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    Chicken Soup for the Soul: Preteens Talk: Inspiration and Support for Preteens from Kids Just Like Them
    Chicken Soup for the Soul: Preteens Talk: Inspiration and Support for Preteens from Kids Just Like Them
    Chicken Soup for the Soul: Preteens Talk: Inspiration and Support for Preteens from Kids Just Like Them
    Ebook452 pages4 hours

    Chicken Soup for the Soul: Preteens Talk: Inspiration and Support for Preteens from Kids Just Like Them

    By Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Amy Newmark

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    About this ebook

    Chicken Soup for the Soul: Preteens Talk, with 101 stories from Chicken Soup for the Soul’s library, supports and inspires preteens and reminds them they are not alone.

    Being a preteen is harder than it looks. School is more challenging, bodies are changing, boys and girls notice each other, relationships with parents are different, and new issues arise with friends. Stories written by preteens just like them cover friends, family, love, school, sports, challenges, and embarrassing moments.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherChicken Soup for the Soul
    Release dateMar 8, 2011
    ISBN9781611591798
    Chicken Soup for the Soul: Preteens Talk: Inspiration and Support for Preteens from Kids Just Like Them
    Author

    Jack Canfield

    Jack Canfield is co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul® series, which includes forty New York Times bestsellers, and coauthor of The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be. He is a leader in the field of personal transformation and peak performance and is currently CEO of the Canfield Training Group and Founder and Chairman of the Board of The Foundation for Self-Esteem. An internationally renowned corporate trainer and keynote speaker, he lives in Santa Barbara, California.

    Read more from Jack Canfield

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      Book preview

      Chicken Soup for the Soul - Jack Canfield

      Chicken Soup for the Soul® Our 101 Best Stories:

      Preteens Talk; Inspiration and Support for Preteens from Kids Just Like Them

      by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen & Amy Newmark

      www.SimonandSchuster.com

      Published by Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC www.chickensoup.com

      Copyright © 2008 by Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

      CSS, Chicken Soup for the Soul, and its Logo and Marks are trademarks of Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing LLC.

      The publisher gratefully acknowledges the many publishers and individuals who granted Chicken Soup for the Soul permission to reprint the cited material.

      Cover photos courtesy of: iStockPhoto.com/-M-I-S-H-A-, iStockPhoto.com/bsauter, iStockPhoto.com/JBryson, and iStockPhoto.com/sjlocke

      Cover and Interior Design & Layout by Pneuma Books, LLC

      For more info on Pneuma Books, visit www.pneumabooks.com

      Distributed to the booktrade by Simon & Schuster. SAN: 200-2442

      Publisher’s Cataloging-in-Publication Data

      (Prepared by The Donohue Group)

      Chicken soup for the soul. Selections.

      Chicken soup for the soul® : preteens talk : inspiration and support for preteens from kids just like them / [compiled by] Jack Canfield [and] Mark Victor Hansen ; [edited by] Amy Newmark.

      p. ; cm. -- (Our 101 best stories)

