RuthieNothing really. I'm just a couple of years away from puberty. I'm pre-puberty, prepubescent, they call it. So, I'm going to be going through some changes.
Yes you are. And I hope you know that whatever changes you're experiencing, that you can talk to me about them. Changes can be very exciting. Changes can be scary. And sometimes we have very little control over the changes we experience. None, really. Except the way we react to those changes and controlling our reactions require a lot of conscious effort. So, we don't want to get too stressed out. We just have to stand back, observe what's going on, go with the flow, live life from moment to moment, doing the best we can do for who we are.
Ruthie
That's deep. Are we talking about you or me?
Everything pretty much. Do you have any questions?
Ruthie
Maybe later.
Ruthie
I just want to know what happened.
The way you're always sneaking around, I'm surprised you don't know already. In fact, that's what your nickname should be. Sneaky. Not Snooky, but Sneaky.
Ruthie
I'm not sneaky!
Yes, you are, and I think Robbie was trying to tell you that in a nice way.
Ruthie
No he wasn't! He doesn't think I'm sneaky, he was teasing me.
Yeah, but why do you think he was teasing you? Maybe he was trying to point something out to you. Good night, Sneaky! [turns over and goes to sleep; Ruthie's eyes fill with tears]
Well, I don't know what Christy's parents are fighting about, but whatever it is it can't be more important than their daughter. Don't they see how their fighting is affecting her?
You know, there are a lot of parents who believe that as long as they are not yelling at their kids their kids aren't affected by their yelling. They don't seem to understand that a parent's relationship with each other affects their children for the rest of their lives. If we can learn how to have a good relationship from our parents, we can learn how to have a bad relationship from them too.
Thanks, but of course, I know all that, which is one of the many reasons they asked me to teach.
Hey, I'm just trying to be supportive.
Ruthie
(to Eric and Annie) You know, you guys fight a lot.
You don't know if we fight a lot?
I don't know what answer won't cause a fight. Maybe I need to find a better way to communicate with you.
And maybe if I take hormones, everything will go back to normal?
No, I didn't. I want you to do whatever you need to do. And I want us to stop fighting.
But we've always had fights, and we're always gonna fight.
Well, then maybe we need to find ways to fight that are more productive and friendly.
I honestly was just trying to help.
But I don't always need your help. I want to solve my own problems by myself.
We're a team. A good team. We've always worked together and our relationship has been the better for it.
But lately I feel the need to have things that are just mine and I'm going to try to be nicer.
And I'm going to be more considerate of your feelings.
I guess we need to show it more, huh?
I've got something to say to you and I think you're old enough to hear it. Life isn't fair, so get over it.
Ruthie
Thank you for letting me know that. Only a parent, a mother, would care so much that she, you, would explain such an important lesson in such a simple and direct...way.
Ruthie
Yasmine was walking home from school when a couple of boys started following her. They were calling her names because she's Muslim and trying to scare her, and one of them even picked up a dirt clod and threw it at her.
That's when Ruhtie ran over and started yelling back at them, but they still kept on following us.
And this was happening right outside our house?
It's happening everywhere.
Did these boys ever physically hurt you?
Feelings are important, too. They matter a great deal, and you matter. We're not gonna let this continue.
NNasreen
I appreciate your sympathy, but I don't expect you to completely understand what I'm going through.
As a mother, I understand at least some of what you're going through. I know the fear and worry over the safety of my children.
Ruthie
I still don't understand it. She didn't do anything. Her family didn't do anything. They're Americans just like everyone else.
Ruthie
[addressing the school board] My name is Ruthie Camden, and first, I want to say how much I like going to the Eleanor Roosevelt School. My classes are really cool, and I get to do so much more than I did at my old school. I love horses, and I even get to take Equestrian classes. It's like a dream come true for me. I've learned so much at this school. Last week, during science period, Miss Riddle talked to us about the spine. Se taught us how important the spine is to the entire body. The spine allows you to hold your head up high. Well, I don't think I'll be able to hold my head up high in this class anymore, if this school doesn't let my friend Yasmine attend. And from what I've read about her, Eleanor Roosevelt has a really strong spine. This school is named after her, and if you want to know more about her, you should read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It's all about freedom, justice, and peace.
[whispers to Annie] Out of the mouths of babes.
Ruthie
So, if this board chooses to do the wrong thing, I feel that it goes against everything Eleanor Roosevelt stood for, and I will have to quit!
W1Woman #1
[whispers] We'd get our scholarship back.
W2Woman #2
I have a friend whose kid would like to get in. They're not Muslim.
Ruthie
Hello. That was the end of my speech. I said I was going to quit! [Eric, Annie, Mrs. McCool, and Miss Riddle get up and clap, everyone else is silent] Tough crowd.
I heard what you did tonight, and I'm really proud of you, Ruthie.
Ruthie
Yeah. Mom and Dad told me about a billion times already. Big deal.
What you did was really amazing, so don't think that it's not. You stood up for someone who was being discriminated against because of her religion, and that's a big deal. A very big deal. The biggest!
Ruthie
Yeah, and look where it got me. Now I have to change schools.
Look, Ruthie, I know how much you like private school, and nobody would think badly of you if you don't go through with it, if you don't want to.
Ruthie
I don't want to, but I think it's something I have to do. Eleanor Roosevelt said, "It is not fair to ask of others what you are not willing to do yourself". I think I have to bite the bullet.
[to Simon] You don't get it. You just don't get it. And you want to know why I know you don't get it? Because for over a year I didn't get it.
Ruthie
[to Simon] You know, you've been throwing up most of the night, so we haven't had a chance to talk. What is wrong with you, huh?
I didn't know I was drinking alcohol.
Ruthie
Well, you should've figured it out. What kind of role model are you trying to be?
Ruthie
Yes, you are. Sam and David and I look up to you. And with Matt leaving, and he is leaving, you're the resident big brother of the house. Robbie's here and that's great, but I depend on you and tonight you let me down. You let everyone down.
I'm sorry. Is that what you want to hear?
Ruthie
No, I don't want to hear anything. What I want is for you to stop trying so hard to fit in with other people and start trying harder to fit in around here. I want you to sober up for good and start becoming a man, the kind of man I can look up to.
[answering the phone] Mr. and Mrs. Matt Camden. Hello?
Ruthie
I don't believe it! You really are stupider than Mary!
Ruthie
Oh! You got married!?
Ruthie
Don't you shush me! I just missed your wedding and I don't even know the bride!
Ruthie, I love you. And I know you won't tell anyone because you know how important this is to me. Good night, Ruthie. I'll see you tomorrow.
Ruthie
Good night, and Matt...I love you too. Congratulations.
7th Heaven · 700 quotes
