Chapter 3: The Speeches in Miss Carter’s Class, Cheer Tryouts and the First Game
The students filed into Miss Carter’s language arts class prepared to give their introductory speeches. Miss Carter noticed the fashion show immediately: new clothes and shoes, perfect hair and makeup on the girls, designer ties and shirts on the boys. It was a parade of wealth and self-confidence. Miss Carter shook her head at the display of arrogance.
The kids sat where they wanted, except for Morgan and Michael. They had to wait until all the others had selected their seats. It was as if they were picking out pieces of property, or the status of sitting by a person of importance. After everyone was seated, the classroom was two desks shy. This meant Michael and Morgan had to stand.
“I don’t understand, we had enough seats yesterday.” Miss Carter made a note to give to the custodian. “Very well, who will go first?”
The class looked at each other. Aaron Lewis stepped forward. He unbuttoned his suit coat and began his talk. “Classmates, I’m Aaron Lewis, and I’m a business man. I provide pleasure in a pill or needle.”
Miss Carter laughed, thinking the speech was fiction.
“Hey!” Ryan called from his seat. “Can you fix me up for the weekend?”
“I don’t conduct business in a classroom. I’m here to learn. See me after school.” Aaron explained important business elements like reliable employees and a loyal customer base. When he finished, Miss Carter allowed him to select the next speaker. “I pick…um…the hefty girl in the back.”
Morgan moved from the back to the front. “Nice shoes,” someone commented. Other remarks hit Morgan like stones. “I didn’t know a thrift shop opened in Great Rapids. Did you sew two dresses together? I bet the speech is about sumo wrestling.”
The cruelty continued until she began to speak. “Fellow students, my name is Morgan Daniels, and I’m a new student from the Ridgewood district. Our school closed because our tax base was too low to support it.” The class seemed taken by this heavy girl in the worn clothes and shoes. They peered at her as one would study a biology specimen. They couldn’t understand how someone below their standards had the guts to speak in front of them. “My hobby is sending letters to our troops overseas. I get thank you notes almost weekly.” The class looked puzzled by this misfit and her speech about helping others. Miss Carter applauded, and everyone sat quietly as she returned to her seat.
“I’ll go next.” Cherokee Jones moved to the front of the class. “I’m Cherokee Jones, and I’m head cheerleader.” The class whistled and applauded. “I spend my time working on routines that make the school proud. Cheering is important, so my teachers don’t make me do homework. I love what I do and believe I’m a natural born leader. In case anyone ever forgets I’m a star, they need only look at my shoes. They have a star on the side that means they are not ordinary, and you have to be special to wear them.”
The classroom door opened as Ashley Tikay strolled in. She dropped an excused late note on the teacher’s desk and strolled to the podium. Cherokee took her seat to give Ashley center stage. Even the cheerleaders didn’t mess with Ashley. That day she wore tall boots with a short, black skirt. She put her sunglasses on top of her head and with all the poise of a polished speaker began. “You all know me and you know what I’m about. I don’t play games, and I don’t put up with shit. I like being left alone and don’t date boys. I go out alone. I have a 4.0 GPA and don’t want a lot of friends. The more friends you have, the more people you have who will take advantage of you. I don’t need any of you. I’ve got it figured out on my own. Thank you, Miss Carter. That was my speech.” The class was very quiet as she walked down the aisle. “If you don’t stop staring at my ass, Kyle, you might earn yourself a broken arm.” Kyle jumped up and gave her his seat.
* * *
Morgan decided it was time to talk with the principal. The events she’d seen at East Hollywood High kept her awake at night. But Ratcliff seemed to only half-listen as he shuffled through the papers on his desk. “Can I see your student I.D.?” he finally asked.
Morgan pulled the lanyard from around her neck. “I see, you’re one of the added students from Ridgewood.” The principal handed the lanyard back to her. “I hope you’re finding your experience here to be pleasurable.”
Morgan talked about gym class and language arts. “I see, so you’re having trouble adjusting to your new surroundings,” the principal said. “Give it time, Morgan. It’s only the second day. Now you scoot along, because I have to finish organizing the golf outing.”
Morgan left thinking something was wrong with her. She would try harder to fit in and be friendlier. She volunteered to assist in the cheer tryouts. “Miss Moore, I’d like to help you with cheer tryouts.”
Lana gave her a condescending look. “Can I see your student I.D.? Oh, I see, you’re one of the added ones. Very well, go get the scale and bring it to the center of the gym.”
Morgan pushed the scale on the provided dolly. The hardwood floor smelled of fresh varnish and glistened under the gym lights. “Connect the wire to the weigh station. This way, everyone will see the weight of each girl.”
Some of the girls hadn’t eaten in days. Those who weren’t cheer girls were second class persons. Hundreds tried out, and only a few would make the team. They stepped on the scale one at a time. The weight flashed on the monitor, and the robotic voice announced the number. After this, the girls’ measurements were announced. The finalists were perfect in shape and weight.
“Perhaps you’d like to step on the scale, Morgan,” Lana said. Morgan backed away from the scale. “No, I suppose not,” Lana sighed. Her smile cut Morgan like ice. “It only registers to two-hundred pounds.”
* * *
Friday night football meant the entire town would be in attendance. Volunteers at the gates scanned each spectator. They were logged on the computer. Those in town who didn’t show up were given written notices. A person who missed more than one game would be mentioned at the city council meeting and fined.
The fans went wild as the football team ran onto the field. They never got beat. Some of the players were recruited from other towns, and their parents were given tidy sums as well as moving expenses. The stadium held 10,000 spectators. Those who arrived late had to sit in a special section. The biggest supporters of the athletic boosters could sit in a private box.
The cheerleaders dazzled the crowd. The band played the school fight song, and everyone stood and sang. It was like a well-choreographed event. After the game, the crowd filed into the indoor practice facility for punch, cookies and finger sandwiches.
