Masks Off, Crowns On

By Nataya Cowart

You GROW, Girl! Masks Off, Crowns On is the first in a one-of-a-kind series of short story collections for teen and preteen girls. Geared toward readers ages twelve through nineteen, this interactive volume includes forty realistic fiction short stories featuring teen and preteen girls of differing ages, backgrounds, and personalities, faced with a variety of situations and circumstances. Covering every issue relevant to teen girls, from self-esteem and body image to suicide and teen pregnancy, Masks Off, Crowns On will cause readers to laugh, cry, empathize, and most importantly, think!
This book is presented in a way that encourages girls to take off the various “masks” they’ve been hiding behind (i.e., low self-esteem, guilt, fear, negative body image, etc.) and replace them with the shining princess “crowns” worthy of their true selves. This collection is subdivided into chapters according to subject, with an in-depth “reflections” section at the end of each. Featuring comprehensive and relatable reads on each issue, questions to prompt critical thinking, and a five-point coping strategy for each subject covered. Masks Off, Crowns On is written to challenge, inspire, and encourage young girls to think before acting, make wise decisions, build healthy relationships, take care of themselves inside and out, and value their individuality.
Each chapter’s reflections section also includes a “Selfie Journal,” in which girls can record their thoughts, feelings, questions, and experiences. This beautiful treasury is a must-buy keepsake for teen girls everywhere—and for those who live and work with them! If you’re a teen or a parent of a teen, you’ve got to have this one on your bookshelf.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 7, 2019
• ISBN: 9781984550538

Nataya Cowart

Nataya Cowart is a licensed professional counselor, a life coach and the founder of sheRose, Inc., a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization based in Georgia. sheRose, Inc. was founded to inspire and encourage young girls to develop leadership and life skills through mentorship and empowerment programs. The goal is to empower girls to be bold and confident leaders. Nataya is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the American Counseling Association, the Licensed Professional Counselors Association of Georgia, the National Association of Professional Women, the Junior League of Atlanta, and A Nonprofit Success. She takes advantage of her involvement in these organizations to continue her education and to grow as a force for social change in her community. As both a citizen of the world and a believer in the power of self-love, Nataya now spends most of her time developing positive and impactful relationships with young girls and their support networks. Nataya’s inspiring adventures allowed her to see that exposure to the world and to other cultures creates new opportunities and changes one’s mindset. During her time traveling, she gained a firsthand understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of women in multiple cultures, which contributed to her desire to enhance the skill-building opportunities available to young women around the world. She truly believes in an old quote by St. Augustine, which has become her life motto: “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.”

Book preview

Copyright © 2019 by Nataya Cowart.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 10/02/2018

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Contents

Self-Confidence

Chapter 1     Ordinary Gabby

Chapter 2     No Buts about It

Bullying

Chapter 3     Left Out

Chapter 4     Tulip

Self-Esteem

Chapter 5     My Own Worst Enemy

Chapter 6     Overshadowed

Disappointment

Chapter 7     The Callback

Chapter 8     Birthday Surprise

Friendship

Chapter 9     New Beginnings

Chapter 10   Old Friends, New Friends

Self-Love

Chapter 11   Crowning Alyssa

Chapter 12   Open the Door

Guilt

Chapter 13   Guilty

Chapter 14   One Night on Bird Lake

Body Image

Chapter 15   The Swimsuit

Chapter 16   Tina Too-Tall

Fear

Chapter 17   Bienvenida!

Chapter 18   Overnight

Boys

Chapter 19   One of Those Girls

Chapter 20   Magical

Loneliness

Chapter 21   Lonely on Long Island

Chapter 22   Forever

Violence

Chapter 23   After the Prom

Chapter 24   Alone

Peer Pressure

Chapter 25   Just a Sip

Chapter 26   Pierce Pressure

Rejection

Chapter 27   Asking Jake Considine

Chapter 28   Dumped

Self-Worth

Chapter 29   A Moment at the Duck Pond

Chapter 30   Devon’s Girlfriend

Teen Pregnancy

Chapter 31   Only Seventeen

Chapter 32   Logan

Suicide

Chapter 33   Heartbeat

Chapter 34   Blindsided

Insecurity

Chapter 35   Here to Stay

Chapter 36   Go with Your Gut

Poor Decisions

Chapter 37   Sneaking Out

Chapter 38   Tonight

Determination

Chapter 39   Befriending Mr. Henderson

Chapter 40   Dream Shoes

Masks Off, Crowns On

What does that mean, anyway? Unfortunately, so many beautiful girls just like you go through their lives hiding behind a mask of some sort. Now, you know we’re not talking about the Halloween-store variety here but rather, masks like self-consciousness, shame, fear, hurt, loneliness, insecurity, low self-esteem, negative body image, feelings of worthlessness, and the list goes on! If you’ve ever felt like you’ve had to wear one of these masks to help you fit in, or just because you think you deserve to, it’s time to think again. We all go through the highs and lows of life, just like the forty different girls in this collection of short stories that you are about to read. But no matter what we face, we must face it with confidence—and that means taking off our masks and replacing them with our crowns.

