Almost Perfect Ending

Ok, so best and worst thing about this weekend:

A fellow from our ward was returning from Afghanistan so I went with the parents at 10:50 pm to be apart of the "Welcome Home Crew". I felt a little awkward because I barley know him but I overcame this with my desire to see his awesome 'stache. No but really, he's a great guy and uh...Dad made me go. ;)
Anyways... as these things go, the parents abandoned me on entrance because they've decided to be all sociable all the time with the people in our ward. It's lame of me but I stood there thinking, "C'mon. You see these people every week. What's the big deal??"
Harsh, but true.
Whilst I was thus stewing I heard the most beautiful sound...
Arabic.
I looked over and saw a cluster of mighty fine looking, my age-ish Arabs sitting in the corner.
*Eyes grow wide. Smile grows wider. Aaaaaaaaand oops, scare small child running past.*
Not embarrassed enough to care, I inconsiderately tore Dad away from the person he was talking to and said in a too-load-excited-squeak-thing, "Dad!!! They're speaking Arabic!!" And if that wasn't bad enough, I then raised a pointed hand as Dad gazed, with no shame, in the direction of my pointing. He spotted them. They looked at me and I, finally catching on to the situation, lowered my hand and spun around. The sound of Arabic grew loader and I can only guess what they're saying. Unfortunately I don't think it was, "My! Did you see that terribly attractive girl who looks like she would just die if we offered to be her best friends and teach her Arabic??" Yeah. Prolly not.
I don't think Dad was affected in the slightest. He gave me an indulgent smile, the one's only daddy's can give that say, "Oh, it's kind of cute how you like that sort of thing." Then he just went right back to chatting with Watts Earl Naim so I hid behind him trying to watch them with my oh-so stealthy glance.
By this time, people from the plane were coming down the stairs and in silent anticipation we waited. I couldn't help but think how awkward it must be for these other people, seeing a huge mass of signs and balloons waiting at the bottom of the stairs, but oh wait, it's not for you. Who cares that you're back. We're all waiting for someone else.
Then some other guy from our ward was also on that plane so when he started walking down and saw everyone he was pretty confused. I laughed pretty hard.
Then the moment finally came. And, just like I thought, the mustache and the man were just as I remembered. The reuniting with his fam was really tender.
As he made his way through the crowd I noticed another Arab descending the stairs. Realizing that he must be what the others are waiting for my attention was again pulled by the three in the corner. Instantly a few different scenarios ran through my mind. [As we're leaving one starts to go through the door but gallantly allows me to go first. I say (with a perfect accent, mind) "Shukran," a sweet, almost coy smile on my face. He looks up, astonished and thoroughly impressed. I say, "Esme (my name is) Tasha." His face breaks into a huge grin...] aaaand the vision breaks while Brother Jones shakes my hand. Then, refocusing, the visions take a terrible turn. [In a moment of severe character  inconsistency, I walked right up to them, held out my hand and said, "Salam alaikum!"
They all stared at me with disgust. One stands and pushed my hand out of the way, saying in a loud voice, "You Infidel! How dare you speak our language!!" Utterly crushed, I cradle my hand to my chest and push through the crowd of ward members sobbing.] And that's when  I realized that I'm never going to have a Muslim and/or Arab friend. Or Indian. Or anything else that I desire.
Fear would stop me from these friendships. Similar experiences like this have happened to me before, but I am unable to speak to them, fearing that I, in my ignorance, might cause offence. I think that would be the most horrible thing to happen to me. Despite all of my research, you never know how people will react. I would literally be crushed and broken if I offended someone in that way because I love them so much. I took one last look at those boys and realized my defeat. Then they all got up and started walking towards me. My heart had to be going at least 95mph as they...walked out the door. Well. That was lame.
But yeah. That realization was pretty dishartening. But I won't give up. Maybe I'm being a little dramatic here... I CAN and I WILL befriend these people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So yeah. That was the almost perfect end to my Arabic week.
;)