Chicken soup Quote by Laurie Halse Anderson
““Ouch," he said. "Move your foot." "No." "Go away." "Glad to see you, too." "What are you doing here?" I asked. "You missed the bus," he said. "I'm sick." "Need chicken soup?" "Actually, it's my period," I lied. "Killer cramps." "Chocolate and a heating pad?" "How do you know that?" "I have an older sister and my mom is a kick-ass feminist," he said. "I'm probably the only guy in school who can buy tampons without having a seizure. Look, at that, I can even say the word. 'Tampon, tampon, tampon.' If you say it enough, it stops sounding like a word, know what I mean?””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson, 1999
A teen navigates awkward social interactions, using humor and honesty to confront gender norms and personal discomfort.
In simple terms: Teen deals with awkward moments and gender expectations.
Key Takeaway
Embrace honesty and humor in uncomfortable situations.
Themes
identity
gender
humor
social anxiety
Mood
awkward
reflective
lighthearted
Type
conversational
social commentary
When to use this quote
- school hallway
- friendship
- conflict resolution
- personal health discussions
Key Concepts
masculinity
feminism
communication
self‑acceptance
Questions to Reflect On
- How can humor both reveal and mask vulnerability?
- What does this say about gender expectations in school?
A Different Perspective
May rely on humor, but underlying issues remain unaddressed.
![“I was so mad I wasn't sitting at the stadium watching it [Prince' 2007 Super Bowl performance] in person. So when Prince came back to the box where I would have been after he performed, he said to my makeup artist, "Where's Stevie?" She said, "She's sick, and she was told by our manager that she…” quote by Stevie Nicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d93/stevie-nicks-2817_art_i-was-so-mad-i-wasn-t-sitting-at-the-sta_2351984.jpg)