      ISBN-13: 978-1-935096-00-9

      ISBN-10: 1-935096-00-1

      eISBN-13: 978-1-61159-179-8

      1. Preteens--Conduct of life--Anecdotes. I. Canfield, Jack, 1944- II. Hansen, Mark Victor. III. Newmark, Amy. IV. Title.

      BJ1631 .C4653 2008

      158.1/28/0835 2008928923

      PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

      on acid-free paper

      ∞

      16 15 14 13 12 11 10 03 04 05 06 07 08

      Contents

      A Special Foreword by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen

      ~ Friends for Life ~

      1. Thanks, Y’All!, Michelle Strauss

      2. Stubbly Dooright, Marty Becker, D.V.M., with Teresa Becker

      3. Best Friends, Whitney M. Baldwin

      4. Right in Front of Me, Heather Comeau

      5. One Is Silver and the Other Is Gold, Karen Waldman

      6. Friends at First Sight, Stephanie Caffall

      7. A Friendship Never Broken, Nikki Kremer

      8. Big at Heart, Mark Schulle as told by Bunny Schulle

      9. Melts in Your Heart, Not in Your Hand, Jennifer Stevens

      10. Love Lives On, Laurie Hartman

      11. A Friend Will... Nicole Johnson

      ~So Embarrassed! ~

      12. Strapped for Cash, Robin Sokol

      13. Paybacks, Mel Ann Coley

      14. The Moment I Knew I’d Never Be Cool, D. Marie O’Keefe

      15. Tasting the Moment, Andrea Adair

      16. What’s on the Inside, Eleanor Luken

      17. The Mysterious Book Bag, Laura Andrade

      18. A Perfect Fit, Kathy Lynn Harris

      19. Confessions of a Four Eyes, Gwen Rockwood

      ~Family Matters ~

      20. Perfect, I’m Not, Julia Wasson Render

      21. My Brother, Ben, Donata Allison

      22. Our Christmas Secret, Lori Menning

      23. My Little Brother, Christine Walsh

      24. I Love You, Lindsey, Lindsey Rawson

      25. Pale Dawn of a New Day, Katherine Ackerman

      26. Best Friend, Bethany Gail Hicks

      27. Tippy, Christine Armstrong

      28. The Bigger Man, C. S. Dweck

      29. This Old Chair, Christa Holder Ocker

      ~Heartbreak and Growing Up ~

      30. Broken Heart, Ashleigh Dumas

      31. The First Day of Middle School, Patty Hansen

      32. Ready or Not, Morri Spang

      33. Not My Boyfriend, Carol Miller

      34. Rediscovery, Raegan Baker

      35. Suffocating, Marion Distante

      36. Moving On, Ellen Werle

      37. A Life Once Lived, Brandi Bacon

      38. Jimmy, Jimmy, Karen Lombard

      39. Who Said There’s No Crying in Softball? Amy Severns

      40. One Single Egg, Cheryl L. Goede

      ~The Popularity Game ~

      41. Revenge of the Fifth Grade Girls, Carolyn Magner Mason

      42. Compassion for a Bully, Melanie Pastor

      43. Clueless, Mridu Khullar

      44. For Michelle, Satya Pennington

      45. Tears in the Bathroom Stall, Cheryl Kremer

      46. So Which Will It Be? Us—or Her? Anne Broyles

      47. Backfire! Lou Kassem

      48. Call Me, Cynthia M. Hamond

      49. The Cool Girls, Mel Caro

      50. Danny’s Courage, Penny S. Harmon

      51. A Cheer of Triumph, Kim Rogers

      ~Everyday Superheroes ~

      52. You’ll Be Good for Him, Eugene Gagliano

      53. The Hidden Treasure, Debbie King as told by Ashley King

      54. A Bully’s Transformation in Room 7, Kristin Krycia

      55. Two Tickets to the Big Game, J. Styron Madsen

      56. Annie Wiggle-Do, Kathleen M. Muldoon

      57. Derek, Karina E. Seto

      58. Bobby Lee, Daphne M. Orenshein

      59. Teasing Tami, Michael T. Powers

      60. A Little Coaching, Noah Edelson

      ~Tough Stuff ~

      61. The Day My Life Ended, Sammie Luther

      62. Get Over It and Go On, Christina Zucal

      63. Kelsey, Shane Ruwe

      64. Getting Better, Tiffany Jacques

      65. The Big Slip, Scott Allen

      66. Heaven Sent, Beverley Mitchell

      67. My Problem, Allen Smith

      68. The Perfect Figure, Nikki Yargar

      69. Forever Stay in My Heart, Jillian Eide

      70. BFF, Courtney VanDyne

      71. Celebrate the Good Days, Leslie Beck

      ~ Life’s Little Lessons ~

      72. Never Put Rocks in Your Mouth, Shirley Barone Craddock

      73. There Is Always Someone Less Fortunate, Amy Mallinder-Morgan

      74. Like Me, Emily Perl Kingsley

      75. The Unusual Package, Barbara King

      76. In Every Thought, Leslie Miller

      77. A Valentine for Grandma, Joseph Walker

      78. Cry When You Are Sad, Jonathan Piccirillo

      79. Lucky, Molly McAfee

      80. Think Before You Act, Lauren Wheeler

      81. Ramon, Emma Fraser

      82. The Reason for Living, Lauren Elizabeth Holden

      ~Not-So-Random Acts of Kindness ~

      83. Just the Two of Us, Miriam Bard

      84. Nice Catch! Doris Canner

      85. A Friend’s Secret, Bethany Rogers

      86. The Note, Patty Hansen

