Fred was one of my schoolmates from fourth grade all through
college. He was a loner, a total introvert and painfully shy, with
all the baggage that comes with it: the dead-fish handshake, the
downcast eyes that never quite meet yours, the halting, barely
audible stabs at conversation. Still, Fred was sincere, honest,
hardworking -- a thoroughly decent person. I'm sure Fred went
through high school without ever having a date.
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