Julia's First Love Story, in Pictures!

  In my first grade class, there were three "Ben"s--Ben A., Ben B., and Ben C.

  Ben A. was tall (for a six year old), athletic, and handsome. Ben B. was a chubby, nice sort of fellow. Ben C. was short, quiet, and funny.

  I was in love with Ben A. I daydreamed about him. I surreptitiously watched him in class and in the cafeteria. I even named one of my baby pet mice after him.

  I had a "stalk from afar and hope he notices my eyeballs peaking from behind the corner of the wall and falls in love with me" strategy going on, but that didn't seem to be cutting it.

  So  I decided on a new course of action.

 This was a thrilling, though terrifying concept. I had once been popular in kindergarten, due solely to the fact that my best friend had been. She had since moved away, though, and everyone had discovered that I was sub-normal. Subsequently, I was at the bottom of the first-grade pecking order. Still, I thought it was worth a shot. What was the worst that could happen?

  Recess that day:
 

  So, we proceeded to walk around the playground. We jabbered away, instant best friends, just as I'd always fantasized.

    This went on for about ten minutes or so, and I was flying high as a kite, not drug-wise.

     Until . . .

 Soon after, Ben A. the mouse was sold to a pet store. Most likely to be snake food.