to become sexually aware; to awaken to sex; to start having interest in the opposite sex
choosing; selecting; deciding (on)
23rd day of the month; 23 days
homecoming; returning home
seriously; no kidding; joking aside; in all seriousness
playfulness; playful mood; imaginativeness
brown envelope; manila envelope
writing paper; stationery; notepaper
don't worry; no worries; never mind
completely changed; totally transformed
individuality; personality; quirk; idiosyncrasy; character; individual characteristic
sad; sorrowful; melancholy; plaintive
to spare; to grudge; to regret; to lament; to be reluctant (to do); to be unwilling
to appear uncomfortable (with); to seem to hate; to express dislike
nagging; faultfinding; carping; captious
independence; self-reliance
departure (of a train, car, etc.); starting; leaving
roasting; grilling; tempering (in metallurgy); -ware; porcelain
to pitch in and help; to give someone a hand
one's father; one's old man; middle-aged (or older) man; old man; one's boss; proprietor (of a restaurant, store, etc.)
insincere smile; ingratiating smile; polite smile; forced smile
old clothes; secondhand clothing
neither this nor that; being at a loss; humming and hawing; shilly-shallying
bold; daring; dauntless; intrepid; stout-hearted
wearing (e.g. a uniform, seat belt, helmet); having on
age difference; disparity in age; age gap
situation; (present) state of affairs; circumstances
wall of people; crowd of people lined up (e.g. spectators); throng of people
firmly; flatly; definitely (wrong, different, etc.); absolutely; by far; far and away
excess; surplus; superabundance; overabundance
stylish; fashionable; dressing (oneself) up; dressing smartly; fashionable dresser; smartly dressed person
specialist shop; shop specializing in a particular type of product
bulk buying; buying in quantity; stocking up (on)
average (normal, ordinary) year; every year; annually
wise; clever; smart; well-behaved (esp. children and pets); obedient; good
having one's guard up; not showing weak points; (of women) resisting attempts of being hit on; being distrustful of potential love interests; prudish