Only Girls Allowed (13 page)

She spun the laptop toward Kate and me and we saw it was true. Piper, the computer whiz, had linked us back into our Pink Locker Society mailbox, and we now had dozens of unread text messages. Most of them came in more than a month ago, before news started to trickle out that the site was down, apparently forever. We wanted to read each and every one.

 

My best friend stole my boyfriend. What do I do?

 

Can I go on vacation while I have my period?

 

People tease me because I don't wear makeup. What should I do?

 

I have a huge crush on my teacher. Help!

 

I do not have pretty feet. Should I wear sandals anyway?

 

I'm the shortest girl in my class, and I'm sick of the nicknames. What should I do?

 

Everyone tells me I look fine, but I still feel fat. How can I lose weight?

On and on they went, a rainbow of woes. Each one represented a person's sincere question. Some were serious issues, others more minor, but each one mattered to someone.

“Gosh, this stinks that we can't answer any of them,” Kate said. “We've just abandoned them.”

“Look how the number of messages trailed off in the last few weeks. They're forgetting about us,” I said.

“Read this one,” Piper said.

 

Hey, are you guys on vacation or something? I wrote twice and the Web site isn't working. It's kind of important. My parents are getting a divorce.

The more messages we read, the more our group mood took a plunge. We had started out all silly and happy. Just moments ago, Piper was shouting, “
Viva la
erasable pens!” and “
Viva la
flannel pajamas!” Now, at least twenty minutes had gone by without a “
Viva la
” anything.

Instead, we kept murmuring at each other about how there was nothing we could do. What could we do? The Pink Locker Society was closed, by order of the principal.

Or was it?

I looked at Kate. Kate looked at Piper, and the two of them looked back at me.

“Nobody said we had to stop helping people,” I said.

“Riiiiiight,” Kate said, nodding slowly.

It was one of those cosmic friend moments. Silently, we were sharing the same thought—once again three flowers on the same stem. Piper stopped tapping on the keyboard. Kate held her triangle of pizza aloft on the palm of her hand. Sure, none of us knew exactly
how
we would do it. Not yet, anyway.

But I knew what needed to be said. I, Jemma, jumped up on the couch and shouted it before Piper could beat me to it:
“
Viva la
Pink Locker Society!”

 

Now that you're a part of the club,
stay in the pink at

PinkLockerSociety.org
.

It's fun and free, so bring your BFF!

Ask questions and get answers.

Decorate your dream locker, make purses,
wish necklaces, and other creative crafts.

Try new recipes, give your opinion,
start a book club
^*
, and
more
!

Find the Pink Locker Society on Facebook, too,
if you're thirteen or older.

 

 

 

Everything is more fun with a friend, including reading a book. That's the whole idea behind book clubs. A group of friends read the same book, talk about it, and snack. What could be better than that?

Follow these steps to start your own book group.

 

1. Get the word out. Round up four to twelve friends who like to read.
   
2. Schedule meeting dates. It's important to space your meetings far enough apart that members have enough time to read the books. Many clubs find that a monthly meeting works well, and that keeping it on the same day (such as the first Wednesday of every month) helps.
   
3. Pick a place. Most clubs take turns meeting at someone's house, but they can really happen anywhere: after school in an empty classroom, at the public library, or even the local bookstore.
   
4. Plan for snacks. What fun would a club be without snacks? For variety, ask two or three people to bring some munchies to each meeting.
   
5. Choose the books. The most important thing! Decide how your group will pick the books. Some groups take turns letting each member choose. Others open it up to the group to decide.
   

 

Happy reading!

 

 

THE PINK LOCKER SOCIETY

The PLS has answers! In this special bonus section, get their trusted advice on dozens of issues. And if you have a question of your own, visit
www.pinklockersociety.org
to submit it!

 

Dear PLS,

I have a problem in the boob department. One's bigger than the other. Help!

Lopsided

 

Dear Lopsided,

Relax! Girls grow a lot during these years and it's common for one breast to get ahead of the other. This usually evens out over time and you are probably the
only one who has noticed this small imbalance in your bra. Speaking of bras, as you get older, if you are still a little uneven, you can always use padding on one side.

Think pink!

 

Dear PLS,

Brown is the most boring color ever created. And it's the color of my boring hair. I want to dye it red or, possibly, pink, but my mom says no. How old do you have to be to dye your hair?

Down With Brown

 

Dear D. W. B.,

Changing your hair is a fun way to experiment with your look, but the people we asked said girls in middle school shouldn't mess with their hair color. Dyeing your hair means using chemicals on it. Some people report a burning or itching scalp—or even hair loss—after getting their hair dyed. But that aside, we think brown hair is nice. Is yours more golden brown, or a darker brown like deep, dark chocolate? Instead of dyeing it, we'd recommend a new headband, haircut, or hairstyle.

Think Pink! (But not pink hair!)

 

Hey,

This is going to sound weird, but my boobs are ruining
my life. They are ENORMOOSE boobs. Biggest in the whole school. What do I do?

