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Forever Twelve

"No, I don't want to grow up."

"Why?"

"12 is a wonderful number, isn't it? So rounded, so polished, so complete."

"Oh. "

"And 13- well, it's unlucky."

"That, yes."

"So I've decided that I don't want to grow up."

"Time will not stand still, will it, Phil?"

"It won't."

"How do I make it stand still?"

"Venture into a fairy tale and take the help of some magic spell. Pray do it. "

"When is your birthday, dear?"

"On the 5th of April."

"Which happens to be..."

"Tomorrow."

"Ah."

"And I am turning 13. "

"Okay. "

"Your proposition was a fair one, dear. Let me see if there is an alternative to your turning thirteen tomorrow. If there is, well and good; if there isn't, let's see how we can take the change, shall we?" Penelope smiled.

"I can't...and won't... grow up. I refuse to."

"Oh dear. I am standing before you today after the trials and tribulations of growing up, my girl. "

"Is it painful to grow up?"

"Yes. But wouldn't you say the adult world were worth that effort?"

"I am adamant. Let me be stuck..in today's day, month, year- forever, just to escape the metamorphosis. "

"What makes you different as a twelve year old versus a thirteen year old when you take it one day at a time?"

"At thirteen, well, I'm no longer a child. On the bridge between being a child and being an adult, my body is transforming. Several hormones are kicking in and jumping about. It's a terrible feeling. "

"It pleases me that you know that life is not going to be the same. "

"I have seen my friends from the 8th Grade. They are.. different."

" In what way?"

"They're restless, jittery and edgy. Why?"

"Because, dear, there will come a day when they will be 14 and look back at themselves, and say that it passed. "

"So I've just got to see 13 through before I touch 14?"

"That's right. See her through."












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