Chapter One: Thirteen and the Pain Starts:

It’s here. Your birthday is finally here. Time to blow out the candles. You are no longer a kid. No one to hold your hand. No one to monitor your every move closely. You are much closer to taking on the world. But, there are some things that will ground you fast. You are still a child to many people. The law says you are a minor. But, you can watch PG-13 movies alone. More media is open to you. Well, that will depend on how you are raised by your family.

I digress.

Anyway, once you blow out the candles, that’s it. You can’t go back. Suck it up, buttercup. We all have to grow up. That’s just how it is. The question is how are you going to handle it? Many people choose to act out in many ways. Styles were born from it too. You can be a moody little bitch. You can be perky and annoying. Or you can be really chill. That all depends on you. Keep this in mind: time periods come and go, but teenagers will be here forever. (Saying that will put the adults in fear.)

So, out go the candles and everyone cheers. Feeling old yet? That’s coming later. You aren’t a kid anymore. Some religions you are now an adult. I’m getting ahead of myself here. There are more headaches to deal with starting today.

First comes puberty. Ah yes. The necessary evil in life. Does it have to be so… awkward? It helps you become an adult. There are good perks and there are bad perks. For the guys, you will become taller. They start to grow facial hair. Their voices and balls drop. (Although the former crackles first. That’s for another chapter for another time.) What do we have for the ladies? We get boobs. Small or big, we have them. Guys and some other ladies are always looking with hungry. We get curvier too. There are more annoying perks to being a woman that come with the territory too. More into that later too.

No matter the gender, it’s not going to be easy anymore. That road closed as your family and friends sang “happy birthday” to you. Sorry friend, no more naps at school. No more juice and cookies at snack time. No more recess either. Then again, you won’t really get your own money yet. You can’t live on your own yet either. You still can’t make big choices for yourself. You are just stuck. Get used to it for the next five years. It will be a bumpy ride. Will it be worth? I don’t know, that is debatable. We all have to go through this if we live long enough to do so. (Again, that’s another point for another time.)

For now, enjoy that big cake you get every year for your birthday. Your going to need it before the day is over.

Happy birthday, friend. Happy birthday.