      87. Tag, Erin Gandia

      88. The Fall and Rise of a Star, Patty Zeitlin

      89. Scott, David Ferino

      90. Mother’s Christmas Stocking, Amberley Howe

      91. The Christmas Care Bear, Molly Walden

      92. Kindness Is More Powerful, Janalea Jeppson

      93. The Act of Love, Kathy Kemmer Pyron

      ~Making a Difference ~

      94. To a Different Drummer, Lennox Lewis

      95. Just Do It, Son Truong Nguye

      96. Taking a Stand, Irene Dunlap

      97. For the Best, April Townsend

      98. Pyramid Surprise, Holly Cupala

      99. Raising a Star, Laura Sobchik

      100. More Than I Had Dreamed Of, Lin Rajan

      101. The Little Girl Who Dared to Wish, Alan D. Shultz

      WHO IS JACK CANFIELD?

      WHO IS MARK VICTOR HANSEN?

      WHO IS AMY NEWMARK?

      ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

      A Special Foreword

      by Jack & Mark

      For us, 101 has always been a magical number. It was the number of stories in the first Chicken Soup for the Soul book, and it is the number of stories and poems we have always aimed for in our books. We love the number 101 because it signifies a beginning, not an end. After 100, we start anew with 101.

      We hope that when you finish reading one of our books, it is only a beginning for you too—a new outlook on life, a renewed sense of purpose, a strengthened resolve to deal with an issue that has been bothering you. Perhaps you will pick up the phone and share one of the stories with a friend or a loved one. Perhaps you will turn to your keyboard and express yourself by writing a Chicken Soup story of your own, to share with other readers who are just like you.

      This volume contains our 101 best stories and poems for pre-teenagers. We share this with you at a very special time for us, the fifteenth anniversary of our Chicken Soup for the Soul series. When we published our first book in 1993, we never dreamed that we had begun the creation of what has become a publishing phenomenon, one of the best-selling book series in history.

      We did not set out to sell more than one hundred million books, or to publish more than 150 titles. We set out to touch the heart of one person at a time, hoping that person would in turn touch another person, and so on down the line. Fifteen years later, we know that it has worked. Your letters and stories have poured in by the hundreds of thousands, affirming our life’s work, and inspiring us to continue to make a difference in your lives.

      On our fifteenth anniversary, we have new energy, new resolve, and new dreams. We have recommitted to our goal of 101 stories or poems per book, we have refreshed our cover designs and our interior layout, and we have grown the Chicken Soup for the Soul team, with new friends and partners across the country in New England.

      Being a preteen is harder than it looks—we remember! School is more challenging, your bodies are changing, your relationship with your parents is different, and new issues are arising with your friends. But you are not alone. This new volume represents our 101 best stories and poems for preteens from our rich fifteen year history.

      The stories that we have chosen for you were written by kids just like you who have been through the same things. They wrote about friends, family, love, school, sports, challenges, embarrassing moments, and overcoming obstacles. We hope that you will find these stories inspiring and supportive, and that you will share them with your families and friends. We have identified the 15 Chicken Soup for the Soul books in which the stories originally appeared, in case you would like to continue your journey among our other titles. And as you get older, we hope you will also enjoy the additional titles for teenagers in Our 101 Best Stories series.

      With our love, our thanks, and our respect,

      —Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen

      Friends for Life

      The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart.

      ~Elisabeth Foley

      Thanks, Y’All!

      Remember, the greatest gift is not found in a store nor under a tree, but in the hearts of true friends.

      ~Cindy Lew

      I have distant friends, neighborhood friends, basketball friends, and friends online. However, I have one group of friends that has really been special to me.

      In the fifth grade, my twin sister, Monica, and I transferred to a new school. Without any hesitation, I went. I didn’t argue. Since my mom taught there, I would no longer have to ride the bus with a bunch of rowdy boys and worry about stuff like getting kicked in the head. No kidding—they actually accidentally kicked me in the head one day!

