Author(s): Karen Tayleur

Children's

ÃÂÃÂÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂEric gives me his Eric smile as he strolls out the door. I know itÃÂÃÂÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs the smile he uses on all the girls, but I canÃÂÃÂÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂt help my heart tripping over itself with excitement. I can't help staring after him as he leaves. When I turn back I see Gaston watching me watching Eric. ÃÂÃÂÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂHey! WhatÃÂÃÂÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs your namecÃÂÃÂÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂàGaston calls out. ÃÂÃÂÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂAriel,ÃÂÃÂÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂàI say. No-one calls me Ariel. No-one, except Mum. ÃÂÃÂÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂAriel,ÃÂÃÂÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂàI repeat. Gaston executes a perfect lip curl and says, ÃÂÃÂÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂWell, see you tomorrow ÃÂÃÂÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂàAriel Ariel.ÃÂÃÂÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂàA page-turning coming-of-age story for girls who donÃÂÃÂÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂt like pink.