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November 23, 1993

7 years old

Rose sat on the egde of the sidewalk, head in her hands. Her eyes were straight forward, but glazed over.

"Something wrong?" A voice said behind her.

She snapped out of her train of thought, and looked behind her to see a tall, weird looking man. He had brown, curly hair, large teeth acompained by a large smile, and arguably the weirdest part of all, a large, multi-colored scarf.

Rose shrugged her shoulders. The man plopped next to her, and said,"We can sit here... or I can help."

Rose shifted slightly and sighed. "Everyone says I'm weird because I like classical music."

The man nodded with a bittersweet smile. "They're making fun of you because you're different."

Rose nodded.

The man smiled that same smile to the sky, it both getting dimmer and sweeter every second it lounged on his face. "My peop-Where I come from," He covered quickly, "they don't like me."

Rose's brows furrowed for a second, then with complete faith said, "Then they're stupid."

The man's smile widened, and an eyebrow cocked, "Why do you say that, dear Petal?"

Rose brushed the nickname off, although that tugging feeling in her brain appeared. "If your people don't like you, a man who saw I was sad and wanted to help, then I think that shows what kinda people they are." Rose said, confidently.

The man's eyes widened, and his smile got so wide Rose thought it was hurting him. "That's well put for a seven year old. How do you know that I'm not here to guide you in the wrong direction, to ruin your life?" He said inquiringly.

Rose didn't even realize he'd known a variation of her name, and her age, she kept moving to the question. "I don't. Know, that is." Rose said, clarifying. "But you don't seem like a bad guy... you seem like a good guy. Maybe even the best guy."

"Hmmm." He replied. "You have good instincts. But, to be clear, even though I'm weird, even though I'm different, even after everyone I know says they don't like me, I'm still the good guy? The best guy?"

Rose nodded firmly, and realization poured onto her face as the entire idea hit her. She looked up at him, and smiled softly, yet widely. "Thank you mister."

He tapped her nose, and got off the ground. As he walked away, he said, "Anytime, Petal."

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