I was a curiously depressed child. A natural reader, I was exposed to and fell in love with "the classics" during mid elementary school - about 3rd grade. Readi

I was a curiously depressed child. A natural reader, I was exposed to and fell in love with "the classics" during mid elementary school - about 3rd grade. Reading material far to mature for my age, "great literature" is typically a deep evaluation of tragedy, failure and betrayal. By the tail end of 4th grade I has in a sophisticated depression that drove away adults, school councilors, therapists and local clergy. I would debate them as they tried to advise me, and I would lead them into my depression and they'd be captured too. But one girl two grades beneath me thought I was hilarious. It first I thought she was insane, as no matter what I said or did she had some type of hilarious reaction. In anger on day I asked her what her problem was, and she (confused) thought I was a huge Edward Gorey fan and was playing his characters. I'd not heard of Edward Gorey before, so she takes me to the children's library and shows me his books. It was like meeting a mirror of my attitude. Reading those and finding the satire side of literature saved my life.