“You’d be surprised how many parents are really quite adapt at knowing how their children feel,” the lady explained, pacing my bedroom. “Your parents can sense that your life right now is rather stressful…”

“It’s not stressful!” I insisted.

“Oh, of course not,” she replied sarcastically. “Let’s see, there’s your D in math class, your friendship struggles…not to mention,” she added delicately, “a certain amount of feelings you have for a certain boy...”

I could feel myself blush. “How d’you know this?”

“Oh, well.” she explained. “Really, it was quite complicated. Firstly I had to go look up Destiny Maria Michaels in the Book of Children…”

“The Book of Children?” I exclaimed.

“Certainly,” she said delicately. “You are on page two thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine, the right-hand column, of course. Girls usually are. And now, if you’ll let me get on with my explaination…”