Free Period: Chapters 26–29

“Dear Madison, super-smart dragon of the mount. We come bearing tidings of mathematical wonder,” Gracie said.

“For in another land, an equally super-smart dragon, with a different but also valuable skill set, has investigated the last five budgets of the magical school masters. And she found where there is gold to be plundered.”

“We bid you adieu, fair maidens, adieu,” Gracie said, doffing an imaginary cap as she backed inside.

These are the different clubs I can join next year and their connections to various cliques.

And these are the teacher advisers I’m most likely to want an influential letter of recommendation from.

“Being successful is not tacky,” Madison said.

But Madison had the gravitas, plain and simple.

Then I gave Madison the gist of my press research and our discussion with the county reporter.

“We know research, logic, persuasion, and yarn arts alone will not work on this board’s inertia. That’s like when you’re on a roller coaster—” I said.

And you are the brakes that stop them from going around again, and they lurch forward in their seats, which freaks them out a little, but then they get out because it’s time to give someone else a chance and they can go get some snow cones.

“Were there enough qualifiers to make it not lying?”

Mama suggested I get something called a “summer job” if I wanted to replenish supplies.

But my head prevailed over my heart, and I ended up writing “Ms. Gracielle Sasso, Menstruator, Pastry Makeover Artist, Human.”

Larisa had been correct in her righteous PA system takeover.

It felt warm and wistful, like a fall day when the sun is so bright you mistake it for summer.

“I got you, but there’s some kids on the younger side, parents who are probably paying a babysitter and can’t stay forever. There’s one of your rulers now, checking on whether his subjects have gone back to their hovels.”

“Let’s start a cult to her,” Gracie agreed.

“I gave my first interview. To Ms. Durand in the vestibule. Great lighting there,” Madison said.

The crowd streamed in and took seats in the rows of folding chairs facing the U-shaped dais.

I am very careful about what I teach my sons. The state says I can opt them out of health class, and you can’t let these kids usurp my power.

This is a waste of taxpayer dollars and a violation of my parental rights. And there are a lot of parents here tonight who will say no to indoctrinating our children.

The practical need, the community desire, the fiscal basis, and most importantly, the county press were swirling around them.

There must have been some part of me hoping they would vote purely to help kids, rather than to save money and save face.

“I move the board vote to remove the line item for individually boxed maxi pads from the contract listed at Agenda Item B.3 and that the business administrator work with the nurse to use those savings to procure the bulk, school-wide supply of, let’s say, modern maxi pads for all middle school bathrooms. Is there a second?”

“When the school said you had to accomplish something, and then there was all that chaos as usual... I don’t know. Soon young people will have always seen pads out in the open, before they ever even get their first period. It will normalize it.”