I don’t normally read advice columns, but when scanning headlines over at the Chicago Tribune, this Jerry Springer-esque header caught my attention: Son tells mom he’s having affair, puts her in the middle.

Ew.

The story isn’t nearly as interesting as the headline would suggest, but that’s to be expected from the Trib. But since I was already there, I read the following letter:

Dear Amy: I am a 12-year-old girl. I am very tomboyish and have never been attracted to boys.

I am friends with a boy; we love professional basketball and talk about it 24/7.

I think he likes me because he is always smiling and gazing at me, and he nods weirdly toward me.

I am so confused. I feel special, as if I’m the only one in the world, when I talk to him. I don’t think I like him. But I’m not sure what’s going on because I’ve been such a tomboy and haven’t been paying attention to romantic stuff. Do I like him? Does he like me? Should I just talk about the NBA and ignore everything else?

– Basketball Fan

Dear Fan: You do like your friend. He also likes you. Even tomboys get crushes on people, and whether you are attracted to boys in general doesn’t really matter right now.

You both display classic crush symptoms: non-stop talking, weird nods, feeling special and being confused about it all.

All of this is normal.

At your age, you shouldn’t have to worry too much about what the future holds. Relax, enjoy this special friendship and learn to listen closely to your own feelings. Your feelings will guide you. Even if your feelings change over the course of this friendship, that’s normal too.

And I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but liking the NBA does not make you a lesbian.

Filed under: Sexxx, Pop! Goes the Culture