Not the eldest

I realized today that I am not responsible for the protection of my classmates. This seems a rather late realization, and I knew it intellectually before, but there was a pretty little demonstration today. The full story is long, and undoubtedly tedious if you were not there. In short, there was an exchange between two students near my age, which I didn't understand. I asked for an explanation later, and the person I asked danced sideways around the issue. So, I was being protected from an unsavory piece of information. I should know, I've done it often enough with my younger siblings, but it's odd to think that someone else, not my parents or family friends, should be protective of me. I am rather innocent on many issues. I often don't even see that there is an issue! Strange thought.