The day my period first arrived I was 10 years old. I was vacationing with my family at Lake Ripley in historic Cambridge, Wisconsin – a tradition that has continued every summer for as long as I or anybody can remember. Surrounded by aunts, uncles, cousins and friends alike, the imminent arrival of my new friend caught me by surprise. It appeared one morning as I trudged down to the gravelly sands of the beach, almost as if it knew it would ruin a good time, as it wouldruin many good times throughout the years. Embarrassed and slightly panicked, I did the only thing I could do. I sprinted straight into the water and stayed there all day. I had heard that your period would stop in water, and being that my mom was away shopping for the day, no one really took notice of my all day soak. When my mom finally got  home, the sun was setting and my lips were turning blue. When she  found me I was in near tears, but of course as mothers do, she made  everything right again with a hug and a piece of chocolate cake.

---A.E.Perkins