other day. From where I sat, it looked like you got pretty physical.” She peered intently at both of them.
“Yeah, but only because we were slammed in the face with water the minute we got there. And that was another time I nearly lost my temper.”
“Moll, you’re changing. Your hormones are changing. It’s going to take you some time to learn how to deal with the different thoughts and emotions you’re having. The best advice I can give you is to just be honest.” Sue hopped up to sit on the counter beside her. “When something happens, like when you got slammed in the face with water, instead of jumping in and fighting back, say something like, ‘I really wish you’d treat me with respect, like a lady.’ “
She lifted the ice pack to peek at Molly’s cheek and pressed it back down. “You have to let them know what you want and not sendmixed signals and then wonder why they haven’t caught on. Do you know what I’m saying?”
Molly repositioned her ice pack. “I do. I hadn’t thought of it that way before, though. I don’t mean to send mixed signals—that’s for sure. I’m going to have to try to remember that.”
“You know, what you said really makes sense,” Sara chimed in. “I guess we’re the ones changing—not them, really. How are they to know things are different?”
“Honesty. Hmm. Worth a try.” Molly smiled and jumped off the counter. “My face feels better now. Maybe we could go join the group?”
“Take out a No. 2 pencil, and put all of your books and belongings under your desk. You’ll have fifty minutes to complete this test …,” Molly’s biology teacher’s voice droned.
Molly stared with her mouth wide open, horrified that she’d forgotten about the test. Would it have mattered if she had remembered? When could she have studied? Molly surveyed the classroom. All the other students sat with their pencils poised, ready to begin the test. She fumbled in her bag to get what she needed. Saying a little prayer, she started to read.
Uh-oh
. By the third question, Molly knew she was in trouble. She’d never be able to just wing this test. It was all new information she could only have learned by studying—but she hadn’t.
Even if she bombed the test, she could eventually bring her grade up, and she planned to talk to Donna about scheduling her either Monday or Tuesday, instead of both nights in a row. But, in the meantime, her parents would see this grade, and she’d been warned that if her grades slipped, her job would have to go. So Molly knew she’d better do some of her best guessing. She grimaced at the paper in her hands.
How do you guess when you don’t even know what the words mean?
Sure that she’d bombed her test, Molly slumped into the hallway. How had she let that happen? She dragged her way through the school and out the front door toward the waiting bus where Sara and Jess were probably already saving her a seat. At that thought she immediately brightened.
Time to go shopping!
She climbed aboard the bus and saw Jess and Sara in the middle. She maneuvered between the seats to get to the open seat beside Sara.
“Hey, you two! Ready to do some shopping?”
“Oh yeah. I can’t wait.” Sara grinned andheld up the money she’d been counting.
Jess held up a finger as she finished up a call on her cell phone. “Okay, I’ll be home by seven…. Yes, Sara’s mom is picking us up, and she’ll drop me off…. Yes, I’ll be careful. Why all the worry all of a sudden? … Okay, no big deal. See ya then.”
“What was that about?” Molly asked.
“Oh, she goes in phases. You know how moms are. Well, come to think of it, you probably don’t know. Your mom is always worried about you.”
Molly laughed. “I don’t know who’s worse, my mom or my dad.” She leaned her head back on her seat, sighing deeply. “I really need this diversion. I’ve had better days … but I’m leaving all of that at school. Let’s go have some fun.”
They
“Yeah, but only because we were slammed in the face with water the minute we got there. And that was another time I nearly lost my temper.”
“Moll, you’re changing. Your hormones are changing. It’s going to take you some time to learn how to deal with the different thoughts and emotions you’re having. The best advice I can give you is to just be honest.” Sue hopped up to sit on the counter beside her. “When something happens, like when you got slammed in the face with water, instead of jumping in and fighting back, say something like, ‘I really wish you’d treat me with respect, like a lady.’ “
She lifted the ice pack to peek at Molly’s cheek and pressed it back down. “You have to let them know what you want and not sendmixed signals and then wonder why they haven’t caught on. Do you know what I’m saying?”
Molly repositioned her ice pack. “I do. I hadn’t thought of it that way before, though. I don’t mean to send mixed signals—that’s for sure. I’m going to have to try to remember that.”
“You know, what you said really makes sense,” Sara chimed in. “I guess we’re the ones changing—not them, really. How are they to know things are different?”
“Honesty. Hmm. Worth a try.” Molly smiled and jumped off the counter. “My face feels better now. Maybe we could go join the group?”
“Take out a No. 2 pencil, and put all of your books and belongings under your desk. You’ll have fifty minutes to complete this test …,” Molly’s biology teacher’s voice droned.
Molly stared with her mouth wide open, horrified that she’d forgotten about the test. Would it have mattered if she had remembered? When could she have studied? Molly surveyed the classroom. All the other students sat with their pencils poised, ready to begin the test. She fumbled in her bag to get what she needed. Saying a little prayer, she started to read.
Uh-oh
. By the third question, Molly knew she was in trouble. She’d never be able to just wing this test. It was all new information she could only have learned by studying—but she hadn’t.
Even if she bombed the test, she could eventually bring her grade up, and she planned to talk to Donna about scheduling her either Monday or Tuesday, instead of both nights in a row. But, in the meantime, her parents would see this grade, and she’d been warned that if her grades slipped, her job would have to go. So Molly knew she’d better do some of her best guessing. She grimaced at the paper in her hands.
How do you guess when you don’t even know what the words mean?
Sure that she’d bombed her test, Molly slumped into the hallway. How had she let that happen? She dragged her way through the school and out the front door toward the waiting bus where Sara and Jess were probably already saving her a seat. At that thought she immediately brightened.
Time to go shopping!
She climbed aboard the bus and saw Jess and Sara in the middle. She maneuvered between the seats to get to the open seat beside Sara.
“Hey, you two! Ready to do some shopping?”
“Oh yeah. I can’t wait.” Sara grinned andheld up the money she’d been counting.
Jess held up a finger as she finished up a call on her cell phone. “Okay, I’ll be home by seven…. Yes, Sara’s mom is picking us up, and she’ll drop me off…. Yes, I’ll be careful. Why all the worry all of a sudden? … Okay, no big deal. See ya then.”
“What was that about?” Molly asked.
“Oh, she goes in phases. You know how moms are. Well, come to think of it, you probably don’t know. Your mom is always worried about you.”
Molly laughed. “I don’t know who’s worse, my mom or my dad.” She leaned her head back on her seat, sighing deeply. “I really need this diversion. I’ve had better days … but I’m leaving all of that at school. Let’s go have some fun.”
They
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