For me, this is the saddest strip of this story. I would tell girls out there reading this that Martha’s decision should not be yours. You don’t need to choose between a boy and your friends and any boy that makes you choose is not the boy for you. Mr. Howtheduck did not ask me to do that and I have been married for 25 years. I have friends I have known since I was five years old, and when my mother died last year, they were a great comfort to me having known both me and my mom for most of my life.
She should just tell him that anyway. If she doesn’t she’ll have to choose anyway. Maybe when you explain this to him he’ll understand. Probably not, but there’s no downside to being truthful in this case.
She should definitely write him a letter of apology, but not assume he wants her to choose. And she needs to be smarter about what she shares (or doesn’t) with her friends. Boys share stuff with their friends, too, albeit more like braggarts, but still….that’s what junior high kids do. Just be smart about it and don’t make it so obvious. Remember the old adage: “All’s fair in love and war”. —-I would never want to be that age again!!! LOL
And this ladies and gentlemen will conclude why I don’t like Martha McRae. And if I’m being honest, I’m not a huge fan of Deanna either. The only girlfriend of Mike’s I liked was Rhetta, but Lynn didn’t like her that much because she has her cheat on Michael. It’s like Lynn has a problem with dark-haired women because of how she’ll treat Therese later on. Spoilers on all this by the way.
She needs to explain to her friends that her relationship with Michael will be private. If they can’t live with that they can choose not to be her friends but that will be their decision not hers. If they had boyfriends they’d understand. But since Michael requires privacy, he’d better follow the same rules with his friends.
Though it is a good plot device here, and even if it does happen in middle school, I’m glad that in my own life, I was lucky that none of my girlfriends made me “tell them everything”, or choose their friendship over a friendship with a boy.
No one, very best friends included, should ask someone to promise to always tell them everything, nor should anyone agree to such a thing. Life is more complicated than that, as these girls will no doubt learn as they get older.
I can suspend disbelief and yet not get mired too closely in the characters. I find it works out better that way in order to enjoy it all instead of those who pick sides, etc.
howtheduck almost 7 years ago
For me, this is the saddest strip of this story. I would tell girls out there reading this that Martha’s decision should not be yours. You don’t need to choose between a boy and your friends and any boy that makes you choose is not the boy for you. Mr. Howtheduck did not ask me to do that and I have been married for 25 years. I have friends I have known since I was five years old, and when my mother died last year, they were a great comfort to me having known both me and my mom for most of my life.
Templo S.U.D. almost 7 years ago
Oh, cannot wait for tomorrow (or next week) to know of Martha’s decision. Either way, ’twill be quite painful.
jpayne4040 almost 7 years ago
She should just tell him that anyway. If she doesn’t she’ll have to choose anyway. Maybe when you explain this to him he’ll understand. Probably not, but there’s no downside to being truthful in this case.
Rosette almost 7 years ago
Ouch. I didn’t mean it, Martha – keep your friends. Keep Mike too, while you’re at it.
dlkrueger33 almost 7 years ago
She should definitely write him a letter of apology, but not assume he wants her to choose. And she needs to be smarter about what she shares (or doesn’t) with her friends. Boys share stuff with their friends, too, albeit more like braggarts, but still….that’s what junior high kids do. Just be smart about it and don’t make it so obvious. Remember the old adage: “All’s fair in love and war”. —-I would never want to be that age again!!! LOL
GirlGeek Premium Member almost 7 years ago
And this ladies and gentlemen will conclude why I don’t like Martha McRae. And if I’m being honest, I’m not a huge fan of Deanna either. The only girlfriend of Mike’s I liked was Rhetta, but Lynn didn’t like her that much because she has her cheat on Michael. It’s like Lynn has a problem with dark-haired women because of how she’ll treat Therese later on. Spoilers on all this by the way.
A Whale Premium Member almost 7 years ago
Martha’s bigger problem is the unwelcome pressure being applied by her “very best friends”.
MitmanArt almost 7 years ago
People just don’t respect confidences and privacy anymore.
Macushlalondra almost 7 years ago
She needs to explain to her friends that her relationship with Michael will be private. If they can’t live with that they can choose not to be her friends but that will be their decision not hers. If they had boyfriends they’d understand. But since Michael requires privacy, he’d better follow the same rules with his friends.
JennyJenkins almost 7 years ago
Though it is a good plot device here, and even if it does happen in middle school, I’m glad that in my own life, I was lucky that none of my girlfriends made me “tell them everything”, or choose their friendship over a friendship with a boy.
SapphireSkies Premium Member almost 7 years ago
No one, very best friends included, should ask someone to promise to always tell them everything, nor should anyone agree to such a thing. Life is more complicated than that, as these girls will no doubt learn as they get older.
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] almost 7 years ago
I can suspend disbelief and yet not get mired too closely in the characters. I find it works out better that way in order to enjoy it all instead of those who pick sides, etc.
SukieCrandall Premium Member almost 7 years ago
BRAVO to Mrs. How for an EXCELLENT COMMENT!
tuslog1964 almost 7 years ago
Somewhere else a situation like this came up and she answered that among us girls it’s a secret, but among the boys it’s a score!