I never told that lie again.

I was in sixth grade, feeling increasingly uncomfortable in my own skin. Sixth grade was a hard transition for me. The middle school building felt too big, so did the eighth graders. 

I hated riding the bus. There were these two girls, both in eighth grade, who knew my brother from the sub shop he worked at over the summer. They smoked and I was terrified of them.

They wanted me to sit next to them on the bus, in the back of the bus. Where they treated me with a mix of awe, because of who my brother was, a senior in high school and pity, bordering on teasing because I was a very small sixth grader who was obviously terrified of them.

One day on the ride home in the back of the bus, one of the girls started teasing me about not ever having had a boyfriend. This was true and would remain true until I was 20 years old. I'd never really thought about having a boyfriend, but I knew I was behind everyone else. I mean, I wasn't even smoking cigarettes like these girls. 

I felt ashamed that I wasn't normal. I didn't want them to know I wasn't normal. So I lied. 

There was a boy I grew up with down the street. He was the most popular boy in school all through elementary school and now in middle school as well. We'd played together as younger kids but the older we got, you know, he did boy things. Or rather things with the popular kids who were a little more normal than me. 

I told them he'd been my boyfriend, just for a little while over the summer, and I'd broken things off. 

They didn't believe me but I stood behind my lie.

The next day as we all filed off the bus one of the girls yelled after the popular boy who was walking with a group of his friends. 

"Hey! Melissa says you were her boyfriend this past summer. That's not true, right?"

I stood there knowing I'd lied and knowing I was about to be humiliated and there was nothing to do but stand there and wait for it to happen. 

The popular boy turned around, looked a little uncomfortable, and said: 

"Yeah, we went out this summer."

That's one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me. 

Comments

[lama]

okay, now you made me fall in love with this boy, are you happy :)?? Where can I found him now?

[Jen]

Okay, this one put a lump in my throat.

[Erin]

That is a truly rare kindness for an 11-year-old boy. Thanks for sharing this.

[christy]

What a sweet kid! Especially considering pre-pubescent boys can be some of the biggest doody-headed jerkfaces ever.

[Nichole]

I was not expecting that story to end with such a kindness. What a nice boy.

[Jenn]

He was made of awesome.

[Monica]

I hope I am raising my son to be that kind.

[susie]

This made me cry.

[Jennie]

Wow, this is powerful. Just like Monica, I hope my own son would do the same one day.

[Kelly K]

Thanks for sharing such a great memory. I think we often times remember only the bad things that happened to us growing up. You've made me remind myself that not all those boys from my youth were cheating ass pigs. There were a few like the boy in your story here. I reconnected with one of them at my 20 year reunion a few years ago and it was great to see he was still that sweet guy we knew back when. And I ditto what a few others have said in that I hope my son to be that kind of boy/guy/man too.

[erika edith]

What a great story. Doesn't it make you wonder where those great people from you past end up? Thanks so much for sharing - my Wednesday needed that.

[Kimberly]

A young boy with a heart, I love it.

[The Sandwich Life]

that just about made me cry. I hope I am raising my boys to be that kind and thoughtful and good. Well, actually I don't know how much I can do...some of that is just in them...anyway...thanks

[andrea]

Oh Melissa. I adore him... and you for telling that story.

And I'm pregnant so I'm CRYING.

[Krys72599]

I SO hope that all the little boys in my life turn into that wonderful middle school young man!
HEY, J, are you listening??? You're in HS but you could take a lesson from this guy, too!!!

[Sarah]

Aww, wouldn't his parents be so proud?

[Becky]

Awe, that story was great! He must have really been fond of you!

[Barb]

Oh, we've all been there but not with such a great ending! This made me cry.

[Amy --- Just A Titch]

This story totally made my morning.

[Melissa]

Wow. Thanks for sharing.

My son's 12, so I've been around a lot of boys that age and it pains me to say I didn't realize one could be so sweet. Mine wouldn't have done it, he'd have just spouted "What? No." without even thinking.

