Teenage dream

There's nothing like a free event to get you out rubbing shoulders with the locals.  Strangely enough, the Night Glow last Saturday reminded me what it was like to be a teenager.  It also made me hope that, when I was, I showed a bit more wisdom than some young attendees.

Within seconds of getting off the bus, I wandered past a girl who was already wishing she had dressed for the conditions, instead of the boys.  She may have thought her singlet was hot, but she looked freezing as she stood with her arms wrapped around her shoulders.  And the sun was still up at that point so, unless she was planning to go home before the main event, she still had to staunch it out for a few more hours.

Around by the carnival rides, girls were sharing a can of goodness-knows-what - and perhaps they shared their leopard print outfit plans too.

Some young people came in pyjamas and onesies, clearly planning to use the Glow as a giant night light.

And then there were the teens whose excitement at being let out for the night was uncontainable.
"No touching!  No touching!" one girl screeched at the young man walking beside her.
He took it in good humour, raising his hands in surrender, and appearing almost as delighted as her.
"Because it might make people think things that we don't want them to think!"
To avoid this, and in case they hadn't seen, they immediately turned around to the gaggle of friends behind them.
"Guys!  Ok, guys..."

But the night was a let-down for some of the young'uns.  It wasn't because they didn't have enough money to go on the big slide, nor because they weren't allowed candy floss.  It wasn't even because they weren't impressed with the balloons.
No, it was simply because they checked their phone, and didn't find any messages.
"Oh my god!  I'm so unloved!"

If you're going to act this way, you had better hope that you have the excuse of being in your teenage years.  It's okay then, because the New Scientist (kind of) says your brain is still frantically trying to develop.