Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.: Chapter 25 Summary & Analysis

In the middle of June, the PTA holds a farewell party for the sixth graders. None of the girls wear socks. Margaret wears her first pair of sheer stockings and promptly gets a run in them. She feels like she’s growing up, even if her body doesn’t know that yet. The class gives Mr. Benedict a pair of silver cufflinks. He thanks them and tells them that because of them, he'll be an experienced teacher next year. Then, Nancy, Gretchen, Janie, and Margaret have lunch downtown and discuss junior high.

That afternoon, Mom starts packing Margaret’s trunk for camp. When Margaret hears the lawnmower outside, she realizes that Moose is back. She’s excited at first—but then she remembers that he spread mean stories about Laura. Margaret runs downstairs to confront him and stands right in front of the mower. She tells him he’s a liar; she doesn’t think he’s ever taken Laura Danker behind the A&P. Moose asks where Margaret heard that. Margaret starts to say that Nancy told her, but then realizes she sounds like an “idiot.” Moose asks if Margaret always believes everything she hears and tells her to not believe things unless she has proof. Margaret apologizes, but Moose tells her to get out of his way.

Margaret runs inside. She has to go to the bathroom and as she sits down, she thinks about Moose. She’s happy that Moose isn’t a liar. Then, she looks down and notices blood in her underwear. Margaret yells for Mom and Mom soon appears in the bathroom door. Margaret starts to laugh and sob that she started her period. Mom tears up too, and she says she already bought Margaret supplies to take to camp, just in case. Mom returns a moment later and assures Margaret she got Teenage Softies, not Private Lady. Mom starts to tell Margaret how to use a pad, but Margaret admits that she’s been practicing for months. They laugh and Mom excuses herself.

Margaret sticks the pad into her underwear, gets dressed, and looks in the mirror. She wonders if anyone will know she’s started her period—like Moose or Dad. She has to call Nancy, Gretchen, and Janie to share the news, and poor Janie will now be the last PTS to get her period. Margaret used to think she’d be the last to start, but now, she’s growing up. She’s almost a woman. Margaret asks God if he’s still there. She knows he is—he wouldn’t miss this. She thanks him for helping her start her period.