Sometimes you can tell what a kid wants to be when they’re older
When I was a kid, I was at a school with a predominantly non-English speaking student population. I, being the lazy kid I was, didn’t bother to learn how to speak any other language than English. With the little fluency I had, I managed to somehow have a whole ass conversation with a kid a year below me about whether toothpaste was necessary for brushing your teeth. At least, that’s what I understood at that time.
She had asked and I said no in arabic. And that was it, that’s all I literally said. She clarified that my answer was no, it was not necessary. Then, she proceeded to call me disgusting, said my breath likely stinks and that I have poor hygiene, and all sorts of insults. And how did I know? I may not understand the exact words but the first thing you always understand in a new language are cuss words right?
For the next TWO years, I kid you not, she would hurl insults every time she saw me. She would do it even in front of her friends. I never tried to talk to her or tell her in English that I don’t understand for some reason. I just thought this was an absurd thing to be so passionate about. The fact that I had not said even a word to her every time she insulted me should make her realize that I did not even care, so you would think this energy is so not worth spending.
I did tell a friend that I managed to “offend” her when she decided to “scold” me in front of said friend and walked away. My friend proceeded to chase after her and explain to her I literally did not understand a word she said. She apologized and rightfully looked embarrassed. We did not backtrack to what the conversation even was.
So now it’s been like what, a decade later? I came across her profile on Facebook and well, what do you know, she’s a dentist.
P.S I’ve always used toothpaste and I don’t know why I said I didn’t.