Because you, girl, are a princess! We all are! We’re all unique, special, beautiful, and gifted in our very own ways. So, you see, there’s no need to be ashamed of being you. You don’t have to blend in with the crowd. Be proud of who you are. You can learn from your mistakes, but don’t let them define you. And remember, even in the hardest times, you are worthy of love, respect, recognition, and all the good things this life has to offer you.

So whip off that mask and crown yourself with gold. Let your one-of-a-kind princess self sparkle and shine for the whole world to see!    Crown.jpg

Ordinary Gabby

Today is just like any other day of eighth grade. Everyone is rummaging around in their lockers, laughing, talking, and not paying much attention to the fact that we’ve only got a limited amount of time before next period.

Two minutes till bell or you’ll be late! yells Mrs. Clemons, the hall monitor. That’s her favorite line.

As soon as I walk into my American History classroom, the bell rings. Perfect timing! I giggle to myself. Mrs. Clemons’s warning still flashing through my head. As I look around for a place to sit, I realize that the only seat left in the room is sandwiched between the cutest guy in the eighth grade and the most popular girl in the entire school. I rarely have that kind of luck, and I swallow nervously as I drop my books onto the vacant desk.

Hey, I mumble hesitantly, glancing from one side to the other. I sit down, trying to keep my hands from shaking. In my head, I know that Alex and Chloe are eighth-graders and human beings, just like me, but for some reason, I feel like I’m in the presence of royalty.

Hey, pretty girl. You were almost late, whispers Alex.

I’m shocked. Is he talking to me? It takes me a moment to collect my thoughts. I can’t believe that Alex Wilkins could actually be telling me I’m pretty. I want to pinch myself to see if I’m dreaming, but that would be too obvious, so I just smile and say, Lucky me, I was right on time!

Mr. Lombardo, my American History teacher, clears his throat loudly, and I jerk my head up to look at him. My cheeks burn, knowing that he heard me talking to Alex, but I also feel good inside. Alex’s compliment is like fuel that keeps me going throughout the length of class.

I’ll have to admit, though, that my thoughts aren’t really focused on the combat strategies of the Allies during World War II; instead, I’m envisioning Alex and me sitting together at one of the school football games, huddling close on the bleachers in between cheer stints.

I open my eyes and shake my head, mentally scolding myself for even entertaining such a ridiculous thought. That will never happen! I mean, it’s not like I’m all that special. And Alex, on the other hand, is magazine-cover perfect.

Finally, the bell rings for our class transition. I quickly gather up my books, my zippered pencil pouch, and my notes—which might or might not consist of otherwise blank notebook pages filled with tiny hearts drawn around Alex’s and my initials.

As I’m getting ready to leave, the ever-popular Chloe catches up to me and taps me on the shoulder. Gabby, she crows. I love your top. It’s so cute! Where did you get it?

Wait. Is she kidding? Chloe Leblanc likes my top? I glance down at myself. What I’m wearing isn’t that special or cute, at least not in my opinion. It’s a tunic-style tee with a big sequined heart on the front, over leggings.

I glance back up at Chloe, searching her eyes. Is she setting me up for some kind of cruel joke? For some reason, I’m having just as much trouble believing that she likes my outfit as I did believing that Alex called me pretty.

Thanks! I got it at Girl Stop, I tell Chloe, just in case she was sincere. Then I rush out of the classroom, before she has a chance to respond.

When I reach the hallway, I realize that my heart is pounding. I take a moment to collect my thoughts, and I realize that lately I’ve found myself constantly questioning the compliments of others. Why is that? I suddenly wonder.

I have always considered myself a confident girl, a positive thinker who’s on top of her A game. I am a popular cheerleader (did I mention I’m the cocaptain?) I make all As and Bs (I cringe at the sight of Cs), and a lot of the boys seem to think I’m cute.

