‘What’s brought this on?’ asked TJ.
‘I’ve been thinking about it a lot over the last few weeks. I was really worried that you all thought I was lightweight, you know, shallow, but I realised something the other night when I was at Luke’s house watching his war film. I’ll never be into heavy stuff like politics or war. I’ll never be into reading literary-type books with clever words that only brainboxes understand. But I’ve realised that it doesn’t matter. There’s room for everyone and that includes people who are lightweight, in fact there are times people want lightweight. There’s room for all types of films, for all types of books and for all types of people. And one sort shouldn’t make the other sort feel unworthy or inferior. This is my new philosophy. There’s a place for black and there’s a place for pink. Room for garlic and for roses. Garlic smells um . . . garlicky, roses smell sweet. There’s a time and place for both of them, but imagine if the rose suddenly developed a complex because it smelled flowery and not pungent. It would be really sad. No. As I said, everything has its place. Same with people. We’re all different and that’s what makes life interesting. You can’t be everything and know about everything nor can you be what you’re not. Shouldn’t even try to be. Um, a rose shouldn’t try to be garlic, nor the other way round. Um . . . what am I trying to say? Um . . . that all you can be is true to yourself.’
Izzie was giving me a really strange look, then she cracked up laughing.
‘What? I asked. ‘What?”
‘Just . . . wow,’ said Izzie. ‘That’s really deep.’
‘Is it?’
‘Yeah,’ said TJ. ‘And it’s exactly what Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet. “To thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.’”
‘Really? Then he sounds really cool, does old Shakespearie dearie,’ I said, feeling really chuffed that Izzie had said I was deep. ‘Yeah. Yo! Shakespeare. My man.’
‘To thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.’
From Hamlet, by Shakespeare
‘Be true to yourself. (Unless your roots need doing.)’
Nesta Williams (deep person)
Also available by Cathy Hopkins
The MATES, DATES series
1. Mates, Dates and Inflatable Bras
2. Mates, Dates and Cosmic Kisses
3. Mates, Dates and Portobello Princesses
4. Mates, Dates and Sleepover Secrets
5. Mates, Dates and Sole Survivors
6. Mates, Dates and Mad Mistakes
7. Mates, Dates and Pulling Power
8. Mates, Dates and Tempting Trouble
9. Mates, Dates and Great Escapes
10. Mates, Dates and Chocolate Cheats
11. Mates, Dates and Diamond Destiny
12. Mates, Dates and Sizzling Summers
Companion Books:
Mates, Dates Guide to Life
Mates, Dates and You
Mates, Dates Journal
The TRUTH, DARE, KISS OR PROMISE series
1. White Lies and Barefaced Truths
2. Pop Princess
3. Teen Queens and Has-Beens
4. Starstruck
5. Double Dare
6. Midsummer Meltdown
7. Love Lottery
8. All Mates Together
The CINNAMON GIRL series
1. This Way to Paradise
2. Starting Over
Find out more at www.piccadillypress.co.uk
Join Cathy’s Club at www.cathyhopkins.com
Mates, Dates and Pulling Power Page 12
