While Waiting In Line...

Last night our family was off to see the movie "Shrek 2" and the theatre we went to was sold out for the variety of times they offered. We'd purchased tickets for a 9PM show and finished dinner around 8 o'clock, so we decided to get in a line for good seats which was already queing up.

My girls had brought books just in case we had to wait an hour before the show started (even THEY get bummed by the stupid "Reel Trivia" and "Hollywood Hi-Jinks" pre-show entertainment) and Kelsey is reading a book called "Speak" (a 1999 National Book Award finalist, by the way, or so it says on the cover). It's written from the perspective of a "high school outcast" in kind of a journal manner.

Anyway, one entry Kelsey read to me was this one:

"The First Ten Lies They Tell You In High School"
1. We are here to help you.
2. You will have enough time to get to your class before the bell rings.
3. The dress code will be enforced.
4. No smoking is allowed on school grounds.
5. Our football team will win the championship this year.
6. We expect more of you here.
7. Guidance counselors are always available to listen.
8. Your schedule was created with your needs in mind.
9. Your locker combination is private.
10. These will be the years you look back on fondly.

Another entry, much later in the book:

"Ten More Lies They Tell You In High School"
1. You will use algebra in your adult lives.
2. Driving to school is a privilege that can be taken away.
3. Students must stay on campus for lunch.
4. The new textbooks will arrive any day now.
5. Colleges care about more than your SAT score.
6. We are enforcing the dress code.
7. We will figure out how to turn off the heat soon.
8. Our bus drivers are highly trained professionals.
9. There is nothing wrong with summer school.
10. We want to hear what you have to say.

Man...I love that my kid is reading this book. Being generally optomistic, I love to indulge my cynical side when it comes along, and apparently my daughter does too.

I can't think of much I would add to "The Next 10 Lies They Tell You In High School" except maybe:
1. It's only "puppy love," not real love.
2. Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.
3. You have to pick yourself up by your own bootstraps.
4. Everybody has the same chance to succeed.
...

Feel free to add your own...