Teenagers today

Teenagers Today

I can't count how many times people have uttered, while
shaking their heads in obvious disappointment, " just don't
know what is with teenagers today."
The other day I was in my car on my way to the farmers
market with my friend Jan when we passed two teens standing
by the side of the road with a car wash sign. My car was
filthy and my heart was full, so I pulled over. There were
teenagers everywhere. There was a group directing the cars
and another group spraying them down. As sponges were wiped
over every square inch of my dirty card, I sat enjoying the
little water battles and the many silent scenarios that were
so obviously taking place. I couldn't help but wonder how
many crushes, how many new friendships and how many little
insecurities were in the air on this beautiful Saturday
afternoon. I was amazed at how forty to fifty teenagers had
devoted their Saturday to washing cards, and I was curious
what their motivation might be.
At the end of the assembly line I handed them a twenty-
dollar bill and asked what they were raising money for.
They explained to me that a friend of their, C. T. Schmitz,
had recently died of cancer. He was only fifteen years old
and six-feet-two. He had gone to school with a lot of the
teenagers who were there that day and each of them had
memories of a boy sweeter than any they had known. His
friend Kevin had decided to put this car wash together
because he wanted to honor his friend and also bring
together his classmates with his boy scout troop. He told
me that they wanted to plant a tree in front of their school
and if they raised enough money they would put a plaque
there also. Both would be in memory of their friend C. T.
They handed me a bag of homemade cookies with my
receipt and we drove away. I asked Jan to read to me what
the tag that was tied to the bag said. It said simply,
"Thanks for helping us plant a tree of C. T."
Yeah! I don't what is with teenagers today!

By Kimberly Kirberger
from Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul II
Copyright 1998 by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and
Kimberly Kirberger
_____________________________________________

Lorie McGraw <llmcgraw@worldnet.att.net>
Etowah Creek District, Indian Waters Council, Columbia, SC
http://home.att.net/~llmcgraw/etowah/ecd-indx.htm
The Soap Carver's Page
http://home.att.net/~llmcgraw/etowah/carver/knife.html
The Slide Show http://home.att.net/~llmcgraw/etowah/slides.htm
When someone asks you, "A penny for your thoughts," and you put in your
two cents worth, What happens to the other penny?

• Messages sorted by: [ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]
• Next message
• Previous message

What's become of SCOUTER Magazine, the print publication?

Buy the Back Issues