**Task: Read and Annotate the Article**

Title: "Early Dismissal"

**Instructions:**
1. Read the article titled "Early Dismissal," located in the "Assignments Folder."
2. Mark any confusing passages.
3. Write a 1-2 paragraph summary of the text.

**Article Excerpt:**

1. As an adult, you understand certain truths about life. One is that twelve-year-old girls typically fit into two categories: those about to end friendships and those about to be left behind. Adults shouldn't be overly concerned with this, let alone hold grudges.

2. I was destined to be left behind—a quiet, bookish child with glasses, enthusiastic about being the teacher's pet. I was easily influenced, a perfect sidekick for the school's mild troublemaker.

3. Raised on "Anne of Green Gables," I longed for a "kindred spirit." When I finally found a best friend, I cherished our bond, valuing friendship bracelets and sleepovers as symbols of our connection. These items showed the world I wasn't alone.

4. While I liked my friend, I valued the status of having a best friend more. As an only child, my best friend was my safety net, a reassuring presence that I wasn't facing life alone. She was my mirror, reflecting a more appealing image of myself.

5. Imagine my shock when I overheard her denying our friendship to others in sixth grade.

6. There was no dramatic breakup—no arguments or rumors. The lack of drama was worse because it denied our past friendship.

7. From that moment, I was nothing.

8. It was the first time I realized that friendships might not last. Although I would find new friends, I learned not to take friendships for granted. In adulthood, people leave, die, or simply move on. Anything can happen.

9. Twelve-year-olds know facts adults forget: historical details, scientific differences, mathematical formulas, and that "BFF" is meant sincerely.

10. Understanding the impermanence of relationships has made me a better friend and more conscious of my choices. Yet, I miss believing in forever.