Mom leaned over and kissed me goodnight on the forehead, something she hadn't done since I was a little boy. Just before she shut the door behind her she turned to me and said "I'm ready whenever you want to talk about periods, but don't wait too long."
Oh crap.
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I actually slept pretty well that night. It had been a big day. The next morning, Dad offered to drive me to school, something that was unusual but not unheard of.
We buckled our seat belts and he turned to me. "Is there something you're not being completely open about, Josie?"
"I don't know what you mean." I replied, defensively.
"It just occurs to me that there are a lot of little things going on lately. You turn into a girl. Ruthie gets a magic wand. Haley comes over here, and none of us notice it and you won't say how. A lock appears on your door. I was home all day, I would have noticed you putting a lock on your door. And most of this seems to revolve around you. Can you tell me what's going on?"