"So you still planning on getting some new songs written down?"

"Totally," I said.

"That's great. I hope you know that you really are a member of this band now."

"Yeah, I do," I said. "I don't know..." I meant to say something like, It really means a lot to me to be here and that you guys really took me in. I feel really accepted. Maybe I don't show it, but I really hope you can understand without me having to express anything.

But he didn't get it.

He made a gesture towards me that looked like the makings of a hug. I didn't really react.

"So, I hope it's not a big deal, just my friends and I are the hugging types, I guess," he said.

"Oh!" I said, pretty surprised. Hoping not to offend him by declining the hug, I offered this clarification. "I'm not."

That sounded a lot ruder than I meant it too.

"Oh..." he said.

"I'm sorry! It's just a comfort, comfort-ability, thing." I didn't know what to do, but I really didn't want to be aloof, and I didn't want him to think iw as ungrateful and afraid, so I just hugged him back, as awkward as you ca possibly make a hug, so as to prevent any more in the future.

I hoped he understood.