Here is a page from The Truth (I’m a girl, I’m smart and I know everything). Write and tell me when you feel grown up. You can write a list of times or write a story about yourself or a diary page, as the girl in the book did. I’ll be sending a Truth necklace to one of the girls who share. I hope it will be you!
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Here’s what I do all by myself. I catch the bus two blocks from my house and go downtown. I’m not afraid. My mother said to sit near the driver, and I do. I talk to him sometimes. Other times I read.
Today, going downtown, I read the saddest part of “Little House on the Prairie”. The Ingalls’ dog turned around three times and then lay down in his bed and died. I cried on the bus. I was glad I had a handkerchief with me. The driver asked if I was OK, and I told him the book made me sad because the dog died. He smiled in a kind way.
When I got downtown I bought some beautiful lace for a new doll’s dress I am making, and I got an ice cream sundae in the 5 and 10. This time I got marshmallow sauce instead of whipped cream. It’s the same price, and I thought it would be a nice change. And it was!
Next I looked at make-up. The 5 and 10 has two aisles just filled with lipsticks, mascara, nail polish, and lots of other things for women. I had such a good time. I never get bored.
A store like a 5 and 10 is great, ‘cause if I get tired in one section I can always find another section to wander around in. And they have a bathroom, which is very important.
Then I waited for the bus to come home, and when it came, guess what? It was the same driver! I was so happy. I sat near him again.
I’m so glad I can do things by my self. I feel so grown up.
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED – I know most of you are great ‘detectives’ when given a chance. So I would love to know how you can help solve the dilemma below that is typical of growing up problems for girls. Thanks so much, Dr. Barbara
• The ‘girl’ in The Truth wants to take keyboard lessons very badly.
• Her parents inherited an old piano that needs tuning badly.
• The girl satisfies some of her yearning to play the piano but only able to make up songs on the black keys.
• She has asked her parents a number of times if she can take lessons. Her mother always says, “That’s a nice idea, Dear, maybe next year.”
• Her father always asks how much the lessons cost and his face is in a scowl.
• She knows that her mother isn’t really answering – just sounding sincere, and her father is showing by his face that the money is the most important thing on his mind, not her wish to take lessons.
Discussion:
What better ways could you suggest for her parents to handle helping her express her interest in playing the piano? If you were the ‘girl’ in The Truth what else would you do to try to get your parents to understand how important playing a keyboard or piano is to you?
