by Mel Sparke
“Well,” answered Maya slowly, “I guess that with so many stars out, it means it’s going to be a bright, exciting year. There are a couple of clouds over there though, see?”
“Uh-huh,” Joe responded, following her finger.
“So I think that means there are a few hassles on the horizon, but since the wind’s blowing them quickly across the sky, those troubles won’t stick around for long.”
“So clouds are bad, are they?”
“Not necessarily.”
“What if we’d come out here and the whole sky was just a mass of clouds?”
“I’d say that it was going to be an interesting year, with lots of unexpected surprises hidden away.”
“Maya, you’re just making this up, aren’t you?” Joe laughed.
“Totally,” agreed Maya. “I haven’t got a clue, really. Where is Anna when you need her?”
“Probably waiting for Owen and Sonja to come up for air long enough for her to drag them out here.”
“Well, Joe, I guess we’d better start without the others…” said Maya, changing the subject. Though what to, Joe wasn’t sure.
“Start?” he asked warily.
“Resolutions. That’s the typical question to ask, isn’t it? “ said Maya, looking at her friend with her dark brown almond eyes. “So what’s yours?”
“Mine? I, uh…” Joe waffled, not sure what to say.
“OK, I’ll go first. I would love for something amazing to happen with my photography this year.”
“You did pretty well with it last year,” said Joe of the year that was all of fifteen minutes in the past already. “You came second in that big competition, didn’t you?”
Maya nodded, remembering with pride the shocking moment when she was called on to the podium to collect second prize at the art centre the previous summer.
“I know, but I’m not going to give up there!” she smiled. “Joining the photography club was one of the best things I’ve ever done - I just feel so positive about it. I know something really good’s going to come out of it.”
Joe was suddenly struck with inspiration.
“Driving!” he blurted out. “I want to learn how to drive this year.”
“That would be cool,” said Maya encouragingly. “Then we wouldn’t have to rely on Matt for lifts everywhere!”
“Only one problem, of course,” grinned Joe wryly.
“What?”
“I can’t afford lessons and if I could, I wouldn’t be able to afford even an old banger at the end of it.”
Maya understood the situation. Money was fairly tight at home for Joe, since his parents had split up several years before. And filling in on the odd shift at the End-of-the-Line café didn’t exactly bring in a whole lot of cash for him either.
“Another thing…” he continued.
Maya gazed at her friend, patiently waiting to hear what he had to say.
“…that’s not even my real resolution.”
“What is it then?” asked Maya, noting the nervous grin twitching at Joe’s mouth.
“I, uh…” Joe turned to make sure they were still alone, before continuing quietly. “I kind of made this vow that I was going to give up holding out for Kerry…”
SOME SECRETS ARE JUST TOO GOOD TO KEEP TO YOURSELF!
Sugar Secrets…
… & Revenge
… & Rivals
… & Lies
… & Freedom
… & Lust
… & Mistakes
… & Choices
… & Ambition
… & Dramas
… & Resolutions
… & Scandal
… & Guilt
… & Luck
… & Love
ES IT MEW YEAR, NEW YOU?
Joe’s top New Year’s resolution is to get over Kerry, but it’s not going to be easy and he knows it. In fact, he’s already wavering – and it’s only half-an-hour into January!
No doubt you’ve got loads of good advice for Joe – but what about your resolutions? Are you determined to change your habits once the clock hits midnight, or will you be bottling-out by breakfast? Take our test to measure the might of your willpower…
Look at the following questions and decide if your answer would be YES, NO or SOMETIMES.
1 What’s in your head?
Do you reckon that if you change your life, your luck might improve?
Do you make up your mind, then unmake it just as quickly?
Do you give up when things seem too complicated?
Would you rather keep your dignity than risk goofing up and making a fool of yourself?
Do you spend more time daydreaming than doing?
Do you think people don’t take you seriously?
Would you like to be a lot more sure of yourself?
2 What’s in your heart?
Do you find it difficult to share your innermost thoughts with anyone - even your best mate?
If someone came up and said they fancied you, would you immediately think that they were joking?
Do you try to tune into your instincts when you’re making your mind up, and then worry that you’ve not used enough common sense?
Do you think that love isn’t meant to be easy?
Do you believe that other people are more lucky in love than you?
Are you too shy to let someone know when you like them?
Do you think you’re destined to be unlucky in love unless you make some big change?
3 What’s right with your life?
Do you think that it’s better to be realistic than overly-optimistic (ie it hurts less when things go wrong)?
Are you happier to cut your losses than try for something you just can’t have?
Do you think it’s better to think small and be happy when things go well, rather than think big and be disappointed when they don’t?
Do you like the idea of reinventing yourself?
But does the thought of it scare you stupid?
Do you think that making a New Year’s resolution is a positive way of changing yourself?
4 What’s wrong with your life?
Are your confidence levels wobbly?
Do you ever wish you had someone else’s luck?
Do you ever wish you had someone else’s life?
Are there more things in your life you’d like to change than there are things you’re happy with?
When it comes to tricky situations, do you dither about, rather than dive right in?
Do you think that everyone except you is super-certain about what they’re doing with their life?
Would you like to wake up on January 1st and be someone else?
Count up how many times you answered YES, how many times you answered NO and how many times you anwered SOMETIMES, then turn the page to see what it means…
SO, IS IT NEW YEAR, NEW YOU?
If you answered mostly YES
Change, as some boffin-type once said, is a very positive thing - but only if you’re sure you want to do it! You seem a little wobbly round the edges when it comes to confidence and decision-making, so maybe launching yourself into a whole new you when the clock chimes twelve on New Year’s Eve is a bit too much to ask. you’re likely to end up making yourself promises you .won’t be able to keep, and then be totally disappointed in yourself. Yes, make changes, but try doing it nice and gently, and spread through the year. After all, what’s the rush?
If you answered mostly SOMETIMES
The grass is always greener on the other side… so ye olde proverb goes - and as far as you’re concerned, it’s true! You think that if you could just change something about yourself, then everything would be wonderful. Luckily, when you’re spouting your New Year’s resolutions, you know these sort of expectations are pretty hard to live up to. Don’t shy away from the idea of making changes (it’s as good a time of year as any to ditch bad habits!); just don’t be too hard on yourself if you fail. Remember - you’ve got the whole of the rest of
the year to get things right!
If you answered mostly NO
Wow, Ms Fearless - you’re happy to make big decisions all by yourself, with no one holding your hand or anything! You’ve got enough confidence to take a chance - but you’re not too proud to shrug it off if it turns out wrong. So, go ahead and make those resolutions for the next year! If you succeed and it makes you happy, that’s great! But if it all falls flat come two minutes past midnight, you’ll feel good that at least you tried!
Copyright
Published in Great Britain by Collins in 1999
Collins is an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishersLtd
77-85 Fulham Palace Road, Hammersmith, London W6 8JB
The HarperCollins website address is
www.fireandwater.com
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Creative consultant: Sue Dando
Copyright © Sugar 1999. Licensed with TLC
ISBN 0 00 675429 5
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EPub Edition © OCTOBER 2010 ISBN: 978-0-007-40076-8
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