Signed,

E. B.

 

Dear E. B,

We hear you! Though lots of girls wish for bigger breasts, when you feel yours are too big, it is no fun. They always seem to get in the way. The best approach is to manage them. Here are good steps to take:

 

1. Buy bras that fit you well. Go to a store that has someone who can measure and fit you for a bra. This may sound embarrassing, but it's worth it to get a bra that fits right and feels good. If there's no expert fitter, ask your mom, aunt, big sister, or a female friend to help. Also buy a sports bra so you feel comfortable when it's time for gym class or sports.
   
2. Choose clothes that work with your figure. A good bra will help you wear most any shirt you like, but if you're self-conscious, try not to wear shirts that are too tight or too revealing. You can do a quick check at home to see if your shirt is too revealing. Stand in front of a mirror and bend forward. Your shirt shouldn't open or gap too much.
   
3. Learn to handle gawkers. It's annoying to have people stare at your chest. But you never have to just put up with rude stares or comments. Tell a parent, teacher, or another adult if someone is bothering you in this way. You can ignore them and walk away, but if you are feeling bold just tell the offending gawker, “Yo, my eyes are up here!”
        Think pink!
   

 

Dear PLS,

My grandma has breast cancer. I'm very worried about her. Why does this have to happen?

Grandma's Girl

 

Dear G. G.,

We're sorry to hear about your grandma. We love our grandmothers like no one else in the world. Even experts don't know exactly why someone gets breast cancer, but being older and having a history of it in the family can make a woman more likely to get it. Fortunately, doctors do know a lot about how to fight it. You can be helpful to your grandma by encouraging her during the treatments she is getting to fight the disease. You might consider wearing a pink ribbon or raising money for breast cancer research. A positive attitude can help your grandma—and you.

Think pink!

 

Dear PLS,

OK, here's a problem for you. I accidentally tooted in class and everyone knows it was me. Now they're calling me Miss Farts A Lot!

Your friend,

Miss You Know What

 

Dear Miss Y. K. W.,

Oh, dear. That's not a nickname anyone would want. But the truth is that everyone passes gas because everyone digests food. Of course, we'd rather not do it in public, but it happens. If you find yourself feeling gassy again, go to the bathroom or find an out-of-the-way spot. Our guess is that your nickname will eventually fade away. If someone teases you about it in the meantime, remind him or her that everybody toots!

Think pink!

 

Dear PLS,

Can I swim when I have my period? If so, won't people see the pad in my bathing suit?

Signed,

Super Swimmer

 

Dear S. S.,

Yes, you can swim when you have your period.
Getting exercise is fun and healthy, so you don't want to avoid something you love. But a girl should wear a tampon to swim. Like a pad, a tampon absorbs the menstrual flow, but it does so from inside the vagina. A tampon is made of absorbent material that is pressed into a cylinder shape. Learning to insert a tampon takes a little practice, but just relax and be patient. Talk to your mom, sister, or someone else who has experience using tampons. Read the directions in the package and remember to change it every four to six hours.

Think pink!

 

Dear PLS,

My backpack is very heavy. It's like carrying rocks to school every day. How can I get my teachers to give me less homework?

Sincerely,

Weighed Down

 

Dear W. D.,

This one was a toughie. After about two seconds of discussion, we realized that teachers were not going to ease up on the homework. So the only other solution is to carry less weight and carry it in a way that doesn't hurt your back. We hope these tips lighten your load!

1. Take stock of what's in your backpack and figure
   out if you need every item and book in there. We sometimes find balled-up sweatshirts, bits of long-ago lunches, and lots of pennies and nickels swimming in the depths of our backpacks.
   
2. Use both shoulder straps. We have been guilty of just using one, but two balances the load.
   
3. Do wheelies! Consider a rolling backpack so you can roll it instead of haul it on your back.
       Think pink!
   

 

Dear PLS,

I know this is a Web site for girls, but I'm a guy. Here's my question: All the guys I know like the same girl. It makes me mad because I've liked her the longest. How can I tell those guys to back off?

Signed,

A Guy

 

Dear A. G.,

We're happy to know that guys like our Web site, too. Everyone is welcome here! But back to your question. It stinks when too many people—especially friends—like the same person. In some ways, it's like in soccer or basketball when everyone is fighting for the ball. Hey, that's mine. Give it here! But a girl (or a guy) isn't a piece of sporting equipment. People aren't property, so there's no sense telling other guys they
shouldn't like “your” girl. But you can tell this girl that you like her and see what happens. Even though you liked her first, it's up to her to decide whom she likes. Maybe she likes you, too. But be kind if she just wants to be friends.

Think pink (or blue)!

 

 

Every year more than 150 million families, educators, health professionals, and media turn to
KidsHealth.org
for expert answers, making it the #1 Web site devoted to children's health and development. KidsHealth is physician-led, providing doctor-approved health information about the physical, emotional, and behavioral health of children, from before birth through adolescence.
KidsHealth.org
features three distinct sections—for parents, for kids, and for teens—each with its own tone and age-appropriate topics.

KidsHealth is known for its engaging, family-friendly information and has been honored as one of the 30 Best Web sites by
U.S. News & World Report,
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KidsHealth also created KidsHealth in the Classroom, a free Web site for educators featuring standards-based health curricula, activities, and handouts.