"I wish I could be more popular with the other kids," said Kaitlin.
MMDo you have the same wish? Or do you think of it another way? "I'd like to be a sports hero, or a famous singer, or a space scientist."
MMZachery was afraid to tell what he'd like to be. But he spent every spare minute throwing a football. Someday, maybe, he'd make the long pass that would win a big game. And wow! What a day that would be!
MMIf you have those secret feelings, you have plenty of company. Most of us went people to think we're great.  We want them to admire what we do and tell us we're totally awesome.  Feeling that way can help you make good choices--to be more thoughtful of others, work hard to succeed, or choose right actions instead of wrong.
MMBut when Kaitlin wanted to be popular and Zachery wanted to be a football hero, they were saying more: "I want to fulfill a dream, to be noticed, to have friends."
MMFriends come in all sizes and shapes. Some are young, some old, some just your age. Some are members of your family, grandparents or other relatives, neighbors, or pets. Some are kids next door, at church, at school, or in your homeschooling group.
MMFriends are kids and grownups you know and love. They're people you have fun with and people who cry with you when you hurt.
MMThe stories in this book are about kids who want friends and good relationships with others. But these kids don't always have it easy. Sometimes they're afraid, or angry, or mixed-up. Sometimes they feel that everyone else wins and they lose. Sometimes they think, I don't have a single friend in the whole world! Often they find that in their relationships they need to make life-changing choices.
MMMaybe these story kids are facing problems like yours or someone you know.... 

ERIN'S HIGH DIVE
Step by step, Erin climbed the ladder to the high dive. When she reached the board, she looked down. At one side of the pool Tod and Lisa lay sunning themselves.
MMThe three of them had come to the pool together, and Erin liked both Tod and Lisa.  They always seemed more exciting than the kids she knew at church. But Erin often wondered how Tod and Lisa felt about her.  Do they really like me? I don't feel like I fit in.

MMThen Erin thought about her dive. She never grew tired of those seconds between leaving the board and breaking the water. Most of the time she felt excited, but also scared.
MM"When you get started, keep going," Mom told her once. "Don't change your mind in the middle of the air."
MMWhenever Mom and Dad could, they cheered Erin on. Just thinking about them helped her sometimes.
MMNow Erin took three quick steps and a jump, and landed on the end of the board. Springing into the air, she spread her arms wide in a swan dive. Her body made the arc, swung down. An instant later she brought her arms above her head and sliced the water like a knife.
MMAs Erin rose to the surface, she felt excited.  That was a good one! she thought. Wiping the water out of her eyes, she looked around. Tod and Lisa were sitting up. They're so busy talking, did they see my dive?
MMErin's strokes slowed, then stopped, as she reached the edge of the pool. Pulling herself from the water, she tried to shrug aside her left-out feeling. As she lay down on her towel, she looked like one of them. But inside she felt set apart from Lisa and Tod. She wanted to belong.
MMTod looked her way. "Ready to go?"
MM"We've only been here half an hour," Erin blurted out. "What's the big rush?"
MMBut Tod's dark eyes looked bored. He was ready to move on, and Erin knew Lisa would go with him. She'd do whatever Tod did.
MMIs this like another high dive?  Erin wanted to go with them, but she felt uncomfortable.  Trying to push aside her uneasiness, Erin picked up her towel and sunglasses and stood up.
MMAs they left the pool, Tod led the way. Soon he swung onto a path leading to the trees on the far side of the park. His lazy smile creased his face. "Good dive you made."
MMErin warmed to his praise. "Oh, thanks!" But a moment later her wondering returned. "Where are we going?" she asked.
MMWithout answering, Tod kept moving, and Lisa stayed at his side. Suddenly Erin guessed why they were heading for the trees. Was it their new meeting place? Her steps slowed.
MMTod turned. "Come on. What's taking you so long?"