      At my old school, I hadn’t made any real friends. I was treated like a complete dork because of the way I looked. I had glasses, baggy clothes, pimples, and blemishes. I rarely smiled and hardly ever laughed, wore a belt, and was overweight. I was also dealing with the reality of my parents getting a divorce.

      So on the first day at my new school, I just hoped that I would make friends. For a few weeks, I was always alone. Monica ended up having a different lunch period than I did, so I would just read during recess and lunch.

      Then one day, a girl in my class named Cori came up to me at lunch and asked if she could sit by me. We began to talk, and since we both are twins, it gave us a lot to talk about. Soon, Cori introduced me to friends of hers—Adriane, Hannah and Toni—and I introduced them to Monica. Then Cori’s twin, Cole, and his friends Matt and Ross started hanging around with us. We became one big inseparable group. At recess we played basketball and other games. We did everything together.

      Ever since we’ve been together, my friends have always been there for me—even the boys. They liked me for me. Having them in my life changed the way I felt about myself. Their friendship gave me a sky-high feeling. We barely ever argued! We were really tight. They seemed to understand how hard it was to change schools and stuck with me through the tough times, like dealing with my parents’ divorce.

      One time, when Monica and I couldn’t go outside with our friends after school, Toni supplied us with a pair of walkie-talkies to keep us all in touch!

      I became more outgoing, like getting involved in student council and entering writing contests—some that I even won! Then came the sixth grade, our last year of elementary school and the last year for all of us to be going to the same school together. Adriane, Hannah, Toni, Matt, and Ross were going to Tison. Monica and I would at least still be seeing Cori and Cole since the four of us were all going to Hall Junior High.

      I’d also be seeing my old classmates from the other elementary school, including some I had run into recently. Boys who had teased me in my old school stood staring at me not even knowing who I was. The girls who previously had treated me like vapor now paid attention to me and called me by name. I couldn’t figure it out. I didn’t know why. I thought that I was the same old me. But then when I looked in the mirror, I realized that I was a lot different than I had been before.

      I wasn’t short and stubby anymore. I had grown tall and slender and my complexion had cleared up. The glasses were gone and my belts were pushed to the back of my closet. I realized then that my friends had done more than just make me feel good—they had made me feel confident because they had supported me, and slowly my appearance had changed.

      With their help, I had pushed my weight off. Toni helped me with that by encouraging me not to eat some of the more fattening foods and telling me that I could do whatever I set my mind to. I had been trying to lose weight since I was nine, when the doctor had said to my mom, Michelle has a weight problem.

      I learned to properly wash my face with the help of my friend Hannah and her magical beauty tips. Just wash your face every night, it doesn’t take too long! she instructed.

      With the help of Cori, my belt was gone. Believe me, it’s a lot less painful on your stomach. I used to tuck all my clothes in, even sweaters! she exclaimed.

      Adriane suggested that I wear my glasses only when I really needed them. If you can see how many fingers I’m holding up, you are okay, she said. Just wear them when you need to see the homework assignment on the board.

      My sister, Monica, loves clothes and helped me pay attention to how I dressed. She would give me feedback about what looked good and what didn’t. It really helped to hear her say, Wow, Michelle, that looks FANTASTIC on you! Man, why couldn’t I have gotten that?

      With the help of Cole, I learned a little bit more about athletics. No! No! The receiver receives the ball! No! No! The quarterback doesn’t flip the quarter! That’s the referee! he explained.

      With the help of Matt, I learned to smile. It won’t hurt you, he encouraged.

      With help from Ross, I learned a laugh a day keeps the frown away.

      B in math? Awesome! That’s not failing—it’s just not perfect, expressed my friends.

      As I gaze into the mirror, I turn to the left and then to the right. I smile at my reflection, because I now realize that these people, my true friends, never saw me as a dork. They saw the beauty in me. They brought my personality out.

      The best friends that anyone in the world could ever have will be missed when we go to junior high. But I will cherish the memories that we have created, and whatever happens, I’ll always remember that my friends helped me become who I am. In conclusion, I have to say ... thanks, Cori, Cole, Hannah, Matt, Adriane, Ross, Toni, and Monica.

      Y’ALL ARE THE BEST!!!

      ~Michelle Strauss

      Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul 2

      Stubbly Dooright

      For years, my wife Teresa taught physical education at the elementary school level. Traveling on a regular schedule to the six schools in her district, she had a chance to get to know most of the kids in the area and see them at their best—and their worst.

