It doesn't matter to me one iota that my friend Rob has limbs like tree trunks or that he doens't wear anything smaller than a 5X in clothes ... what does matter to me is how respectful he is of me and other people.  He has the sweet spirit of a newborn kitten in that gorilla-sized body.

I met Rob Townes Onewszski two years ago when I was in eighth grade.  I didn't have many friends, and I was desperate.  The reason why I didn't have any friends?  Because I am about as big as a toothpick.  Extremely angular arms and legs, no meat whatsoever on my bones: no matter what I eat, I can't seem to get any weight on me.  I'm still as skinny as a rail.  Don't weigh ninety seven pounds, even if I stood out in a rainstorm.

Kids still tease me to this day.  Believe me, I've heard it all: Broomstick Handle.  Skinnybones.  Beanpole.  Twiggy.  Stickboy.  Scarecrow.  Nothing really rattles me anymore, but I am sick of being picked on.  I can't help it if God made me this way: my parents are both skinny; it's only natural that I am too.  It's in our gene pool.

Then Rob T. Onewszski entered the picture.  He was one of the fattest people I had ever seen.  He was nice, though, and we met when he accidentally stepped on my toe during lunch.  Talk about pain!!!!

Even though he broke my toe, he and I hit it off immediately.  I know he didn't mean any harm in injuring me; he felt bad after he did it, and he asked for my forgiveness after he apologized to me. 

Rob was as much of a "social outcast" as me:  kids picked on him because he was so large, but he didn't let it bother him.  He just went on doing his thing, living his life, and enjoying it.  He loved football (one reason why he was so big in the first place; he played on the middle school team; he was the nose tackle), and he loved classical music.  He was rather quirky, but he was nice, so that's how we became fast friends.

Rob was also a born again Christian.  He believed in God and in Jesus.  He was the one who led me to the Lord last year; we go to church every Sunday and sit together during the service.  While he listens intently, I fight sleep; instead, I find myself doodling on the church program, drawing funny pictures.  I do it to try to crack him up, so the pastor can tell him to hush.  LOL

Even though I believe in God, I don't believe in Him so much to where I have to drag my happy butt out of bed early on a Sunday morning; heck, I'd much rather be sleeping in, enjoying the warmth of my blankets and dreaming of a certain girl in my biology class.  Carrie.  Now that's heaven! :)

Rob has a big, booming laugh.  You can hear him everywhere.  He is loud, but he isn't obnoxious.  He's just that kind of person.  He's definitely what one would call "large and in charge" because he is exactly that.  Meanwhile, I follow him like a little lost puppy.

I just wish the kids would stop picking on him (or me) ...  I also wish I had the knack to blow it off like he does.  I hate being Mr. Sensitive!  I need to develop some balls like Rob has done!  I'm also glad that we are friends; if it were not for Rob, I don't konw how I would ever make it through school!!