All My Exes Live in Texas

One afternoon whilst living in Texas (August 2006 through May 2007)  I had an uncomfortable incident at a local pool.

I finished my swim and was walking to the pool's ladder when a young teenager starting swimming toward me with a Texas-sized grin on his face. I stepped aside to let him pass, as I thought his smile was certainly not for me -- a perfect stranger. I was wrong, he swam right to me, outstretched his arms and gave me a big hug. 

My immediate next thought was also wrong, he was not in distress. I asked him if he was okay, and his smile grew brighter and, most surprisingly, his hug even tighter. I asked where is parents where and got the same double faceted response.  As I was trying to process what in the hell was going on, he just kept smiling and hugging me tighter. 

And, you know that thing where people who lose one sense have increased abilities in others, like blind people with enhanced hearing, this kid had that -- it felt like for every word he didn't utter, thestrength of his grip around me increased tenfold. 

I was really starting to worry because, as those of you who know me, I don't identify as a hugger. More importantly, I was half naked hugging a young teenage boy, also half naked, in a pool, in Texas. Like, none of these facts were good for me. 

Further, it was now apparent to me that this kid has some mental disability and could not talk. So whenever his parents stumble upon this scene of non-consensual man-boy hugging, they would clearly hear only a one-sided explanation.

With options and time running out, I ducked under the water, surprising him, slipped his grip and swam like holy hell to other side. I was happy to exchange the scratches on my back to avoid a lifetime of registering as a sex offender. 

Aphasia

the loss of a previously held ability to speak or understand spoken or written language, due to disease or injury of the brain.