-eng- Camp With Mom And My Annoying Friend Who ... -

We didn’t become silent friends overnight. But the next morning, when Leo started narrating the process of brushing his teeth (“First, the minty sting of existence…”), I didn’t groan. I handed him the toothpaste and said, “Chapter two: the flossing.”

Then, at the summit, Mom pulled me aside. “You’re being quiet,” she said. “Not your usual quiet. The mean quiet.” -ENG- Camp With Mom and My Annoying Friend Who ...

I exploded. “Mom, he doesn’t stop! He’s like a human mosquito with opinions!” We didn’t become silent friends overnight

I stared at him. All this time, the chatter wasn’t noise. It was a shield. “You’re being quiet,” she said

“I know I’m annoying,” he said, poking a log. “My dad says I don’t know when to stop. But when I stop… the quiet gets loud, you know? Like, in my head. It’s scary.”

For the first time, I really looked. Leo wasn’t performing. He was fidgeting. His leg bounced. His hands moved constantly. And his eyes—usually hidden behind jokes—looked small and tired.