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Show Fepperminx Monday going to be fifteen next week. I didn't mind running around with a thirteen-year- old as long as she wasn't acting ten. "I'm nominating you for Sophomore Class President." Renae had quit her giggling and tucked her precious letter in her notebook. She was looking at me. It dawned on me that she was talking to me. I wondered what Barton had said in his letter. I wondered what she hoped to receive from me in payment. Later, I wondered why I had ever consented. Kent Harlin was popular, smart and on the junior varsity basketball team. That added up to three advantages for him right from the beginning. I had friends, but a lot of them like Andrea were still in the middle school. They couldn't vote. I couldn't ignore the fact pa was a teacher either. Some of the kids liked him a lot, but most of them didn't care for him. As a man he was all right, but he wasn't on anyone's list as teacher of the year- He knew his anthropology. Anthropology excited most of us about as much as Sonder's blackboard. Anthropology was not a criterion for popularity. Pa was proud of me for trying. He wanted me to take a republician stand on all issues. I had to remind him this was high school elections. I wasn't in the big time yet. Ma said a girl should be class president and Jason and his weird friends offered to make some posters. I doubted their posters were capable of getting me votes, but I didn't say so. I needed whatever help I could get, no matter how idiotic. Along with the elections and my birthday, a speech meet was coming up. I was excited to get older and to take part in my first real speech meet. The meet was in Springfield, with three other high schools involved. I couldn't wait to go. Even the fact that monotone Mr. Sanders was taking |
