Nathaniel and Dassah

Nathaniel is in love. Not the infatuated, romantic or cutey "Let's plan their future" kind of way, but in the "I will die for you" kind of way. Or the "Want my last piece of cake?" kind of way. The object of his affection is Dassah. Dassah is younger than Nathaniel by half a year and one of his closest friends. What does Dassah think of this? Well, she sometimes notices that he is around. Dassah is very confident of who she is and feels no need to follow the crowd (much like her father). There is no making Dassah do what she doesn't want to do unless you are an authority figure in her life (once again much like her father). Dassah can be found in a quite corner reading a book and very content while a party is in full swing in the next room. She has no need for friends, she is happy with who she is and feels no need to change just to make someone else happy and she most certainly doesn't need Nathaniel. This does not stop Nathaniel from bringing her food, pleading with her to join some activity and getting two inches from her face and saying "Dassah, wanna play?" This would be a good time to mention that Dassah also has a personal space twice the size of a normal person. She may not have a large vocabulary but it is quickly understood that Nathaniel is to leave
the immediate vicinity if he is to survive. Does Nathaniel understand this? No. Not at all. After a couple of hours she will perhaps join in and play with Nathaniel and they have a blast - as long as Nathaniel knows his place and doesn't attempt to play with Dassah's toys. They have a grand time playing tag or jumping in the bouncer but when the time comes to leave Dassah once again turns a cold shoulder to Nathaniel as he asks and expects a good bye hug. Dassah backs away trying to defend her personal space while Nathaniel backs her into a corner (I got 16 years ahead of me to help him understand that tactic doesn't work with girls) asking for a hug with arms spread wide and speaking as if maybe she just can't hear him. It's a testament to her parents upbringing that she does not scratch his eyes out at this point. With some patient parental instruction the two finally meet and hug. Nathaniel puts his whole body into the hug, after all he loves this girl and wants the world to know that he would cross oceans to rescue her. My boy wears his heart on his sleeve.