Then I turned to Pearl and made my eyes very wide. “Hey, Pearly Pie, you know what I just realized?”
She made her eyes very wide, too, and said, “What?”
“Today’s your un-birthday!”
“It is?” she said.
“It is!” I cried. “It really is!”
She clapped in glee.
“Now close your eyes, and I’ll give you a bite of your un-birthday cake.”
She squeezed her little blue eyes closed and opened her mouth wide. I popped in a bite of waffle, all soggy with syrup.
“Yummmmm,” she said as she chewed. “Butterfwy-miwk icing!”
Then I popped a strawberry slice with whipped cream into her mouth.
“Faiwy-dust spwinkles!” she said with her mouth full.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
“Now who on earth could that be?” Mom asked. She is a terrible faker, and I knew that she knew who it was. I ran to answer the door.
There, on my doorstep, were Cora and her mom.
Chapter 21
Cora’s mom was holding an enormous shopping bag with a huge red bow taped onto it.
“Happy birthday, V!!” said Mrs. Klein.
I opened the door wider to let them in.
“Hi,” Cora squeaked, giving me a little wave.
“Hi,” I said back.
“I know your party isn’t till later, but Cora wants to talk,” said Mrs. Klein.
Mrs. Klein huffed and puffed up the stairs to my room, holding the enormous shopping bag. She placed it carefully in the corner next to Jude’s desk, where he was reading Mummy Knows Best: Tales from the Crypt.
“I’m going to see if your mom has any coffee,” she said. “Jude, babe, come downstairs and tell me all about that book. What is that—science fiction?”
Jude jumped up. He was excited that someone actually wanted to hear about his book.
“See, that’s a common mistake,” he said. “This genre is actually more horror fiction. Let me explain.…”
I rolled my eyes.
Cora laughed. Then we both sat cross-legged on the floor and were quiet for a long time.
Finally, Cora asked, “How’s your wrist?”
“It doesn’t really hurt anymore,” I said. “But it gets really itchy, so I scratch it with a chopstick.”
We got quiet again. I didn’t know what to say to Cora because I didn’t know if she was still my friend or not.
“I know you’re really mad at me—” she started to say.
I interrupted her. “I’m not mad. I was, but I’m not anymore.”
Cora nodded. “Me too.”
“I was just mad because I thought you didn’t like me anymore.”
“But that’s not true at all!” Cora protested. “I did like you. I still do! I didn’t want to replace you with Margot. I just wanted to make a new friend.”
“But Margot is so fascinating and exciting, and I just felt so … so … boring.”
“You’re the opposite of boring!” Cora laughed. “You were basically born in a limousine!”
“I didn’t mean what I said about the clothes you make,” I said, feeling embarrassed. “I like them.”
Cora nodded. “I’m really sorry I insulted your singing. I think you’re going to be a star one day. Really!”
“Cora,” I said. “I know we broke up, but do you want to un-break up? I mean, do you want to be friends again?”
“Yes,” she said. “I really, really, really do.”
“Me too!” I exclaimed. “I really, really, really, really do!”
We both burst out laughing.
“But what about Margot?” I asked.
“She’s actually really nice, and she really wants to be your friend,” said Cora. “She’s been working with her mom to make you a green T-shirt with a nickname on the front. I know you don’t like Ronny, so they were trying to think of a new nickname, but to tell you the truth, all the ideas were terrible: Veve and Roro and Nini. Even Caca!”
I snorted with laughter. “That really is a terrible nickname. Camille would agree. Anyway, I don’t think I mind Ronny so much. I’m kind of used to it by now.”
Cora smiled.
“Do you think…” started Cora. “I mean, do you think we can all be friends?”
I was going to say “Yeah, sure,” but then I decided to be honest.
“I don’t know,” I said. “I guess I can give it a try.”
“That sounds good to me,” said Cora. She boinged a few of her curls. “Sooooooo … do you want to open—”
I interrupted her. “Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Present, PLEASE!”
I had never seen such a huge shopping bag in my life, and I was really curious about what was inside. I had been sneaking peeks at it out of the corner of my eye, and I could have sworn I saw it move.
Then I heard a sound coming from the bag. It was a rumbling sound, like a little roller coaster.
“Is it a robot?” I guessed. “A set of jumbo-size hair curlers? A time machine?”
Cora laughed. “Just look inside!”
I yanked the sides of the bag down and saw … a cage!
And inside the cage, running on a shiny wheel, was a tiny little hamster!
“Is it real?” I whispered.
Cora giggled. “Of course he is!”
It felt like my heart was jumping for joy on the biggest trampoline in the world. Thump! Thump! Thump!
I was too happy and excited to talk, so I just made sounds. “Eeeeeeeeee! Yaaaaaaaa! Oooooooh!”
I brought my face right up to the bars of the cage so I could get a closer look.
The hamster was all light brown, like the color of a walnut. When he saw me looking at him, he climbed off the wheel and came sniffing until he was looking right at me. It was like he knew me!
