"You're only 10 years old," The moment those words came out of my mouth I knew they were a lie.

"Look around you," He told me bitterly. "Do you really think anyone here is only ten years old?" I remained silent.

"That's what's wrong with people like you." He accused. "Everything is only, or simply or just. You think you're so smart and that you're so righteous in not rubbing it in everyone's faces." Again, I remained silent.

"What do you know? Tell me."

"I know that I'm a freshman whilst you're only in fifth grade."

"Age doesn't mean a thing - and neither do grades. I don't care if you're on honor roll, you could be stupider than the next person." I agreed, but I wasn't about to let him tell me that.

"Does the War of 1812 ring a bell? Or how about some algebraic equations? Have you ever read Tomorrow When the War Began, Count of Monte Cristo, or A Modest Proposal?" I yelled at him, but oddly enough, he only laughed.

"Tell me, what does that mean? Who really cares?" He was working really hard at pissing me off.

"It means I get good grades. It means a better chance in a university meaning a better chance at a good job. Don't tell me it doesn't mean anything. Perhaps you should stop talking about things you don't understand." I paused to catch my breath and waited for him to respond. He smiled.

"You should take your own advice because I think you're the one who doesn't understand. Does school really matter? Because you've said so yourself - school is only a way to keep kids off the job market and taking jobs from the older people." He smirked.

"Being smart has nothing to do with anything - not with age, grades, or whatever pathetic reasons you come up with. People like you are shallow, thinking that just because I'm only ten that I don't understand anything. Really, it's funny how stupid people like you are, thinking kids are so simple minded when really they are the simple minded ones." He paused, looking at me as if expecting me to say something. I keep my mouth shut.

"I've got a friend who's eight." His voice is quieter now, softer.

"He's autistic yet he understands more than you probably ever will. My sister was held back a grade because she has a learning disability and ADHD yet I swear she.... she understands concepts that even a collage professeur wouldn't be able to grasp. People like you think that people like them are stupid, because they're disabled or younger or for some other idiotic reason." He wasn't angry anymore and I swear he would cry if he felt that he wouldn't be ridiculed for it.

"Really, no one is only or just ten years old. Really we're people just as smart as you only we're stuck in a ten year old's body." He turned and stared me in the face.

"The only thing I don't understand is people like you," He stated simply. He turned and started walking away.

"Well, that makes two of us." I murmured.