Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret

The next day, Mr. Benedict asks to speak to Margaret privately. He asks why she hates religious holidays, and Margaret reluctantly tells him what she told Nancy and the other girls: that she doesn’t belong to any religion and she is supposed to “choose [her] own when [she] grows up” (44) but only if she wants to. Mr. Benedict is intrigued but doesn’t question her any further. Grandma calls and tells Margaret that they will meet once a month in New York to go to a concert.

On Saturday, Moose comes to mow the Simons’ lawn, and Margaret realizes she is developing a crush on him. She worries about what Nancy will think because Moose is her brother’s friend. Margaret and her mother shop for bras, and as the saleswomen take Margaret’s measurements, Margaret starts to feel even more self-conscious about her flat chest. The saleswoman says that Margaret is “not quite ready for a double A” (47), so she recommends a bra that will grow with Margaret. Margaret’s mother helps her try on a few bras, and when they make their choices, Margaret discovers that Janie is also there with her mother shopping for bras. Janie and Margaret share an awkward greeting before parting ways, and Margaret is relieved that her mother is too busy paying for her new bras to notice.