Purposes of lessons:

• Educate your students about how STDs are spread and what the consequences may be.

• Help teens think about the importance of honest communication and what makes a good friend.

Story synopsis: The anonymous author’s friend Shalane contracts an STD which lands her in the hospital with pelvic inflammatory disease. Shalane tells one of her lovers about her condition but doesn’t contact her other 2-3 boyfriends.

Discussion prompts:

1) Throughout the story the writer refuses to talk with Shalane about Shalane having unprotected sex (Even though she gets angry about this reluctance). She’s worried that Shalane will think she is judging her and she fears that Shalane’s feelings would be hurt if she spoke her mind. Anonymous also refuses to talk with her boyfriend about STDs—even though they don’t have sex with each other—because she fears he will think she doesn’t trust him. What do your students think about Anonymous’ reluctance to talk about STDs? Have they ever talked about this topic with anyone? Do they think Shalane would have gotten angry at Anonymous or would have welcomed an honest discussion about why she wasn’t protecting herself?

2) Shalane tells one of her lovers about her STD but doesn’t tell her other partners because she wants to protect her reputation. Anonymous doesn’t press her to tell the others. What do your students think about this situation? What would they have done in Shalane’s or Anonymous’ place?

3) Anonymous says she thinks differently about STDs since Shalane’s experience and has learned “you can never be too careful about protecting yourself.” But she is still reluctant to talk to her boyfriend about them. Does this make sense to your students? How do they think the boyfriend would react?

4) Anonymous says she’s glad that Shalane got Chlamydia. Why?

5) Why does Shalane believe Trey when he says he doesn’t have an STD? Does Anonymous believe him?


Role play ideas:

1) One student is Shalane and another plays Anonymous. Anonymous decides to be more assertive and tries to persuade Shalane to tell her other sexual partners about her STD. What arguments can she make? How does Shalane respond?

2) Anonymous starts a conversation with Shalane about unsafe sex. What does she say? How can start this discussion in a constructive way that doesn’t anger Shalane? What is Shalane’s reaction?

3) Anonymous and a male student playing her boyfriend. Anonymous tells her boyfriend about Shalane and says she never wants to get a STD. How does her boyfriend react?

4) Anonymous and someone one playing Trey. Anonymous talks to Trey about having unsafe sex with her best friend.

Writing prompts:

1) Write a letter to the editor agreeing or disagreeing with Shalane’s decision not to tell her other partners about her STD.

2) Write a letter to Trey about having unsafe sex with Shalane.

3) Write a letter to Anonymous agreeing or disagreeing with her choice not to talk with Shalane about having unsafe sex.