That makes me sad. But wow, what a kid that boy was.

[Barb]

That warms my heart. I'm so glad he backed you up.

[duchessbelle]

That is 11 kinds of fabulous.

[Anne]

I could have cried. (Weak though it is, my anti-cry usually works when I'm at work and at least it's before 10:00am.) Thank you for sharing that. I love him.

[Hayley]

Oh, I got all teary! What a sweetie! I hope to raise my sons to be like that!

I loved this post.

[Laura]

Good for him! And you.

[Slim]

I am trying to raise that sort of kid.

[Jennifer]

I have goose bumps.

[Lisa V]

Wow.

[Sivan]

Since those awful middle school years, I think I've come to realize that even the "popular" kids were self-conscious and doubted their social status; something I was totally unaware of at the time, of course.

I wonder if this boy responded as he did not out of sympathy but rather because his quick calculation told him the lie would boost his image as well.

It could be he maintained a high opinion of you, you were "cooler" than you thought you were, or that he (gasp) wished the lie had been true (or might become true).

I think you (and all preteen girls) sell yourself short. It doesn't have to be pity that motivates others to be kind to us.

[Emilie @ One Mom in Maine]

oh my god, i was right there with you waiting for little you to be humiliated and then when the boy said what he did, i let out an audible sigh and was so proud of that boy. and happy for you. what a great story.

[M]

Wonderful story! Here's hoping my boys turn out to be that thoughtful.

[Tracy]

Wow! That should be used as a positive example in an anti-bullying campaign...the point being to stick up for other people ...not so much the lying part ;) But you know what I mean. We need more kids like that in our schools. What a nice story. Thanks for sharing it.

[Shug]

Oh my, that just about took my breath away. Thanks for sharing a story that definitely made my day. :)

[M]

Wow. That a kid that would have so much insight at such a young age, to understand what must have preceeded that question and made a decision to back you up...amazing. For once the "popular" vote got it right :) Thanks for sharing

[Luvily]

Wow. Sweet. Heartwarming. Makes my heart smile.

[Eleanor]

Now tell me it was Logan and I will fall over and die...

[Saple]

I think I'm gonna cry

[rachel]

What a guy - They really do exist and I married one just like him! I hope that you have found him on facebook and shared the link to this sweet story!

[Jessica]

I hope I can raise my son to be this sweet. I do not know a single boy from my middle school years who would have done that for me.

[Sarah]

I hope the world awarded him good karma points for that.

[Amy]

I bet that boy grew up to be the most wonderful husband...swoon!

[mrs chaos]

Wow...you don't hear those kinds of stories very often.

[Kim N]

Awwwww, what a great kid. I hope my sons would do that!

[Donna]

Aw, that's sweet.
I bet ten bucks he's on facebook!

[vanessa]

Love it! Nothing like that EVER happened to me. I also appreciate your moxie for telling that whopper.

[Elizabeth]

I hope that somehow he stumbles on your blog and reads this story. What an awesome guy.

[Emily]

You know, this is so sweet, and that boy was truly awesome to step up in that moment. But have you also considered that maybe you weren't as awkward as you felt? I mean, heck, maybe he'd have been proud to have once gone out with you!

What a great story.

[Sandie]

Love this story! I thought it would turn out an entirely different way. Tell us you reconnected with him and he is just as cool now!

[Dave]

What a nice story, thanks for sharing.

[RebeccaLand]

Thank you.
How the little things in life, good or bad, do become integrated into our self.
Best to you and your family.

[Kristen]

Question - is this boy (now man) single? Divorced? Cause I am available and he sounds right up my alley.

[Beth C]

:)

[Heather]

I was awkward and "not normal" and I didn't have any older siblings to boost my cred. I was that girl a hundred times. But no one ever did anything like that for me.

