And That’s How I Became Known As Silk Milk

By Hay, Guest Contributor

So, being a little different from the crowd really makes me spend a large part of my day pissed off.  There’s always some boy or two with some dumb ass comment to make. I constantly have conversations in my head to work on self-control, on how to ignore them. I know the things they say shouldn’t bother me, but they do. I guess it’s their tone, or that I know they are trying to be mean – because it sure isn’t the message.

One day a boy in my grade, let’s call him Devon (because that’s his name), said to me “Shut up, Water!” Everyone laughed – I guess it’s funny that I drink water? That’s the best you got? But it still bothers me – when someone is mean to someone else, it still hurts – even if what they say is stupid and makes no sense.  Makes me think of how abused animals must feel at the hands of their tormenters. Just looking down and feeling bad about themselves even though they didn’t ask for any of it.

Earlier this year a large, obnoxious kid named Anthony called me Silk Milk in the cafeteria. For some reason that nickname stuck and now several boys taunt me daily. I tried to tell both my teacher and guidance counselor, but what they are saying is actually so stupid no one has ever done anything about it. So whatever – now I’m Silk Milk.  When I’m not feeling pissed about it I try to picture Anthony, John and Devon all walking towards me like robots…saying “Drink pussss with ussssss…drink blood in the milk with usssss,” and then I smile just a little.

My friend Samantha always gets sick when she eats ice cream, so one day I asked her if she wanted to try mine, made with soy milk (I think she is undiagnosed lactose intolerant). She tried it and smiled and said, “Ahhhh, now that’s what ice cream is supposed to taste like!”

Hay and Friend – 1         Stupid Boys  –  0

Photo credit: Jon Koons