Friendship

The human race is distinct from all other mammals for a number of obvious reasons; speech, memory, reason. However, a trait that truly makes us most different from all other creatures is friendship. The ability and desire to form lasting bonds with humans other than a mate just to enjoy conviviality is conspicuously human.

Friendship did not start out as a social arrangement, however. Homo Sapien were gatherers to start. Food was whatever could be found and it was usually vegetables and fruits. At some point it was discovered that eating the flesh of animals helped Homo Sapien to gain more weight. With another ice age coming this was important. But it was difficult for one man to catch and kill animals large enough to produce much meat. So he was forced to become social and cultivate friendships with beings other than his mate to catch animals.

Often I dream of my friend Alan and I trying to catch a wild boar together in the scrub brush. We are both running and alive, collaborating to outwit a lesser mammal. The prehistoric air is flowing though our long hair and we are one. But then Alan falls in a hole breaking his leg. And I leave him there because, you know, survival of the fittest, baby.