“Do you like him?” asked Cora.
“Do I like him?” I repeated. “I like taking a hot bath on a cold day. I like chocolate-chip cookies fresh out of the oven.”
I turned back to the hamster.
“I love him!”
But then I remembered something, and my eyes widened.
“But—but I can’t keep him!” I said. My voice started to crack. “My dad! He’s allergic.”
“No, it’s all right,” said Cora. “My mom asked your parents, and they said it was fine.”
“She’s right,” said Dad, who was standing in the doorway. “I tested it out last week. Apartment 10C has a hamster, and I was there all day installing screens in the windows. No sneezing at all. The hammy can stay.”
“Really? Really? REALLY?” I jumped up and threw my arms around Dad, then around Cora.
We looked at each other and then, without saying a word, started to do our secret handshake. I couldn’t do most of it because of my cast, and for a second, I felt sad, but then Cora said, “We’ll just make up a new one.”
So we did. All I can reveal about it is this: There is stuff in that handshake that only we and astronauts can do.
“So what’s this little critter’s name?” asked Dad.
“That’s easy,” I said. “Herbert Ewell Conti. Herbie, for short.”
It had only been my birthday for an hour or so, but one thing was for sure. Well, two things:
1. Being eight sure felt great.
and
2. I was back to being a happy-endings sort of girl.
Take the Fix-It Friends Pledge!
I, (say your full name), do solemnly vow to help kids with their problems. I promise to be kind with my words and actions. I will try to help very annoying brothers even though they probably won’t ever need help because they’re soooooo perfect. Cross my heart, hope to cry, eat a gross old garbage fly.
When Friendships Change …
When all’s well between you and your bestie, life feels grand. It probably feels like you’re skipping together down a smooth path on a sunny day, leaping through rainbows while birds sing sweetly. Ah, friendship! There’s nothing better �
�
Until you hit a rough patch. Maybe your best friend’s spending lots of time with someone new or just acting differently, but you don’t know why, or maybe you’re the one who doesn’t feel the same way anymore. During these times, you probably feel like you’re walking in the pouring rain, on an uneven path, with huge obstacles blocking the way, and your best friend is nowhere in sight. It happens to pretty much all of us. When it does, it’s normal to feel upset. It’s normal to feel a whole bunch of things.
What did it feel like?
“It feels like you’re a mountain and there’s two mountains far away from you and the one mountain that is you feels so sad.”
—Valentina, age five
“There are three of us, and they are kind of fighting over me. Being caught in the middle is frustrating. I really want them to get along.”
—Claire H., age ten
“My friend got a better friend—or that’s what I thought. I felt mad and sad and really jealous. I felt all these feelings attacking me, almost.”
—Emma, age ten
“My best friend and I met a new friend, and all three of us were hanging out together, but then they started ignoring me. I felt sort of excluded and sad and confused. I thought: ‘Why are they doing this?’”
—Claire M., age eleven
“I felt a bit betrayed.”
—Kevin, age ten
What helped?
“I confronted my friend and gave him a chance to apologize. When he apologized, I felt satisfied, and we became friends again.”
—Finn, age ten
“Letting the other two cool off after a fight helps a lot. Time makes things better.”
—Claire H., age ten
“I tried talking to my best friend, but I couldn’t find the right moment. I started talking to the people at my table in class, and I made new friends. I still snuck glances at how much fun they were having, but it was much less of a problem.”
—Claire M., age eleven
“It helped to play with other friends so I didn’t have to feel the empty space between us.”
—Emma, age ten
What to Do When Friendships Change
What do anacondas, tulips, and friendships all have in common? They’re all living things. They start off small, and they grow. And as they grow, they change.
It’s not always bad that friendships change. After all, that’s what makes it possible for your soccer teammate, who you might barely know, to become one of your closest pals. Of course, when things feel perfect, you want them to stay that way.
When a friendship’s changing and you don’t want it to, you probably wish you could just make your friend do what you want—hang out with you, treat you nicely, and be happy doing it. The trouble is that you can’t control other people—no, not even by hypnosis. No matter how hard you try, it won’t work—and it might even make things worse.
But here’s the thing: Even though you can’t change your friend’s feelings or thoughts or actions, you can absolutely change your own. You can be okay, even if the friendship’s not. Here’s how:
1. Know that it’s not your fault.
You may wonder if it’s your fault that your friend is backing away. You may think, What did I do? Why don’t they want to be my friend anymore? There are a lot of reasons a friend might want space or to spend time with someone new, but none of them is your fault. Don’t blame yourself. This is just something that happens.
2. Tell your friend how you feel.
Other people can’t read our minds (which is usually a good thing!). Clue them in to how you’re feeling but not with accusations like, “You’re so mean!” or “You’re the worst friend ever!” That’ll just make your friend defensive. Instead, start your sentence with “I” and focus on your feelings and not what your friend did. Use phrases like, “I feel left out” or “I want to spend more time with you.”
