Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.

by

Judy Blume

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Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.: Chapter 13 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Mom tells Margaret that the letter is on the table. Margaret never gets letters since she never writes anyone back, so this is a big deal. She runs to the letter, inspects the envelope, and wonders who sent it. She figures it’s an advertisement. But it turns out to be an invitation. Before opening it, she imagines who might want Margaret to come to a party. Finally, she opens it. It’s from Norman Fishbein. Margaret shouts. She and Norman never talk and he’s still a “drip,” but “a party is a party.”
As far as Margaret is concerned, the prospect of going to a party is far more important than who’s throwing the party. So though she doesn’t like Norman much, it’s still exciting that she’s been invited to his party. This shows where Margaret’s priorities lie: in getting to do adult things, like go to parties, rather than making choices about where she goes based on who she wants to spend time with.
Themes
Puberty Theme Icon
Friendship, Fitting In, and Social Pressure Theme Icon
Margaret races to Mom’s studio to ask if she can go. Mom wants to know who Norman is and if Margaret likes him, then she agrees to let Margaret go. When the phone rings, Margaret races to get it. It’s Nancy; she, Janie, and Gretchen have all been invited and are all going to go. The girls wonder if they should dress up, and Nancy says Mrs. Wheeler is going to call Mrs. Fishbein and find out. Ten minutes later, Nancy calls back and reveals that every kid in their class was invited—even Laura and Philip—and they should wear party clothes. Margaret runs to tell Mom the news, and they decide that Margaret should wear her best velvet dress.
Keep in mind that Margaret is no fan of Norman’s. The party seems more like an excuse for her to spend time with her friends than it does to spend time with the host. Mom’s willingness to support Margaret with minimal questioning and total support also shows how trusting their relationship is. Mom wants Margaret to have this fun experience and be dressed appropriately for it.
Themes
Friendship, Fitting In, and Social Pressure Theme Icon
Family Conflict Theme Icon
Margaret spends the morning of the party on the phone with Nancy, Janie, and Gretchen discussing their outfits. Mom washes Margaret’s hair and puts it up in rollers—and she files Margaret’s nails instead of cutting them. Margaret has new nylon and lace underwear to wear. She spends the afternoon thinking that maybe Norman isn’t so bad after all.
This party represents growing up for Margaret. It’s not just her first dinner party; she also gets to prepare for it in a more adult way (having her nails filed) and wear adult undergarments (her new nylon underwear). This gives the party even more import in Margaret’s mind.
Themes
Puberty Theme Icon
Mom sends Margaret to rest so she’s fresh for the party, but Margaret doesn’t feel like napping. Instead, she pushes a chair in front of her mirror and then stands naked on the chair. She’s starting to grow some hair. Margaret studies herself from the side and then moves closer to the mirror. She doesn’t look any different than normal, aside from the rollers. She asks God if she hasn’t waited long enough to start growing and asks for some help.
The party is a big deal, as it seems like an adult event. So it makes sense that Margaret would be even more concerned with how her body is (or isn’t) developing in the hours before the party. Though she’s starting to develop body hair, it’s still concerning for her that her chest hasn’t developed much yet. But talking to God again makes Margaret feel better.
Themes
Puberty Theme Icon
Religion Theme Icon
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Then, Margaret puts on her underwear and tights and tiptoes to the bathroom. Her heart pounds as she grabs a few cotton balls, even though she knows Mom wouldn’t think anything of it—but Margaret knows what she’s going to do with them. Back in her room, she stuffs three cotton balls into each side of her bra. It’s cheating, but she looks better—and there are probably lots of other girls who stuff their bras. She admires her reflection and likes what she sees. Margaret tells God that her bra looks better now, she just needs a bit of help. She promises to help out more around the house in exchange for some help.
Three cotton balls in each side of her bra is a humorously small amount of padding—but this only shows how desperate Margaret is to see any change in her bustline. Her insistence that she’s not the only girl stuffing her bra implies that in Margaret’s understanding, at least, it’s normal to want to develop faster—and to try to “cheat” in order to make it seem like one is further along in their development.
Themes
Puberty Theme Icon
Quotes