SeptemBer
SOMETIMES THINGS SEEM PERFECT ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT ON THE INSIDE ITS A WHOLE DIFFERENT STORY.
"I walked back into the perfect house slowly that afternoon...' 'But I knocked on her door anyway. Loudly, since the monkees were playing. She pulled it open and stood there, her hands on her hips. Her lipstick was the color of a new fire engine."

October
Sometimes hardships are for the best.
"But then Mrs. Baker said something that made the world spin backwards. 'If we both finish in time, you may have one of the cream puffs.' I think I must have gone white."

November
Don't judge a book by its cover
"Because when we came back in from recess, on the shelf was a long box from goldmans best bakery... Filled with twenty four cream puffs!"

• November Don't judge a book by its cover "Because when we came back in from recess, on the shelf was a long box from goldmans best bakery... Filled with twenty four cream puffs!"

December
Don't be afraid to be yourself
"What are you supposed to be? You look like a fairy.' 'I'm ariel' I said. 'Sounds like a girls name...' 'Sure he is, listen kid I don't sign baseballs for kids in yellow tights."

January
Sometimes things aren't as bad as they seem.
"And, on the front page, there was an action shot, of me. Holling hoodhood, flying high in the air across the intersection of Lee avenue and Main Street, my legs splayed out as though I really was flying, which I guess I was."

February
Don't assume the worst of a situation that seems bad.
"I hadn't realized how easily Meryl Lee had gotten what she wanted from me; my fathers design for the new junior high.... That night, with 79 cents left over from Valentine's Day, and $1 from Monday's allowance, I bought two cokes and a rose with a ribbon. I took them over to Meryl lees house and rang the doorbell."

March
Sometimes the last people you'd expect to help you help you the most.
"By the end of the afternoon mrs baker had remade the way I ran."

April
No matter what, always support your friends In a time of need.
"Mr And mrs hupfer and all the little hupfers were behind Danny, who had not gone home but was standing there on his bloody knees and hollering as loudly as he could and waving his white shirt high up in the air."

May
Stick with family no matter what.
"I held up the car keys. 'I'm driving into New York City to pick up my sister from the port authority bus terminal at ten fifty."

June
You have the right to chose your own happy ending.
"I think he became a man who brought peace and wisdom to his world, because he knew about war and folly. I think that he loved greatly, because he had seen what lost love is. And I can think he came to know, too, that he was loved greatly."