I rarely like short stories. This was definitely an exception. I admit I thought the ending would be Romeo-and-Juliet-cliche, but you surprised me pleasantly at the end with a light, ironic twist. You completely nailed that determination - 'Tossing her short brown pigtails defiantly, Becky spoke' - and condescending contempt toward adults that all third-graders seem to possess. Genius! You're a really gifted writer and all I can say is... thank goodness for math class, if it causes you to churn such captivating writing out!

Postscript: I do read Shel Silverstein, his work has really appealed to me since childhood, from 'The Giving Tree' to 'Lafcadio'.

I know I should probably say something more intelligent, but it's late. That was a really cute story. I love how it was like 3rd grade Romeo and Juliet...but then the way it ended was so much more intelligent than I would have done (I would have had Becky and Galen end up together and live happily ever after...) Your ending was more believable, however. Isn't that just how life is? What seemed so important to you when you were eight becomes just a distant memory when you're older...

Anyway, you've been so awesome about reviewing my stuff, I felt I should come and check out yours. The poems were great, too. I'll try and remember to leave reviews on them when it's not so late and I'm a little more lucid (I'm an early bird). I'm in school full time and I work full time, though, so if I forget, don't feel miffed.

Also, if you want, I could offer some suggestions on the whole finishing stories thing (I used to have that problem, too. I have a BUNCH of files on my computer from stories I started and never finished). I swear, if you read some of the crap I wrote when I was 16...not that I'm ancient or anything. I'm 24, and like you, I'm a total English freak, I just tend to forget certain English rules when I write. To me, it's more about how it sounds in my head than if it's actually gramatically correct (although I do try to follow basic grammar rules, too). I hate typos, and I hate grammatical errors, so if you find any in my books, PLEASE continue to point them out!
Talk about rambling! This is what happens late at night after a few beers...(beer, just so you know, is VERY bad for the creative juices).
Until later...