As we ran for the tree, Amanda was able to pull into the lead as Liz dropped back. Worrying that Amanda would win, I giggled out loud and put on an extra burst of speed; Maddi remained neck and neck with Liz.
Amanda, seeing me coming up from behind, tried to also put a burst of speed on and we both eventually wound up neck and neck.
Eventually our stamina began to wear and I could feel the energy ebbing out of me. As we neared the tree, I saw Liz and Maddi catch up, but noticed that they were unable to pull ahead.
Laughing, not really caring who won anymore, we pulled into the final stretch and tied again.
"Well," I puffed, "that was a bust. Even at the same age, were still evenly tied." I looked at my three best friends; neither one of us remembering anything except that Maddi had made a wish so that we were all the same age.
Sitting down, I listened to Liz and Amanda bicker over whether we should race. I felt really weird all of a sudden.
It was a pain, like a cramping almost, in my groin and abdomen. Finally unable to stand it anymore, I stood and said I was heading for the bathroom.
With out thinking about it, I clutched my abdomen as I walked towards the nearest restroom.
Inside, I went to a stall and was about to sit down, when I felt a warmth spread into my underwear. Pulling down my shorts, I sat down and looked at the red dot that had formed in the middle of my panties.
Feeling ashamed, all I could do was sit there and cry while the cramping sensation continued in my abdomen and groin.
After a bit, I still had no answer what was happening and what I should do. Sitting there with my shorts pulled down, wondering if I should just sneak home, a knocking sound came from outside the stall and then I heard Maddi's sweet voice asking, "Stephanie, honey, are you okay."
To embarrassed to say anything about my problem, I gasped, "I'm okay. I think I'll go home. I'm not really feeling that well."
Before I could stop here, Maddi had opened the door and was looking at me. Ashamed, all I could do was sit there with the hot tears rolling down my cheeks.
Nodding, she turned and disappeared. Somewhere I could hear her doing something with the vending machine near the door. Coming back, she squatted in front of me and just exclaimed, "First time, huh?" as she opened a box.
Taking something out, she unfolded it and started to explain to me about pads, how I could use something called tampons and that this was normal and nothing to be ashamed about. It just meant that my body had started transitioning to womanhood. Standing, she helped me up and as I pulled my shorts and underwear up, I made the comment that it felt like I was wearing a diaper.
Nodding, she place her arm around me and said, "Which is why most of us woman prefer a tampon during their menstrual cycle. But, don't ever be embarrassed about it. Your period is perfectly nature and most woman experience the same way the first time. I had to ask my sister for help when I first got mine when I was about eleven."
Hugging her, I muttered about not really feeling well, to which she nodded and said that if I wanted, I could sit out.
Thanking her, we returned together to figure out what the next game for a wish would be. Granted I would be sitting out, but it would be fun to see the choices that Maddi, Liz and Amanda made.