He's always been this way, for as long as I can remember. When we were younger, it was more charming, somehow. He'd start on some line of idealistic bullshit, and folks couldn't tear their eyes off him, girls especially. They loved it so much, I was sure he did it just for the attention. I thought he'd found the perfect pick-up lines, and you can bet I was jealous. I never begrudged him the attention, but I was jealous of the way he had with people, his talent for engaging and interesting them.

I was such a cynical bastard, even back then, it took me a while to realize that he was for real. I couldn't believe that somebody that smart would have so much faith in humanity. I wasn't nearly as smart as he was, but I'd learned early on that people were usually out to get you, and you did what was necessary to get by. That's why I thought he was using the idealism as a line; he was so sharp that he had to know better.

One time, we were out at a bar with a few other guys, just shooting the shit. We were all drinking beer, and we were talking about all sorts of things - politics, girls, politics, sports, literature, and politics. I don't remember what topic got him going that night, but he wouldn't give it up. He and one of the other guys, I think it was Doug, were into it pretty heavy, back and forth, while the rest of us were laughing and drinking and half paying attention.

Something in the tone of his voice made me look over at him, and he looked so earnest, so serious that I stopped and just watched him for a minute. I didn't catch many of his words over the noise in the bar, but I really looked at his face. He looked frustrated and pained, as if it hurt him that he couldn't make Doug see his point. It wasn't for lack of oratory skills; even drunk, he could talk circles around the debate team jerks. It looked like he was upset because no matter how he explained it, Doug didn't understand that he was right.

That's when I figured out he really meant it; I understood that he cared. None of his rants over the past year had been faked; he must have really believed what he'd argued about. Sitting there in the bar, with people laughing and the television playing, I was surprised, and then I was worried. I was worried that he was going to get hurt someday for believing the things he did. But instead of thinking, "Good, maybe it'll knock some sense into him," I thought, "God, how can I make it easier on him?"

I didn't decide that night that I was going to stick by Jed for the next thirty years, but that was my first step down the path. And I've been following it ever since.