As children, everyone tells us that all the bad stuff "will pass" and it's just school and what everyone thinks doesn't matter. But it's funny how we sit and remember all of those little stings absorbed by our 11 year old selves. We don't forget and somewhere under all the years, it still matters.

And the good things too. I don't have sons, but I hope my daughters have a friend like that some day.

[Hippittee]

big heart swell for that boy...and you!

[Amy Jo]

That is so awesome. I was already cringing, but then my cringe turned into a smile!

[cj]

He's a grown man now and probably has no idea how that simple act touched so many. Thanks for sharing.

[Amy]

Sniff, what a sweetheart.

[mpotter]

that's pretty incredible!
here's a story of a popular kid actually earning his right to be popular.

how cool is that?

[misstraceynolan]

Oh MAN! A twist ending! What a doll. Thanks for sharing...

[Heather M.]

Sometimes even boys get it right. Thank God! I can only hope he grew into a wonderful man.

[Nicole]

Lovely! Thanks for sharing such a nice story. The world needs more people like that boy!

[northerngurl]

That is so awesome.

[Jessie]

What a wonderful boy. I hope that he continued to have a kind heart.

[pooky8]

What a great start to the day. Warm, touching and so unexpected. I hope my son is as thoughtful someday!

[Kellie]

I really hope I am raising my children similarly. His parents must have been doing something right. This was a wonderful story.

[Katie]

Who are this boy's parents??? They deserve an AWARD. I have two sons. If I have one wish, it is that they would react the same way.

[pharmgirl]

Were you ever able to thank him?

[woodenmask]

Not funny. Not hip. Just one of the nicest stories I have ever heard.

[Jen]

I like to think my sweet husband was like this when he was 12. He seems like he would have been. I didn't meet him until he was 30 so I have no idea. I hope my little boy can do something as sweet for a girl as that boy did for you. I'd consider my parenting a success if he did. What a great story...thanks so much for sharing that!

[willikat]

That is maybe one of the greatest stories I've ever read.

[amanda]

OMG! What a great guy! Imagine what he's like now as an adult!! I lied too, except that I was in 8th grade. My Mom taught at a school in another city so I said the cutest boy she taught was my boyfriend. Then in 9th grade I lied and said I had a boyfriend in another town who's fictional name just happened to have the same initials as the boy I was crushed on at my school. I wonder if the boy at my school ever figured it out!!! I should ask him now!!

[Erin]

Aw. Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. This story melted my heart.

[Heather B]

So when are you writing your YA novel? Seriously. I'm all welling up.

[Leigh]

I'm trying to guess who the boy is (I think I have a good idea) and think this story is awesome! Teen years were awful!

[John Houlihan]

I may have met this boy as an adult. He was a high school teacher. I had to adjust to 5 different high schools in different cities, different countries! In my Junior Year (Grade 11), this boy remembers the kind, caring tutoring given by a special teacher, a special man. Today, I mirror his walk, "Paying It Forward". Your story, with its tender ending, offers a life-lesson for all. Thank you for sharing it. www.twitter.com/Listed

[melissa]

oh...you just reminded me of a story SO similar of my own. love it!!!

also, your cat...have it checked for crystals in its bladder!! my cat was bleeding all over my floor and it turned out to have such severe crystals that it was perforating his bladder. it was horrible and cost over 2000 to fix!!

[Madison]

I think I just fell in love with this guy! What a sweetheart.

[Karl]

He may have only been a boy, but he acted like a REAL man.

[Pam]

Hope I raise my son to be just. like. that. What a great ending to the story. Thanks for sharing.

[jbeeky]

Ahhhh, my two sizes two small heart thought it knew the ending of this tale. I was so glad she was wrong. I am glad it turned out like this for at least one of us, you know?

[jessica]

I told that exact same lie in the exact same grade. Only my story ended differently. "NO! We never went out!" Aaand cue the absolute pinnacle of my horrific elementary school years.

I too, never told that lie again.

I'm amazed at the maturity and kindness that boy showed you! He must have been popular for good reason.

xx