Well, let me tell ya, this whole thing about boys and girls growin’ up together and not gettin’ all lovey-dovey, it’s a bit of a puzzle, ain’t it? I mean, you see ’em playin’ in the dirt, sharin’ candy, maybe even fightin’ over toys. Seems normal, right? But then they get older, and things get…complicated.
Folks say boys and girls can be just friends, like them fancy city folk write in their books. They say it’s common, men and women livin’ and workin’ together, no funny business. But I tell ya, in my day, it wasn’t always so clear-cut.
- First off, there’s this thing called “temperament”, whatever that means. Some folks are just shy, see? They ain’t comfortable around others, always hidin’ behind their ma’s skirts. Hard to make friends, let alone boyfriends or girlfriends.
- Then there’s the ones who didn’t have many friends growin’ up. They was closer to the animals, the chickens and the cows, than to other kids. Maybe that makes a difference, I don’t know.
Now, them smart folks, they did some studyin’, talkin’ to all sorts of people. And what they found is kinda interestin’. Seems like if you ain’t lookin’ at your friend in “that way,” you know, no butterflies in the stomach or nothin’, your friendship lasts longer. Makes sense, I guess. If you start gettin’ all moony-eyed, things get messy.
Think about it. You got a good friend, you tell ’em your secrets, you trust ’em. That’s what they call “confidentiality,” or somethin’ like that. But if you start gettin’ feelings, and them feelings ain’t returned, well, that trust goes right out the window, don’t it? Then you got all sorts of drama, maybe even a fight. And poof! Friendship gone.
And let’s be honest, once them young’uns hit a certain age, it’s hard to ignore the… you know… the urges. Nature’s call, they say. It’s like a switch flippin’ on. Suddenly, that boy you used to chase frogs with starts lookin’ different. And that girl you used to braid hair with, well, she ain’t just a tomboy anymore.
This ain’t to say it’s impossible, mind you. I’ve seen some boys and girls stay friends, good friends, even after they growed up. But it ain’t easy. There’s always that… tension. That little voice in the back of your head, or maybe from your neighbors, wonderin’ if there’s somethin’ more goin’ on. And sometimes, there is!
Fear plays a part too, I reckon. Fear of gettin’ hurt, fear of rejection. Maybe you been hurt before, so you keep your distance. Or maybe you scared of messin’ up a good thing, so you just pretend them feelings ain’t there. But them feelings, they got a way of creepin’ up on ya, like weeds in a garden.
So, can boys and girls who growed up together just stay friends? Maybe. But it takes a lot of work, a lot of understandin’, and a whole lotta luck. And sometimes, even then, it ain’t enough. Life’s funny that way. Just when you think you got it all figured out, it throws you a curveball. And sometimes, that curveball comes with a wink and a smile from someone you thought was just a friend.
You know, back in my day we didn’t overthink all this. You liked someone, you told them, or you found out through the grapevine. If it worked out, it worked out. If it didn’t, well, you moved on. Less talkin’, more doin’, that was our way. Maybe we were better off for it, maybe not. Who’s to say?
But one thing I know for sure, friendship, love, all that stuff, it’s a messy business. And no matter how much them city folk study it, there ain’t no easy answers. It’s just somethin’ you gotta figure out for yourself, one awkward conversation, one stolen glance, one heartache at a time.
So, if you find yourself with a friend of the opposite sex, and you ain’t sure where things stand, just be honest. Be yourself. And don’t be afraid to take a chance. But be prepared for the consequences, good or bad. Cause that’s just life, ain’t it?
Tags：Friendship, Relationships, Growing Up, Gender, Attraction, Platonic Love, Social Dynamics, Personal Experiences
