Looking down at her pink t-shirt with a cartoon rainbow on the chest, her rainbow tutu, florescent orange leggings, and light up Disney Princess sneakers, “Yeah, what’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”

“Sweetie,” Maria closed her eyes for a second and took a deep breath. “Are you sure that is what you want to wear? Your friends might feel a little strange playing with you because they won’t be wearing their tutus.”

“Oh,” Lisa thought for a minute before running back to her room. Returning a minute later she was carrying two more tutus. “No problem, Mom. I’ll bring some for them to wear.”

Maria chuckled, “No sweetie, leave those here. I don’t think Lucy and Jan will want to wear a tutu at the park.”

“Don’t know why, Tutus make every outfit better.”

Maria went over and hugged her daughter, “I know you definitely think so, but your friends don’t think the same way. Remember, we’ve talked about this Lisa. It is okay for you to like Disney Princesses, Tutus, and frilly things, but not all twelve-year-olds are as . . . as joyous about such things as you are. They grew out of those things a few years ago.”

“That was stupid of them,” Lisa very bluntly stated. “Why stop liking such wonderful things?”

Maria kissed Lisa’s forehead, “The kids in your Special Education class still like those things, but Lucy and Jan aren’t in Special Education. Maybe you should go change into something more big girl to play with them.”

“Don’t be silly Mom. I am me and they are them. If they don’t want to wear pretty clothes, that’s sad but okay. I can still be me. Now come on, we’re going to be late,” Lisa grabbed her mom’s hand and started dragging her out the front door.