So long, summer: end-of-summer friendship dilemmas ... fixed.

The leaves are gonna change, and so will some other stuff. Pool's closed; school's open. What's that mean for a few of your friendships? Plenty.

SEE YA! You two line your beach towels side by side every glorious day. You share sunscreen, swap flip-flops and take turns springing for sno-cones. But the sands of time are slipping away ... because Summerland isn't always where people permanently reside. We're talking about the friend who spends summer with her dad but goes home come Labor Day. Or perhaps you guys were bunkmates at sleepaway camp ... or have been bumming around Beach City, where your families vacation all season.

But, see, summer ends. So you might find yourself suddenly swimming in a sea of "where is she?" Don't be blind-sided by the grief (yes, grief) that's gonna hit. If you and this girl have been daily glue, you will feel a loss. You don't, however, have to lose the friendship. Be prepared for sad days, but get happy and thank the lucky stars for e-mail. Oh, and a fond-farewell gift of stationery or a long-distance calling card should seal the stay-in-touch deal.

SHE'S BAAAACK ... No, not your summertime sister. Your good-old, known-her-since-kindergarten, neighborhood bud. Maybe she's been outta town, or maybe you have. You've missed her sooo much and can't wait to see her! But ... is she gonna be the same-old? A girl can change over the course of three months. What if she comes back all boy-crazy? Or with big boobs? Or, gulp, with a new bud? Can you deal?

She might be a carbon copy of her old self, but a lot of stuff can happen over the summer. If the changes aren't good (she's picked up a shoplifting habit), it could be time to cut ties ... and that's tough. But if she has cool new sun-kissed highlights in her hair or a brand-spankin' confident-about-herself air? Great! You're her friend, remember? So sock away the inevitable twinge of envy--and embrace your new-and-improved bud.

SOLO PERFORMANCE The first day of school is a rush, right? You have a bit of nervous stomach, but you always have your friend by your side. You two meet at the bus stop on The Day, fully prepared to take on that big institution known as the education system. But this year, you're flying solo ... because you and your sidekick are attending different schools. And that big institution is looking BIG. What if you have to sit 'alone at lunchtime? What if you lose your locker combo? What if you can't get down with your class schedule?

OK, chill. You're a big girl, and you can handle stuff without a friend holding your hand. You and your girl are still tight, and school is still school--the perfect place to meet new pals. Making new friends is not a betrayal of your forever bud. (She'll surely make fresh school connections too.) So write your combo inside your binder, and warmly say "hi" to some girls in homeroom ... who are no doubt having their own first-day jitters. It's not so bad now, is it?

SWIM FANS Your day-camp buds want to send off summer with a splash. Literally. They want to sneak into the pool one night for a private pals-only party. The gals are really pressuring you, and it does sound delightfully tempting. Imagine wading under the stars with no whistle-blowing lifeguards. But that's part of the problem. Guards are perched poolside for a reason--your safety.

If that's not enough to get you rethinking this thing, consider this: It's the new school year, and the social scene is in full swing ... except you're home, grounded for eternity. You must bow out of this splash bash, and you should also let your buds know this is a bad idea (after-dark is prime time for swimming accidents). Why not take the easy way out and propose some legit laughs? Who could resist an end-of-season barbecue blowout? In your backyard, of course!