3. Play with other friends.
When it feels like something’s slipping away from you, what’s your instinct? Grab on tighter, right? Unfortunately, this isn’t a good idea when you’re dealing with people. The harder you try to get your friend to hang out, be nice, or like you, the more you may push them away. The answer? Reach out to other friends.
Now, you may not want to play with other friends, or you may feel like there’s no one else you can play with, but think of it this way: Would you rather sit and stew and feel lousy, or try something a little nerve-racking that will probably be a lot of fun?
Did you choose the second option? Awesome!
Think about kids you talk to a little bit or have played with before. These are the kids you should try first. Or maybe there’s an organized activity already set up that you can join. Either way, make a plan beforehand. It’s way easier to brainstorm when you’re calm. It’s not so easy when you’re stressed.
4. Talk to a grown-up.
When you’re stumped about which other kids to play with, a grown-up can help. When you really want to scream at your friend and call them every name you can think of, talk to a trusted grown-up instead. You don’t have to deal with your negative feelings alone—and you shouldn’t.
5. Do stuff that makes you happy.
When it comes to being happy, no one knows better than you what will do the trick. Ask yourself, “What can I do to make myself feel better that won’t make things worse?” Maybe this means doing something that you already know you love and are great at—like painting or shooting hoops. Maybe this means trying something new that excites you—like rock climbing or learning Portuguese. Maybe it’s something special you do with someone you love—like a trip to the trampoline park with your brother or tea with your grandma.
When times are tough with your best friend, it can make you feel alone, but know this: You are not alone. Not by a long shot. There are so many people who care and will help you. And there are so many future friends just waiting to meet you—more than you can even imagine. Cross my heart, hope to sigh, stick my nose in a rotten pie.
Want more tips or fixes for other problems? Just want to check out some Fix-It Friends games and activities? Visit the Fix-It Friends website at fixitfriendsbooks.com!
Resources for Parents
If your child is struggling with friendship troubles, here are some resources that might help.
Books for Kids
A Smart Girl’s Guide: Drama, Rumors & Secrets: Staying True to Yourself in Changing Times by Nancy Holyoke, American Girl, 2015
A Smart Girl’s Guide: Friendship Troubles: Dealing with Fights, Being Left Out, and the Whole Popularity Thing by Patti Kelley Criswell, American Girl, 2013
Friends: Making Them & Keeping Them by Patti Kelley Criswell, American Girl, 2015
Speak Up and Get Along!: Learn the Mighty Might, Thought Chop, and More Tools to Make Friends, Stop Teasing, and Feel Good About Yourself by Scott Cooper, Free Spirit Publishing, 2005
Books for Parents
Best Friends Forever: Surviving a Breakup with Your Best Friend by Irene S. Levine, PhD, Overlook Press, 2009
Little Girls Can Be Mean: Four Steps to Bully-Proof Girls in the Early Grades by Michelle Anthony, MA, PhD; and Reyna Lindert, PhD, St. Martin’s Griffin, 2010
Masterminds and Wingmen: Helping Our Boys Cope with Schoolyard Power, Locker-Room Tests, Girlfriends, and the New Rules of Boy World by Rosalind Wiseman, Harmony, 2013
Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls, revised and updated edition, by Rachel Simmons, Mariner Books, 2011
Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boys, and the New Realities of Girl World, third edition, by Rosalind Wiseman, Harmony, 2016
Websites
The Child Mind Institute
www.childmind.org
The Family Coach
www.thefamilycoach.com
NYU Child Study Center
www.aboutourkids.org
Praise for
The Fix-It Friends: Have No Fear!
&nbs
p; “Fears are scary! But don’t worry: the Fix-It Friends know how to vanquish all kinds of fears, with humor and step-by-step help. Nicole C. Kear has written a funny and helpful series.”
—Fran Manushkin, author of the Katie Woo series
“Full of heart and more than a little spunk, this book teaches kids that fear stands no chance against friendship and courage. Where were the Fix-It Friends when I was seven years old?”
—Kathleen Lane, author of The Best Worst Thing
“I love the Fix-It Friends as a resource to give to the families I work with. The books help kids see their own power to overcome challenges—and they’re just plain fun to read.”
—Lauren Knickerbocker, PhD, Co-Director, Early Childhood Clinical Service, NYU Child Study Center
“Hooray for these young friends who work together; this diverse crew will have readers looking forward to more.”
—Kirkus Reviews
About the Author
Nicole C. Kear grew up in New York City, where she still lives with her husband, three firecracker kids, and a ridiculously fluffy hamster. She’s written lots of essays and a memoir, Now I See You, for grown-ups, and she’s thrilled to be writing for kids, who make her think hard and laugh harder. She has a bunch of fancy, boring diplomas and one red clown nose from circus school. Seriously. Visit her online at nicolekear.com, or sign up for email updates here.
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Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
The Fix-It Friends--Three's a Crowd Page 6