bolted for the shower. Politicians must always know when another person is better suited to handle a problem. Mom could take this one.
After my shower, I found I had the kitchen to myself. Buzz and Markie were gone. I read Daniel’s and Sarah’s notes on the fridge—he had early-morning hockey practice and she was meeting Doug for their anniversary breakfast. Sarah makes him celebrate their anniversary every week. I’m so glad that’s not the kind of girlfriend Tina is. I’ll be relieved to get this election over with so I can start paying more attention to her.
I poured myself a cup of coffee and sat at the table, tipping the chair back and putting my feet up. Even the greatest of leaders need to take a little me time.
I thought about the day ahead. I had a lot of vote-getting to do with only one day left before the election.
“Kevin.” I was so surprised that I fell out of my chair. When I looked up from the puddle of coffee on the floor, I saw Milania leaning against the back door.
I scrambled to my feet as she let herself in. She tossed me a roll of paper towels and I wiped up the coffee.
“I came over to walk to school with you. We need face time.”
“We do?”
“We need to make plans.”
“What kind?” It wasn’t my voice that asked Milania; it was Katie’s. I looked up from a handful of soggy paper towels to see Katie standing at the back door.
I squeezed my eyes tight and shook my head, wishing I could trade them for Tina this morning. No such luck: when I opened my eyes, Milania and Katie were sizing each other up across the counter. I glanced at the clock. Too early for something like this, but almost too late to get to school on time.
“We’ll talk and walk.” I all but shoved them out the back door. Politicians have to multitask.
“So,” Katie said to Milania as we hit the sidewalk, “what about these plans you were discussing?”
Normally I’d describe Katie as having the kind of interpersonal communication style the military teaches in interrogation classes, but today—maybe Iwas distracted trying to air-dry my coffee-drenched shirt—she sounded, I don’t know, human.
“Look”—Milania cut to the chase—“I know you’re working with Cash on his campaign, but you’re going to lose.”
“What makes you so sure Kev’s going to win?” Katie asked. “No offense,” she said to me. I shrugged.
“Why do you think he won’t?”
Ah! I’ve heard about this: answering a question with a question, putting your opponent on the defensive. Brilliant strategy, Milania.
“Nice rebuttal.” Katie and I admire quick thinking even when it’s someone else’s. “You know I’m captain of the debate team, right?”
“Right. And you know I’m captain of the state championship–bound basketball team?”
I was walking between two über-competitive girls, suddenly the last place I wanted to be. I dropped back a few paces and listened; they’d forgotten I was there.
“I’ve been working all week to win over the debate team, the show choir, the orchestra, the band and the foreign-language clubs,” Katie said. “They’re all planning to vote for Cash.”
“I’ve got every sports team locked down for Kev.”
Huh. Cash and I were almost … superfluous. Katie and Milania had the situation well in hand.
“What’s your interest in the election?” Katie asked.
“What’s yours?”
“I want to make a difference in how the school is run.”
Milania nodded. “I want to inspire girls to try out for sports because of our success and the amount of student support we’ve earned through our hard work and belief in our abilities.”
Leave it to Katie and Milania to miss the point of politics. Good thing they’re strictly behind-the-scenes people. It’s personalities like mine—and, let’s face it, even Cash’s—that are made for the front line of political battle. He may be making a desperate attempt at popularity and I may be in it for the fame and glory
After my shower, I found I had the kitchen to myself. Buzz and Markie were gone. I read Daniel’s and Sarah’s notes on the fridge—he had early-morning hockey practice and she was meeting Doug for their anniversary breakfast. Sarah makes him celebrate their anniversary every week. I’m so glad that’s not the kind of girlfriend Tina is. I’ll be relieved to get this election over with so I can start paying more attention to her.
I poured myself a cup of coffee and sat at the table, tipping the chair back and putting my feet up. Even the greatest of leaders need to take a little me time.
I thought about the day ahead. I had a lot of vote-getting to do with only one day left before the election.
“Kevin.” I was so surprised that I fell out of my chair. When I looked up from the puddle of coffee on the floor, I saw Milania leaning against the back door.
I scrambled to my feet as she let herself in. She tossed me a roll of paper towels and I wiped up the coffee.
“I came over to walk to school with you. We need face time.”
“We do?”
“We need to make plans.”
“What kind?” It wasn’t my voice that asked Milania; it was Katie’s. I looked up from a handful of soggy paper towels to see Katie standing at the back door.
I squeezed my eyes tight and shook my head, wishing I could trade them for Tina this morning. No such luck: when I opened my eyes, Milania and Katie were sizing each other up across the counter. I glanced at the clock. Too early for something like this, but almost too late to get to school on time.
“We’ll talk and walk.” I all but shoved them out the back door. Politicians have to multitask.
“So,” Katie said to Milania as we hit the sidewalk, “what about these plans you were discussing?”
Normally I’d describe Katie as having the kind of interpersonal communication style the military teaches in interrogation classes, but today—maybe Iwas distracted trying to air-dry my coffee-drenched shirt—she sounded, I don’t know, human.
“Look”—Milania cut to the chase—“I know you’re working with Cash on his campaign, but you’re going to lose.”
“What makes you so sure Kev’s going to win?” Katie asked. “No offense,” she said to me. I shrugged.
“Why do you think he won’t?”
Ah! I’ve heard about this: answering a question with a question, putting your opponent on the defensive. Brilliant strategy, Milania.
“Nice rebuttal.” Katie and I admire quick thinking even when it’s someone else’s. “You know I’m captain of the debate team, right?”
“Right. And you know I’m captain of the state championship–bound basketball team?”
I was walking between two über-competitive girls, suddenly the last place I wanted to be. I dropped back a few paces and listened; they’d forgotten I was there.
“I’ve been working all week to win over the debate team, the show choir, the orchestra, the band and the foreign-language clubs,” Katie said. “They’re all planning to vote for Cash.”
“I’ve got every sports team locked down for Kev.”
Huh. Cash and I were almost … superfluous. Katie and Milania had the situation well in hand.
“What’s your interest in the election?” Katie asked.
“What’s yours?”
“I want to make a difference in how the school is run.”
Milania nodded. “I want to inspire girls to try out for sports because of our success and the amount of student support we’ve earned through our hard work and belief in our abilities.”
Leave it to Katie and Milania to miss the point of politics. Good thing they’re strictly behind-the-scenes people. It’s personalities like mine—and, let’s face it, even Cash’s—that are made for the front line of political battle. He may be making a desperate attempt at popularity and I may be in it for the fame and glory
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