Let me make this as brief as possible... for me. Annie and her friend were on the trampoline and wanted to be sprayed with the hose. They had changed into Annie's play clothes, and after some preamble, I sprayed them down. Annie's friend is at least a foot shorter than her. Nevertheless, at twenty feet away, I suddenly realized that Annie's friend had begun growing boobs. I dismissed it out of a desire to ignore the possibility for Annie. Much to my frustration, they brought it up. Annie and her friend told me that her friend was growing boobs and had a bra. Annie informed me (inaccurately) that she was, too, and needed a bra. They. Are. Nine. She talked to her mother tonight and her mother told her that she would buy her some bras for here and there. I told Annie that we didn't need her mother to buy a bra for our home. Anyway, I am not in any way ready for this...

Update (next day): I am still not ready for this, but I don't think the other girl is really growing breasts. I suspect that because of her somewhat diminutive stature, she is looking for something to make her seem older. I think she was wearing a sports bra or something, and that is what looked like breasts when they were playing in the water on the trampoline. I think I can understand her frustration, though. We spent the day at the Boardwalk where there were still rides that she was not tall enough to enjoy. Heck, they barely let her ride the bumper cars. The most poignant example, though was when I was buying something in a store. As I was paying, the lady at the register asked the girls if they were returning to school tomorrow. The nodded (they were tired), and she asked in a voice that adults reserve for talking with little kids what grade she was in. I noticed it, and thought, 'why are you talking to her like that?' The girl responded that she was in fourth grade, and the lady hid a look of surprise before continuing pushing her foot deeper in her mouth. Turning to Annie she said, 'well then you must be in...' Annie knew where this was going, and said, 'no, I am in fourth grade, too.' Growing up sucks...
Please, God, give me strength... If you are freakin' there...