Longhorn Fail

Today we had "Street Break" from 1-2pm. This is basically a short drop-in, we have lunch and youth can shower, do laundry, get all the normal resources that are available to them, etc. One of my (secret) favorite youth, M (who has appeared on this blog before!) came in today wearing a University of Texas hat. All of our youth for the most part wear clothes that they are given or get for free through different drop-ins, and M is especially notorious for coming in with different items he has been given and not knowing exactly what they are.

Our youth could also probably not tell you on a map which state Oklahoma is, and if you mentioned the Sooners, they would stare at your blankly. We can discuss at another time how painful this has been for me.

But I knew that the "hat" needed to be addressed. Because M and I have an extraordinarily amiable relationship (I get a lot of "How you doin" from him), I knew that I had no choice but to break the news to him that his hat...literally was breaking my heart. Our conversation went something like this:

"M, I really need to talk to you."

"What's up?"

"M, I just feel like we're at a place in our friendship where I need to be honest with you, and I need you to know...that your hat...is from the University of Texas."

"...Right."

"Well, M, I don't know if you remember, but I go to the University of Oklahoma...and there is really...nothing...that we hate more than the University of Texas."

"Ohhh."

"And you know, I just wanted you to know, you're my friend, and I just want the best for you."

"Cool."

The hat was voluntarily off M's head ten minutes later. Score one for the Oklahoma Sooners.