      Childhood is tough enough, but gym class strips away all the veneers, exposing the unvarnished truth beneath. There’s nothing like P.E. class to display your strengths or frailties, your bravado or timidity, your blue ribbon winning athletic skills or complete lack of coordination. Worst of all, with people choosing sides, there’s no doubt where you stand in life’s pecking order. Some of us have been, and all have suffered for, the person picked last.

      At one of the schools, whose gray facade and asphalt playgrounds reflected the mood of the depressed downtown area in which it stood, Teresa noticed a third grade child who was one of those always picked last. The girl, let’s call her Meagan, was short and grossly overweight, with a closed and hopeless look on her face. Meagan always sat alone in class, played alone at recess, and ate alone from a recycled paper sack at lunch. The teachers and staff were kind to Meagan, but the students were not.

      The stories made your shoulders drop. Teresa heard that when the playground supervisors turned their backs, kids would run up and touch Meagan on a dare, then run off to infect others with her cooties. Mockingly calling her Meagan the Munchkin, they did far worse than isolate her; they filled her school days and walks home with physical and emotional torment. Teachers who had met with Meagan’s single mother, a hard-working woman who was trying her best to make two ends that had never met each other meet, were told that weekends were special for Meagan—not because she had sleepovers and was invited to movies or parties, but because being away from the other kids, in the privacy of her room, meant the misery would stop, at least until Monday and the long walk to school.

      Meagan’s situation disturbed my wife deeply. After talking with the principal and other teachers, Teresa came up with an idea. She knew from talking to Meagan that the child had never had a pet. Teresa was sure a pet would be the perfect way to inject some high-powered love and acceptance into Meagan’s life. Teresa told Meagan that she needed to talk with her mom about something important and asked her if she’d have her pick her up from school one day soon. Anxious that something was wrong, Meagan’s dutiful and caring mother came the very next day.

      Teresa recounted Meagan’s school problems to her and, finally, broached the subject of a pet for Meagan. To my wife’s surprise and delight, Meagan’s mom said she thought it would be a great idea. She agreed to come down to the veterinary hospital where I practiced so she could look at the various strays and castoffs we’d accumulated, selecting from among them the perfect pet for Meagan.

      The very next Saturday afternoon—after we had closed, but before we’d left for the day—Meagan and her mom walked in the back door as we had arranged. When the door buzzer sounded, the dogs engaged in a predictable and vigorous clinic-chorus of barking.

      Getting down on one knee, I introduced myself to Meagan and welcomed her and her mother to my office. I noticed that Meagan, like any creature that has been abused, had a lot of hurt in her eyes—so much, in fact, that I had to look away momentarily to compose myself.

      I escorted them to the back runs, where the homeless pets were kept. I fully expected Meagan to fall for one of the mixed-breed terrier puppies who had been dropped off in a box at our door earlier that week. The puppies had spiky hair, huge, liquid brown eyes and pink tongues that ran in and out like pink conveyor belts on overtime.

      But, while Meagan really liked the puppies, she didn’t love them. As we moved down the row to examine some more used models, out sauntered the clinic mascot, a tiger-striped American shorthair cat that had lost one leg to a hay mower while he was out mousing in an alfalfa field at first cutting. With a stub for a right hind leg, he had been given the name Stubbly Dooright.

      Stubbly had a peculiar habit of rubbing up against you, purring, and then biting you hard enough to get your attention but not enough to break the skin. It was love at first bite when Stubbly clamped onto Meagan’s pinky finger, and she playfully lifted the cat almost off the ground. You could plainly hear Stubbly purring in his vertical position.

      Meagan left the clinic that Saturday afternoon, glowing with happiness. Now she had a living, breathing friend who wanted to play with her, who loved to cuddle up next to her on the sofa and sleep next to her on the bed. Her mother later told us that when Meagan came home from school, Stubbly would rush to the door, Lassie-like, and follow her from room to room through the house. Like a feline boomerang, Stubbly would leave to do cat things, but would always find his way back to her side.

      Energized by Stubbly’s unconditional love, limitless affection and loyalty, Meagan began to blossom. Though she still might never be Homecoming Queen, she did find fellow pet lovers who befriended her, and things began to improve for her—physically, emotionally, and socially.

