| On Amazon there are 34,656 books about friendship. | | | | advice to put on sunblock. |
| Half of these books are children's books. | | | | 8. A friend hates to see you unhappy. George bought |
| Clearly friendship is perceived as a kid thing and | | | | tulips for Martha when she cried about how her |
| doesn't get the publicity that other relationships do | | | | garden was overrun with weeds. |
| (there are 92,769 books on Amazon about marriage). | | | | 9. Friends know right away when you aren't being |
| My favorite book about friendship is George and | | | | authentic. George told fibs about being a champion |
| Martha: The Complete Stories of Two Best Friends by | | | | jumper and a snake charmer but Martha knew better. |
| James Marshall. | | | | 10. Friends nudge you outside your comfort zone |
| It's a children's book, of course, and the two characters | | | | sometimes. George wouldn't get out of bed to go on a |
| are hippopotamuses. But I think even adults can learn a | | | | picnic with her so she pushed him in the bed all the |
| thing or two about friendship from George and Martha: | | | | way to the park. He ended up enjoying the picnic. |
| 1. It's OK to be honest. George didn't have the courage | | | | 11. There's no reason to be jealous of your friend. |
| to tell Martha he didn't care for her split pea soup but | | | | George wouldn't let Martha see the secret clubhouse |
| she found out and was happy to make him something | | | | he was building and she was beside herself with |
| he liked instead. | | | | jealousy, only to find out later that it was a fan club for |
| 2. It's OK to be nosy but privacy is important. Martha | | | | her. |
| didn't let George peek in her diary, even when he | | | | 12. Friends help you regain your confidence. Martha |
| asked politely. | | | | started wobbling on the tight rope so George did some |
| 3. If you're too vain your friend has a right to call you | | | | fast talking to restore her confidence. |
| on it. George put a silly picture on Martha's mirror | | | | 13. Don't scare your friends because they might scare |
| because she was too fond of looking in the mirror. | | | | you back. |
| 4. Friends always look on the bright side and know | | | | 14. Sometimes friends need time alone. Martha was |
| how to cheer you up, even if, like George, you have a | | | | angry when George wouldn't spend an afternoon with |
| broken tooth and feel ugly. | | | | her but she ended up having lots of fun by herself |
| 5. Friends show interest in their friend's interests even if | | | | playing her saxophone. |
| they have no interest themselves. George dragged | | | | 15. Sometimes a friend has to be dramatic to make a |
| himself to Martha's dance recital and ended up | | | | point. George wouldn't listen to Martha when she told |
| enjoying it. | | | | him to stop eating so many sweets. So, to George's |
| 6. It's hard to fool friends. When George wore different | | | | horror, she started smoking a cigar. He stopped eating |
| costumes Martha always recognized him. | | | | sweets. |
| 7. Friends never say "I told you so." George quietly | | | | 16. Laughter is the best gift you can give your friend. |
| took care of sunburned Martha who had ignored his | | | | 17. Good friends can't stay cross for long. |