To be enormously gorgeous

My dad says I am ENORMOUSLY GORGEOUS.
I wonder if I really am.

To be ENORMOUSLY GORGEOUS... Sarah says
you need to have beautiful long, curly hair like she
has.

I don't.

To be ENORMOUSLY GORGEOUS... Justin says
you must have perfectly straight white teeth like he
has.

I don't.

To be ENORMOUSLY GORGEOUS... Jessica says
you can't have any of those little brown dots on your
face called freckles.

I do.

To be ENORMOUSLY GORGEOUS... Mark says
you have to be the smartest kid in the seventh-grade
class.

I'm not.

To be ENORMOUSLY GORGEOUS... Stephen says
you have to be able to tell the funniest jokes in the
school.

I don't.

To be ENORMOUSLY GORGEOUS... Lauren says
you need to live in the nicest neighborhood in town
and in the prettiest house.

I don't.

To be ENORMOUSLY GORGEOUS... Matthew says
you can only wear the coolest clothes and the most
popular shoes.

I don't.

To be ENORMOUSLY GORGEOUS... Samantha
says you need to come from a perfect family.

I don't.

But every night at bedtime my dad gives me a
big hug and says, "You are ENORMOUSLY
GORGEOUS, and I love you."

My dad must know something my friends don't.

by Carla O’Brien