Advantages of a hormone-enraged teen-age girl

Our evenings during the past year or so have been a little more pleasant thanks to the diligent work of the youngest among us. Besides keeping us on our toes, Miss Chris is able to disarm even the wiliest telemarketer. A few months back I bought her a book entitled “Fun with Phone Solicitors: 50 ways to get even!” The fourteen-year-old and I read the suggestions and had some great laughs together. But she has truly blossomed and is now even better than the book’s suggestions.

We have given her permission, and she has used our blessing well. She can make any mortgage broker quake in his chair. With shrill screams or heavy guilt trips she can send them quickly on their way. And only occasionally will she come upstairs to brag about her accomplishment.

When the phone does ring at night it is almost always for her. So when it rings there is no need on our part to run across the room, only to answer and yell out her name. But when we are near a phone and happen to see an anonymous or business name on the caller ID, we sit and wait for the princess to report for duty.

And if we are in the mood for a good laugh, we will run toward the stairs and try to eavesdrop. Uuuuu, did she really say that?

Our hope is always that she will be able to get out her hostility and pent-up frustrations on the solicitors, and then come visit us with civility and charm.

Rrrrrrrring. Oh, gotta go. I need to turn down the stereo, lean my ear towards the open door and wait.