Classrooms are like a microcosm of the society. It consists of a variety of people from different backgrounds. You like some of them, dislike some of them and are on a neutral relationship with others. However, we rarely stop to think what we mean to these faces which we’ll forget in a few months. And even if we do, the moment for reciprocating those feelings is gone. But one guy had the opportunity to have an eye-opening lesson on friendship that he described in a touching thread on Twitter.
Twitter user Thomas McFall, who is a Management student, described the mundane nature of his life and the annoying habit of his desk partner that inaugurated the whole story.
barely speaks English. The most advanced thing I've heard this guy say in English is "Wow, my muffin is really good".
This guy also has a habit of stacking every item he owns in the exact space I sit. His bag, his food, his books, and his phone are ALWAYS right on my desk space.
— Thomas McFall (@thomas___mcfall) April 9, 2018
While that might sound absolutely harmless, it was that repetitive action of storing his stuff on Thomas’s desk that initially got on his nerves and then helped him to look at things differently.
You see what I’m saying.
Now, every single time I walk into class this guy says "Ah, Tom. You here. Okay." And starts frantically clearing my desk of his belongings. He then makes it a habit to say "Ready for class, yeah?" And gives me a high five. Every day this guy gives me a high five.
— Thomas McFall (@thomas___mcfall) April 9, 2018
Early morning high fives are much better the roosters crowing, trust me.
I was ALWAYS annoyed with this guy. I'm thinking "Dude, you know I sit in this seat every day. Why are you always stacking your shit here? And the last thing I want to do is give a guy who barely speaks my language high fives at 8 in the morning"
Just get your shit off my desk
— Thomas McFall (@thomas___mcfall) April 9, 2018
No surprise at all.
But today I came to class and was running a few minutes late. I'm standing outside because I had to send a quick text. I could see my usual space through the door out of the corner of my eye. Of course, my desk was filled with his belongings. The usual.
— Thomas McFall (@thomas___mcfall) April 9, 2018
And there’s the moment of truth.
As I'm standing there on my phone another guy who was also late walks into the class before me and tried to take my seat since it's closest to the door.
The guy sitting next to me stops this dude from sitting down and says "I'm sorry. My good friend Thomas sits here."
— Thomas McFall (@thomas___mcfall) April 9, 2018
You can hear the “aww” in this tweet.
It was then that I realized this guy wasn't putting stuff on my seat to annoy me. He was saving me the seat every morning.
And this whole time he saw me as a friend but I was too busy thinking about myself to take him into consideration.
Cheesy as it sounds, I was touched.
— Thomas McFall (@thomas___mcfall) April 9, 2018
Now that high five had a whole new meaning.
I ended up going into class and of course he cleared the seat and said "Ah, Tom. You here. Okay." And I did get a high five.
At the end of class I ended up asking him if he wanted to get a bite to eat with me. We did. And we talked for a while. I got through the broken English
— Thomas McFall (@thomas___mcfall) April 9, 2018
His desk partner has some history.
The guy moved here from the Middle East to pursue a college education in America. He plans to go back after he gets his degree. He's got two kids and a wife. He works full time and sends his all his left over money back home to his wife.
— Thomas McFall (@thomas___mcfall) April 9, 2018
That’s a nice gesture.
I asked him how he liked America as well. He said he misses his family but it's exciting to be here. He also said "Not every American is nice to me like you are, Tom."
I bought lunch, of course. Dude deserves it. He gave me a high five for buying lunch. Gotta keep up tradition.
— Thomas McFall (@thomas___mcfall) April 9, 2018
Truer words haven’t been spoken.
Moral of the story? Don't do what I do and constantly only think about yourself. It took me nearly the entire semester to get my head out of my ass and realize this guy was just trying to be my friend. Better late than never I suppose.
— Thomas McFall (@thomas___mcfall) April 9, 2018
As Thomas’s tale was so sweet, it quickly gained a lot of attention from the Twitterati.
1. Some offered help.
Can you find out how we can help Tom and his family? Kids need clothes or shoes? Wife need money? Does he wanna go home and visit or have his family come visit America? When you have time can you find out? Please?
— 💫✨ (@_Neeeeeccceee_) April 13, 2018
2. Some demanded for a picture of the two.
I think on behalf of everyone reading this thread, we want a picture of you two
— noah (@noahtoribio) April 13, 2018
3. Others just couldn’t hold back their tears.
— Savant Garde Sycophant (@ethiopiben) April 13, 2018
Considering how we live in a fast-paced world, we often tend to miss out on these moments that could lead to something very beautiful. So, I’d suggest you to take Thomas’s example, be more observant and the next someone high fives you, just high five back at them.