Dear Michele,

There is a boy I really like in my grade, but I barely even know him. I’ve never been in his class and I don’t think he even knows my name! I would like to get to know him better but I get all nervous when I’m around him and screw up what to say. –What do I do?

Dear WdId?,

Listen up all you shy girls out there who want to talk to their crushes but don’t know what to say. Here is a fail safe plan. Are you listening with rapt attention? Can you not take your eyes off these words? Okay:

All you have to do is find a way to stand next to him in line or sit next to him at an assembly or lunch or something and say “Hi. I bet my friend that you don’t even know my name. Do you?”

If he says: “Yes, it’s [inset name].”

You say: “Uh, oh, now I owe my friend a snickers bar. But it was worth it because I got to talk to you.”

If he says: “No, I don’t”

You say: “It’s [insert name]. What’s yours? Nice to meet you.”

And then you smile and sashay away. Whenever you pass him after that you say “Hi, [insert his name],” and smile. You’ve broken the ice and made sure he knows your name all in a single stroke! Are you dazzled by the simplicity? Yes, I thought you would be.

And you’re not done! The ‘I have a bet with my friend’ line is like the gift that just keeps giving. You can use it over and over again. For example:

“I bet my friend that your favorite band is The National”

“I bet my friend that you’re going to see Avengers #24 this weekend”

“I bet my friend that you secretly record Toddlers in Tiaras.”

Each time he answers that you’re wrong, sigh, bat your eyes a bit and say that you’re bummed to lose but at least you got to talk to him; each time he answers that you’re right, you can say “that’s my favorite band/movie choice for the weekend/guilty pleasure too!” And start talking about it.

By using the “I have a bet with a friend” line you learn things about him, have a reason to talk to him, and have a running joke. Its like your birthday, chrismakkua and winning the lottery all wrapped up in one!

Go do it. I bet you can…

Airkisses,

Dr. J