Well, I guess the first occurence was when I was about twelve. I was surfing the internet until I found a site with various Mario fan art and game info(not this site). At the time I had no idea it was Mario. By the time I found out, I panicked. It couldn't be Mario, it just seemed so wrong. But I continued to look on, against my better judgement, and realized that it just felt so right. I can recall countless nights I spent crying in bed, thinking, "I can't be a Mario fan, I just can't!" I was horrified that my parents or friends would find out, and I tried to hide my feelings of delight when I'd shoot down multiple goombas in succession with fireballs.
Finally, the next year I told one of my friends. She and I were just walking until it burst right out of me. I started to run away, but I heard her call after me. I just ran around a corner and sat on the ground, crying. She found me right away and just held me. I tried to tell her everything, but I don't think she even understood half of what I was saying, she just kept hugging me and telling me that it was alright. I felt like a giant weight was lifted off my shoulders, being there with her. After what must have been an hour, she confessed that she was a Mario fan too. She explained that there was nothing wrong, as far as she could tell, with jumping a few goombas and ducking through warp pipes.
Finally, I had a friend to talk to about our offbeat enjoyment. But it wouldn't last long, as she told me that she was going to a different high school than I'd be going to the next year. I felt alone again. Before she left, on the last day of elementary school, I stood up and came out to everybody. I had witnessed my friend being jostled by some meaner kids as she tried to play her Game Boy, and I couldn't take it anymore. I stood atop the lunch table, and shouted out my true video game-based orientation. There was a shocked silence.. My friend stood up and took my hand. I pulled her up onto the table, and for second we gazed into each other's eyes. Then, briefly, we kissed. Everyone applauded. It was the best day of my life.
After that, I decided that I wouldn't care what others felt about my enjoying a good Mario game from time to time. If they didn't like how I lived my life, then they could just mind their own business. I made lots of friends in high school who accepted me for who I am, and judging by the letters my old friend sends me, she's making true friends too. I know that God loves me, no matter what game system I use, and I am happy.
