When I was in elementary school, we moved, and for a time I was struggling, had no friends and was having trouble making friends. I thought I had made friends with a girl who moved in a couple houses away. However after a a little while, she told me that while she was willing to be friends with me, she didn’t want to be seen with me or have anyone know we were friends. I found this really hurtful.

About that time we were covering Australia in class and the teacher showed us a film about aboriginal people eating insects and brought some chocolate covered insects to class. I thought this was very cool and tried one (not bad, like a crunchy raisin-ette). I had by this time made friends with another new girl who, like me, was “on the outs”. We had to attend a birthday party for the 1st girl I mentioned. Together we found out where we could get chocolate covered insects (a nice small assortment, in a small plastic box) and I gave these to her (unlabeled) and didn’t happen to mention what they were. I figured this was the perfect symbol really about what a great “friend” she was. Her reaction after she ate one and asked what they were was beyond priceless (I didn’t think this was all that bad, but DID she FREAK OUT, and in front of everyone).

Given that I knew by this time she was of course saying bad things about me with her “cool” group of friends, it’s not like it hurt me any more when she ranted and cried or even when her mother dressed me down calling me the worst things. It was especially great for me because in her freaking out, she revealed just how mean and spiteful she really was. One of the very few times in my life this ever worked out. Mostly I have found this kind of thing is not worth it (better to just move on), but this is still a fond memory all these years later.