Nacho was always a shy kid who struggled to fit in. Growing up in a small suburban neighborhood, all the other kids were into sports while Nacho was more interested in things like reading books and playing video games. This made it hard for Nacho to make friends, as the other kids would just call him a “loser” or “nerd” for not liking the same things they did.
All Nacho really wanted was to be accepted by his peers and have friends to hang out with. But no matter how hard he tried, he just never seemed to connect with the popular kids who were more athletic or outgoing. This began taking a huge mental and emotional toll on Nacho from a young age, making him feel like an outsider in his own community.
While baseball was hugely popular among all the neighborhood boys, Nacho had never been that into the sport himself. He didn’t understand all the intricacies of the game and didn’t have any natural athletic talent for it either. But Nacho desperately wanted a way to fit in and gain some acceptance. That’s when he began to take notice of the obsession all the other boys had with collecting baseball cards.
Wherever Nacho went in the neighborhood, he’d see groups of kids trading and comparing their baseball card collections. It was clearly something that brought a strong sense of community and comradery among the boys. Nacho started to realize that if he could amass an impressive collection of rare and valuable baseball cards too, it might finally earn him the approval and friendship he so badly craved.
Not having many cards of his own yet, Nacho began closely observing the trading habits of the other boys to learn which cards were considered the most coveted and hard to find. He started to take mental notes of which kids had the best collections so he knew whose stashes to potentially target. Getting the cards legally through trading or purchases didn’t seem like a viable option for Nacho, as he wasn’t yet a respected member of the card collecting community.
One afternoon, while most the boys were at a local baseball game, Nacho saw his opportunity. He snuck into the backyard clubhouse of one of the neighborhood’s top collectors, Timmy, knowing his prized cards would be unattended. Nacho’s heart was racing as he rummaged through Timmy’s stored boxes and binders, searching desperately for the rare vintage rookie cards he’d overheard were worth a lot of money.
After only a few minutes of hurriedly digging, Nacho had assembled a sizable pile containing many of the cards on his mental wish list – vintage rookies of Mickey Mantle, Mike Trout, Ken Griffey Jr. and more. He hurriedly stuffed them into his pockets, paranoia setting in that Timmy might return early from the game. Nacho raced back home with his spoils, a feeling of both anxiousness and accomplishment washing over him.
For a brief few days, Nacho’s plan seemed to be working. Word had spread of his newfound collection through the local trading grapevine. A few boys even approached Nacho wanting to make deals. But it wasn’t long before the truth was found out. Timmy had noticed his prized cards missing and realized Nacho as the likely culprit, given his sudden windfall.
When confronted, Nacho broke down in tears, confessing what he’d done out of loneliness and desperation to fit in. But it was too late – the damage was done. Neighborhood parents got involved, and Nacho’s theft shattered what little reputation and trust he had gained. He was ostracized even further as a “criminal.” Nacho spiraled into a deep depression, alone with his regret and shame.
Today, Nacho looks back on that chapter with sadness and remorse. He knows stealing was never the answer and only further isolated him. While his childhood collection gathering was misguided, Nacho’s motivation of just wanting friends remains something anyone can relate to. He hopes that one day he’ll find acceptance, but has learned you cannot force bonds or take shortcuts – true belonging is built on honesty, respect and community. Nacho now tries to lead with empathy, continuing his journey of self-improvement one day at a time.
