the outskirts of the village. But where exactly? We didn't know.

Many years have passed since those events, but I still can't forget. Why was Andy so out of place? He never did anything to anyone, he was simply poor and had to help his parents put food on the table, and that was his entire fault. But can you call that guilt? No. I often think about it all and can't understand why? Why did we push Andy away like that? After all, with a little will, he could have been our best friend, my best friend. What trouble was it to help Andy with his responsibilities? None. But who cared then?

Wherever you are now, Andy, if by some miracle you read this... forgive me. Please forgive me... or rather, us.