A Level Playing Field by Rachel Wise

Author:Rachel Wise
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon Spotlight

Chapter 9

WOODWARD AND BERNSTEIN, TORN APART BY WORK

Half an hour later, Michael and I stood at the door to the cafeteria, handing out the flyers.

COME ONE, COME ALL!

Cherry Valley Middle School

Parent-Teacher Association meeting

Monday, November 14, at 6:00 p.m.

Cherry Valley Middle School Auditorium

*Pay for Play debate!*

Google “Pay for Play” for more information!

*Let the administration know how you feel!*

* Take our survey tonight on

Buddybook!*

*Please give this flyer to your parents!*

I convinced Michael to make it as objective as possible in the name of journalism. He reluctantly agreed. But so many kids are taking flyers that Michael was pumped, feeling like he was really doing something good for the community, while I felt like a worm, knowing I’d betray him in the press next week.

I handed out my stack as quickly as possible, just trying to get through it, and when Michael offered me some of his stack to hand out, I turned him down, saying I was starving. He knows how hungry I get, so he didn’t protest, and I was so relieved to be done that I rushed through the line and ran to join Hailey, forgetting even to save a seat for Michael. Whoops. A few minutes later, he came to join us and there were no free seats at the table. He still had a stack of flyers in his hand. He must’ve gotten hungry too. His tray had a bowl of homemade organic chicken noodle soup on it from the premium table.

I stood up. “Hey, hand me the soup and you can ditch your tray. Then we’ll drag up an extra chair and you can wedge in here.” But Michael wasn’t interested. He even seemed a little annoyed.

“No, that’s fine. I’ll go sit with Jeff.” Jeff Perry is the newspaper’s photographer and one of Michael’s best friends. I felt terrible.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know you’d be done so fast. I thought these people would all be gone by the time—”

Michael shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. It’s fine.” He turned and walked away. I turned and looked at Hailey.

“Whoops,” she said.

“Big whoops,” I agreed. “Why am I such an idiot?”

“You’re not an idiot,” she said. “But you kind of are, actually. Not about saving the seat, but about handing out the flyers. Listen, Pay to Play is happening, Sam. It can’t not. The school district has to cut something, and it’s not going to be language farts, unfortunately.”

I rolled my eyes. “I know, Hailey. I don’t really care either way since I’m not on any sports team anyway.”

“Wait, you’re not?” joked Hailey.

“Very funny. Anyway, I was just trying to be supportive of Michael,” I said. “So much for that, now that he hates me.”

“Love is too time-consuming for me,” said Hailey breezily. “It’s like a whole extra class. Or being on a team.”

“Yeah. You have to practice,” I said. I looked over at Michael. “And sometimes you get cut,” I added.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.