The more I compare this reality to my struggling confidence, the funnier it seems. For a thirteen-year-old girl who’s going to high school next year, one would think I have every reason to be confident. But when I go home at the end of the day, I don’t feel like a pretty, smart, or popular girl, I just feel like me, boring, ordinary old Gabby, a short girl with short hair, a flat chest, and feet that are so small I have to shop for my shoes in the kids’ department!

Oh, and I might also be needing glasses soon because I can’t always see the board in math class. In my opinion, the list of my shortcomings goes on and on, but I don’t feel comfortable telling anyone else how I really feel. On the surface, I’ve got it all together. But the truth is, I don’t. I’ve got struggles and insecurities that I deal with every day.

Let’s run through the stunt one final time! Chloe yells at after-school cheer practice. Who died and made her the boss? I think to myself. Even so, she is the cheerleading captain, and I have to work with her every day, so I might as well make the best of it. Besides, she did compliment my outfit today.

I’m relieved when cheerleading practice is finally over because it’s been a long day, and I didn’t sleep much last night. But just as I’m about to leave the gym, Coach Leeza pulls me aside.

My heart pounds, and I wonder if I’m in trouble. But all my fears melt away when the coach smiles warmly at me.

Great job today, Gabby, she says. I just wanted to tell you once again that you’re the perfect girl for the top of the pyramid. You’re flexible and light, and your feet fit perfectly into the other girls’ hands. Plus, you’ve got a smile that would cheer any team to victory! See you tomorrow, dynamo!

See you tomorrow, Coach Leeza, I reply, still in shock. But the shock wears off and turns into a smile as I shower and change in the locker room. Maybe, just maybe, I should start trusting other people’s compliments from time to time.

They might just know what they’re talking about.

No Buts about It

You coming, Taylor? Mom calls down the hall.

Be right there! I call back.

In my room, I dig my crutches into the carpet, swinging myself in front of the dresser so that I can examine my reflection in the mirror. The girl who stares back at me has silky strawberry-blonde hair, green eyes, freckles, and glasses that are a little too thick for her small face. Her features are crushed together just enough to give her a different sort of look, and she is short—four-foot-eight, to be exact—and barely high enough to reach the top of the dresser.

Glancing down at myself, I do a quick assessment of the parts the mirror doesn’t show. As always, my crutches are tucked under my arms, my upper body is a little too barrel-shaped for my liking, even in the cute green summer top I chose for today, and my feet, at the cuffs of my nice khaki pants, are so small I have to buy shoes made for six-year-olds.

Because of my size, almost everyone assumes I’m younger than I am. Sometimes they assume more than that. I’ve had people think I was mentally challenged because of my handicap. I’ve had people talk down to me, as if I were in elementary school rather than high school. I’ve had it all. But that doesn’t make them right. The truth is, I was born with a condition called osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), which used to be known as brittle-bone disease. I’ve broken twenty-seven bones in my life so far—and I have a milder type of the disease. OI has also affected my height, the shape of my face, and the whites of my eyes, which are tinged with blue.

Taylor! Mom calls again. You don’t want to be late on your first day of work.

With my heart hammering wildly, I sling my drawstring bag over my shoulder and hurry out of the room. Our house is all one-story, which makes it easier for me to navigate. Mom has OI too, only her case is so mild she didn’t even know she had it until after I was diagnosed. She can walk easily without crutches, and her height and appearance are perfectly typical.

There you are! Mom says, herding me through the kitchen and out the door to the garage. I swing deftly into the passenger seat of our van as she climbs in the driver’s side. Pretty soon, I’ll have a license of my own and modified foot pedals so that I can reach the gas and brakes. Having grown up with OI, I’ve learned to navigate the condition, and there’s pretty much nothing I can’t do.

Except possibly teach a Reading Readiness class for preschoolers at the local YMCA. Usually, the class is taught by Mrs. Haynes, one of the women whose kids I babysit, but she’s going to have another baby this summer and needs someone to fill in for her. When she asked me if I’d be willing to do the job, I was both honored and scared out of my mind. Besides babysitting and doing some filing for my parents’ dentistry practice, I’ve never had an official job before.

But Mrs. Haynes clearly explained my responsibilities, gave me a tour of the Y, introduced me to some of her coworkers, and told me I’d have the hang of this thing in no time. And to be honest, the ins and outs of the whole Reading Readiness instructor position don’t worry me. I’ve always been good with little kids, and I’m sure I can handle alphabet puzzles and vowel-sound songs as well as the next person.

But what about my OI? Will the parents of my little preschoolers do a double take when they meet me? Will they wonder if I’m old enough or qualified enough to be working with their kids? Will they stop taking the Reading Readiness class seriously because I’m four-foot-eight and walk using crutches and have the same size feet as their children?

