The Little Girl

A New Neighbor moved next door and took the Little Girl to her first Guide meeting.

The Little Girl wanted to join Guides but she was too little. She had to be 1 year older. She could hardly wait. But she was sad too, her New Neighbor had moved away. And nobody asked her to another “Bring a Friend” night.

Finally the Little Girl was 12. She could now join Guides. She had a wonderful time being a Guide. She camped, earned badges, and became a patrol leader. She loved wearing her uniform, even her beret. She helped the Brownies learn Semaphore.

When the Little Girl was 15, she suddenly thought she was too big to be a Girl Guide. She grew up and moved away. She got married and had 3 children. Two of those children were girls. They became Brownies. The Little Girl (who wasn’t little anymore) remembered the fun that she had as a girl.

The Little Girl (who wasn’t little anymore) became a Guider when nobody else would help with her daughter’s unit. The Little Girl (who wasn’t little anymore) had lots of fun and learned lots of new things. The Little Girl (who wasn’t little anymore) was very shy. She learned to talk to the girls. Then she learned to talk to the girl’s parents. Then she learned to talk to other Guiders. All the while her children were growing up and learning new skills as well. The Little Girl (who wasn’t little anymore) was able to use her new skills in new jobs.

One day the Little Girl (who wasn’t little anymore) was helping at a training. She was talking to another Guider while they were drying the “Bed Night” snack dishes. They talked and talked, and the more they talked and talked, the more they realized who they were. They were taller, shorter, rounder, older, had lived in many places and they had new last names because they were married, but their first names were the same. And their memories of that meeting were the same. The other Guider was the New Neighbor who had taken the Little Girl to her first Guide meeting. They began to make lots of noise to celebrate and woke up all the little girls. Once again, they were in trouble.

Now The Little Girl (who isn’t little anymore) is the  Division Commissioner, Area Training Adviser,  and an Leadership Development Program Trainer, They also call her “Trouble”. She has a long history of being in trouble.

The New Neighbor is also known as Zucchini. She has been in Guiding all of her life. She never thought she was too old for Guides. She is the County Camp Advisor. She deserves a Bring a Friend sticker for bringing a friend into Guiding, don’t you think?

So, you never know what will happen when you bring a friend to your meeting. It may take you 30 years to find out. So go and bring someone to your meeting. Have fun! (and a try not to get into TROUBLE)