"Did people make fun of you for doing things your own way," Sam asks gently, "that's not far...people can be really mean sometimes." He shakes his head. "I never liked people who did that...but I do like boats...floating on the water is nice."
Other options:
no subject
"Did people make fun of you for doing things your own way," Sam asks gently, "that's not far...people can be really mean sometimes." He shakes his head. "I never liked people who did that...but I do like boats...floating on the water is nice."