In Which Friends of Carmen's Discuss their Various Scars

A few of us were bored out of our minds in video class yesterday, and we started talking about the scars we have on our hands. "The one on my right pinky is from swordfighting with LEGO traintracks," I said, "and the one on the back of my hand is from when my sister attacked me with scissors. Oh, and the sort of swirly one on my first finger is from many many catching mishaps."

"Most of mine are from fireworks," D said. "Like this one." He pointed to a large round burn scar between two fingers of his right hand.

"You're crazy, you know that?" S said. "I mean, your hands are covered in scars."

"Well, most of them're from when I was young," D protested.

"Young?" I said. "As in fifteen?"

"No," D said indignantly. "More like seven. Like this one," and he pointed at a long thin scar on the inside of his right wrist. "This one is from when M and I were fencing with sparklers."

S rolled his eyes. "You know something?"

"What?"

"I'm beginning to lose all respect for your intelligence."

D crossed his arms. "Well, I've never had any respect for yours, so--"

"Okay, guys," I cut in, simultaneously standing between them and beginning to herd D out of the room. "Interesting conversation."

But it made me wonder: do people act strangely around me, or do I attract strange people? Because either way, I'm party to some of the oddest conversations.

In Which Carmen Laughs Inappropriately

Things I Laughed at Today, Mostly Taken out of Context:

1. Mom's Question RE: Middle Schoolers: "Do kids you know just stick whatever they have on them into random holes and slots everywhere?"

2. Little Sister's Astute Observation: "Today we had a sub and his name was Mr. Kamara, and he was stoned."

3. Little Brother's Insightful Analysis of Thoreau: "He wrote in quotes."

4. Just When I Think I've made All the Bad Analogies Possible:

Me: Is this life? Or is this just high school?
Me: This'd better just be high school.
Friend: well
Friend: there are probably smidgeons of reality in what we go through
Me: I suppose. Though my days take on this surreal sheen sometimes. Like French films without all the sex and drugs and alcohol.

5. Why Boys Should Never be Allowed to Take Video Class: "We were doing this scene where I was supposed to defend my coat rack girlfriend against D by fighting him with a broomstick, and then something happened, and the coat rack sort of hit me, which is why I have this huge gash on my forehead. Do you have any painkillers?"