Thursday, October 16, 2008

And the winner is...

I decided I needed to look as 'presidential' as possible. After all, this was my first-ever run for any kind of political office. And I needed to prepare an acceptance speech should my name be drawn from that hat.
So I went over to Harriet's (again). Harriet had Kristy there already. Kristy still walks with a limp, but she's getting around much better. And she's gone back to school. Since her last name is Van Dyke, she's not in my homeroom. Not sure who she voted for, and I didn't bother to ask. She did, however, finally tell us why she had to have surgery in the first place: she'd smashed her hand and legs in a scooter accident! Now, I think I'd have to be either blind or crazy or both to ride a scooter, but that's Kristy's thing. She likes all kinds of things -- fishing, boating, riding her scooter, and dreams of getting a motorcycle. Matter of fact, I hear she's back riding her scooter again.


And another thing: She LOVES to eat! She'd be very much at home at Harriet's place, Harriet's mom is an awesome cook. Harriet's mom made some spaghetti and meatballs. She also fried some chicken drumsticks. I was hungry, so I took one. Kristy wolfed down the spaghetti.
So over spaghetti and chicken and McDonalds drinks, we all hashed out what I hoped would be an acceptance speech.
I've just started reading Samantha Parkington's books, and I'm beginning to like her more and more. Even though Felicity is still my favorite historical AG, I love that Samantha doesn't discriminate against her friend Nellie just because her family is poor. She doesn't allow her wealth to get in the way of friendship, unlike SOME people we know -- coughMeredithcough.
Speaking of whom, when I saw her, my mouth hit the floor. Her skirt was so short, and her hair so big, that I thought she might have been going to a Hannah Montana concert instead of a school assembly. She even wore -- gasp -- makeup and showed off her new earrings. I mean, seriously. Does she really think she's going to get away with that?
When I walked past, she teased and said I looked like a librarian. I used to care what she says, it used to bother me, but I don't anymore. She doesn't realize how irrelevant (yeah, big word huh?) she really is. The fact that I, lowly little Haley Hotchkiss, got the exact same number of votes as she did, proves that point. The world doesn't revolve around her, although she thinks it does.
So we got to the assembly, and everyone sat in their seats. Some eighth-grade girl, who I believe to be the student body president, walked up to the assistant principal and handed her a box. The assistant principal then gave the box to one of the other teachers, who then pulled a name out of the box.
"And the winner is," she began, her voice booming through the microphone.
Harriet gave me a nudge. "Don't you just love this?" she asked as she grabbed my hand. She didn't want to know. I couldn't tell if she were being sarcastic or not.
Before she read the name out, she went on with all that mumble jumble about how both of us were winners and she was glad to see such enthusiasm in the campaign this year and she was looking forward to working with whoever came out the victor in this election. I was, like, come on, just cut to the chase.
"Haley Hotchkiss!"
I was positively floored. I couldn't believe I actually won. I, geeky, dorky little Haley Hotchkiss, who realistically had no shot at getting elected, actually did get elected. I guess the American voting system still does work, at least in some cases.
I looked around for Meredith, but I didn't see her, at least not at first. I did, however, catch a glimpse of someone running out of the auditorium in tears. In that instant I felt sorry for her. If the outcome had been different, I probably would have felt the same way. I realized that there really wasn't a winner in this election. All it did was split the entire sixth grade into two distinct camps, and it just so happened that my camp won out over hers on the day the election was held. Had the election been on a different day, it probably would have had a different result.
Of course, knowing that I actually won meant that I would have to work even harder than before, but I don't mind. I'm a hard worker by nature. I'm not sure why that is. I suppose I take after my mother, who's an attorney.
Public speaking is not my strong suit, but I'm getting better at it since this whole election thing started. I wasn't going to stand up there and make any promises I couldn't keep, but the promise I would keep was that I was going to do my best to represent the sixth grade.

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