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Quiz: how are you doing? happy ever after?
brave
new world
crushes
I am crush crazy about this boy. He’s cute and he’s funny.
He has red hair and he wears baggy shorts. He is very cute.
He’s COOL. And he knows a lot of stuff. He’s so cute.
Mad about him
Lots of kids—boys and girls alike—have crushes from the time they go
off to preschool. But as you reach puberty, those crushes may get bigger.
Tiny crushes, which in first grade took up a corner of your brain, can become
huge, humongous, gigantic
crushes that make you look out the window for hours instead of studying
for your math test.
You might have a crush on a rock star. You might have a crush on a teacher
or your cousin or your friend’s big brother. You might have a crush on a boy
at school who doesn’t even know your name.
These kinds of crushes can make you feel wonderful because . . .
you have excited,
happy feelings,
you have wonderful
daydreams,
you can feel romantic about
someone without the risk
that that person might hurt
your feelings (it’s safe),
and you will never have
to face the fact that your
crush is not perfect.
Crushes are also a natural part of growing up. A crush lets you try on all
kinds of new feelings, sort of like going into a store and trying on all kinds
of clothes without having to buy them. You can learn a lot. You experience
romantic feelings. You consider what you like in other people. You learn how
to deal with frustration when you can’t get what you want. All of this helps
you get ready for the day when you get into a real relationship with someone.
Of course, you may also develop a crush on a boy you actually know. Kids
around you may be getting crushes, too. Some may even be speaking up
and saying so. This can make life at school very different.
a typical day
Suddenly kids are talking about who likes whom. School is a more
gossipy, less private place. There’s more intrigue—and more
nervousness, too.
8:45 a.m.
Lindsey tells Caitlin she likes Brett.
10:05 a.m.
Caitlin tells Brett that Lindsey likes him. Brett says, “Uh, er, well,
Lindsey’s OK.”
10:36 a.m.
Maria writes her favorite pop star’s name on her notebook cover
for the 348th time.
11:05 a.m.
Caitlin tells ten of her closest friends (including Lindsey) that
Lindsey and Brett are now going together.
11:47 a.m.
Joaquin sits near Ashley at lunch. What does it mean? Ashley
has no idea.
11:50 a.m.
Lindsey says hi to Brett in the cafeteria. Brett says hi back.
They both sit with their friends.
12:01 p.m.
Max and Megan ignore each other when they dump their trays.
They are neighbors and good friends, but they never let on at
school because they’d be teased.
1:30–1:45