      Ten years later, Teresa and I received an invitation to the high school graduation ceremony from Meagan, whom we were thrilled to read was one of the co-valedictorians of her class.

      On graduation day, we joined the throngs of family and friends seated in the auditorium watching the seniors get their diplomas. When Meagan strode to the podium, head high and beaming, I hardly recognized her. Now an attractive young woman of average height and athletic build, Meagan gave a speech on the importance of acceptance and friendship that kept the crowd riveted. She was going to be a communications major in college and clearly was gifted in this regard.

      At the conclusion of the speech, she talked about the special friend she’d met in the third grade who had helped her climb the steep and treacherous slope of her childhood. The friend who had comforted her when there wasn’t enough to eat in the house because her mother had been laid off from work, and who had stayed by her while she sobbed her heart out after a boy had asked her to a dance on a dare with no intention of taking her. The special friend who had been there to mop up her tears or to make her laugh when she needed it most.

      With the gymnasium full of people in the palm of her hand, Meagan said she’d now like to introduce this special friend, and she asked her friend to come to the stage to be recognized. Meagan looked to the right; no one was coming down the aisle. Meagan looked to the left; still no one approached the stage.

      It was one of those moments when you ache for the speaker, and people started swiveling in their seats, craning their necks, buzzing with conversation. After what seemed like an eternity, but was actually less than a minute, Meagan suddenly said, The reason my friend didn’t come to the stage is because he’s already here. Plus, he’s only got three legs, and it’s hard for him to walk sometimes.

      What? There wasn’t anybody new at the stage, and what kind of person has three legs?

      With high drama, Meagan lifted her hands high—displaying a photograph of Stubbly Dooright. As she described her beloved cat, the crowd rose to their feet with cheers, laughter, and long, thunderous applause.

      Stubbly Dooright may not have been there in person, but he was definitely there in spirit—the same spirit that had made all the difference in the life of a very lonely child.

      ~Marty Becker, D.V.M., with Teresa Becker

      Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover’s Soul

      Best Friends

      I thought she was my best friend

      The best one I’ve ever had.

      Instead I found out the truth

      And what I learned was sad.

      We still call each other friends

      But I feel we’re far apart.

      Though we see each other every day

      I have a broken heart.

      She has made new friends

      And I have made some, too.

      We are talking less and less

      And inside I’m cold and blue.

      Each and every night I pray

      That she will finally see

      How much I want our friendship back

      And how much she means to me.

      ~Whitney M. Baldwin

      Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul

      Right in Front of Me

      When I was in the sixth grade, I met my new best friend. Her name was Courtney, and she was tall, pretty, and smart. She was also one of the most popular girls in school. That same year, I met my worst enemy, this awful boy named David. Every day he would call me names and pull my hair. I couldn’t stand him.

      When we graduated to seventh grade, Courtney ran for student body president. One night, she invited me over to her house to make posters and buttons for her campaign.

      When I arrived, I was horrified at what I saw. It was David! Apparently, Courtney and David had been friends for some time. David and I looked at each other as though we were two cowboys in an old Western movie ready for a showdown. Our eyes locked and each of us frowned at the other. After what seemed like an eternity, Courtney broke the stare by telling us to get to work on the posters. We sat in silence for a few moments, and then David said, Hey, we haven’t gotten along in the past, but let’s call a truce for the sake of Courtney. I was stunned at his suggestion, and I also couldn’t refuse.

      Once we decided to stop being enemies, we hit it off almost immediately. David and I found out that we had the same sense of humor and laughed at the same jokes. We both loved the same music and going to the same movies. We could talk about anything. I couldn’t believe that a few hours before, I couldn’t stand to be near David, and now here we were, covered in glue and glitter and laughing so hard our stomachs hurt. I never even had this much fun with Courtney. But even after I realized that I had this connection with David, when I went home, I kind of dismissed it. After all, he was a boy and Courtney was my best friend.

      A couple of months later, my grandfather died. A week after his funeral, my parents decided that we should move. I was terribly upset because I loved my school and my friends, especially Courtney. But she promised me she would call me at least once a week and we would get together as often as possible. There was no

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