I’m quiet on the short drive to the Y.

Mom reaches over and pats me on the knee as soon as she’s pulled up to the entrance. Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve talked through my misgivings quite a few times. Now she says, You have nothing to be nervous about, honey. You know how much kids love you. And you told me earlier that you’ve got the routine all down pat—where to clock in, where to go …

I sigh, double-checking my bag, as if to be sure it still contains the activities I packed. "You know that’s not what I’m afraid of, Mom. But I am afraid I won’t get the respect I deserve from the parents."

Mom shakes her head. Think of the parents of the kids you babysit for. Think of your teachers at school. Think of your friends’ parents. Think of all the adults you know who treat you with respect.

Yes! I say. "But that’s not the same. Those people know me."

But they haven’t always known you, Mom counters. And just like anyone else, at one point or another, you had to prove to them that you were worthy of respect. Am I right?

I turn her words over in my mind. I guess, I concede slowly. But—

Mom cuts me off. "No buts about it, Taylor! Everybody has to prove themselves, OI or no OI. She leans over and kisses me on the cheek. That’s where a little self-confidence comes in."

I think about our conversation as I make my way into the YMCA building, clock in inside the break room, and head down the long hallway beyond the fitness gym. Unlocking the second-to-last door on the left, I flick on the lights, push a bunch of brightly colored child-sized chairs into place around a low circular table and begin to set out the easy-readers I checked out of the library. I figure that having the kids look at books will be a good icebreaker and first activity for the class.

My heart is still drumming away in my chest, but I force myself to take a deep breath and reflect on what Mom told me just before I got out of the van: No buts about it, Taylor! Everybody has to prove themselves, OI or no OI. That’s where a little self-confidence comes in.

By the time the first rap sounds on the opened door, I am ready. I turn with a sunny, confident smile to greet an adorable-looking little girl and her father. Hi! I begin. I’m Taylor, the new Reading Readiness instructor …

Self-Confidence    Crown.jpg

Self-confidence can be defined as a feeling of trust in oneself and abilities. The more you trust yourself and the things you have to offer the world, the brighter you will shine.

Most girls can probably relate to Gabby and Taylor on some level. Especially during our preteen and teen years, there often seem to be two different voices, pulling us in opposite directions. While our parents, friends, teachers, and coaches may compliment us on everything from our looks to our intelligence to our physical stamina, the little voice in our heads and hearts likes to taunt us, telling us we’re not pretty enough, not smart enough, not thin enough, not tall enough, not athletic enough, and the list goes on.

Well, I’m here today to assure you that that nagging little voice in your head has no idea what it’s talking about. You are beautiful, you are strong, you are special, you are worthy, and you can do it! And in case you missed it the first time around, you are worthy! Worthy of good friends and healthy relationships. Worthy of love and respect. Worthy of pursuing your passions, following your dreams, and being heard and validated.

Now, all you’ve got to do is put all this newfound knowledge into practice by playing the confidence game! Have you ever heard the expression, Fake it till you make it? It applies here too. Even if you don’t start out believing that you’re worthy, act as though you do! Live life as a girl who is comfortable in her own skin, confident in her abilities, and proud of who she is. Even if you’re faking it at first, I’ll tell you a little secret: You won’t be faking it for long. You see, the more self-confident you act, the more self-confident you will become. So take off that mask you’re hiding behind and replace it with a sparkling princess crown. It’s your time to shine!

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Self-Reflection:

After reading these stories, I realized

Something I got from these stories that I want to apply to my own life is:

Name one way you can relate to Gabby and give a reason:

Name one way you can relate to Taylor and give a reason:

What was the important lesson that Gabby learned? How about Taylor? How are these lessons similar? How are they different?

Using these stories as inspiration, what truths can you tell yourself in order to boost your own self-confidence?

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FIVE WAYS TO GROW YOUR SELF-CONFIDENCE

59959.png Remind yourself every day that you are good enough, you can do anything you put your mind to, you are beautiful, you are smart, and you are positive. Daily affirmations are important to building our self-confidence. Even if you are already confident, you might need a lift from time to time.

59993.png Talk to your parents and friends. Ask them about their own insecurities and struggles, either now or in the past. What they share might both surprise and inspire you. You are not alone.

60032.png Go through your closet every now and then. Give away clothes you don’t wear and take the time to put together a few really cute and original outfits, using the clothes you do wear. Sometimes all it takes is a new outfit and a bright smile to put a sunny spin on your day and make you feel extra-beautiful, inside and out!

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