“Nothing again take my hand be my someone you
Could never offend your dirty words come out
Clean, clean tomorrow, who told who,
Who told ya, who cares if you
Want to play that game even though I
Ain't living for the sky I'm too-”
“Cassandra!”
The girl stopped where she was and looked up, where she saw the principal staring down at her.
“Morning,” she said as she pulled her earbuds out. “How are you, ma’am?”
“Those lyrics are highly inappropriate for a girl your age,” the principal said.
“I’m not nine anymore,” Cassandra said. “Today’s my tenth birthday. Look at what dad got me,” she held up her brand new phone, which was quickly taken away, yanking the earbuds from her head. “Hey!”
“Personal electronics are forbidden on school grounds,” the principal said as she tucked the phone away. "You may pick this up at the end of the day. After detention.”
“But-”
“Oh!” the principal stopped, “And happy birthday.”
The principal headed inside as Phoebe approached Cassandra with a smile.
“Happy birthday, Kassie!” Phoebe held out a small wrapped box with a big smile.
“Phoebe, I need your phone!” Kassie said.
“For what?” Phoebe asked as she held out her phone.
Kassie pocketed the phone and said, “For today,” as she walked inside.
Maddie and Zoey walked by and saw Phoebe standing at the entrance to the school, holding a birthday present.
“Oh, God, is that today?” Zoey asked.
“I’m afraid so,” Phoebe said.
“Which means tonight is-”
“Indeed.”
Zoey sulked inside, leaving Maddie alone with Phoebe.
“Is today like an assembly or something?” Maddie asked.
“You better get inside,” Phoebe said, “Trust me, you do not want to upset Cassandra Hart on her birthday.”
***
“Do we have to go to her party?” Josie asked at lunch.
“Let me put it this way,” Andromeda said, “The last year Katherine was queen of the class until she was ten minutes unfashionably late to Cassandra’s party. The last time someone skipped the party she transfered school. Even Violet is invited and she has to go or else.”
Josie waited. “Or else what?”
Andromeda squinted her eyes, the most serious she had ever been, and said, “You don’t want to know.”
“I wasn’t even invited,” Josie said.
“That’s because they went out last month,” Andromeda said, “Trust me, everyone in our grade has to go.”
“Hey guys, watch,” Neville said. He held up a playing card (7 of hearts) and covered it with a napkin. He blew on it, and the napkin fell off, revealing the 4 of clovers.
Josie let out a giggle.
“What are you wearing?” Andromeda asked.
“What?” Josie asked, looking down. "You mean a pul-"
“No, I mean to the party,” Andromeda rolled her eyes.
“Clothes,” Josie said. “Mostly. Might get some glasses. I don’t need to wear them but they make me look cool.”
“Are you talking about my party?”
The girls looked up as Kassie hovered above them.
“Here you go,” she handed an envelope to Josie, or rather she set it down in front of her.
“Can’t wait to see you there,” Kassie said.
“Sorry, I have plans,” Josie said.
“You know, Josie,” Kassie began to whisper, “This party is a great way to get on my good side and save a seat next to me when I take the fourth grade.”
“And have you come up with an explanation for what that actually means?” Josie asked.
“Sorry, I keep that to the inner circle,” Kassie said as she turned and handed an envelope to Neville.
“But this is a girl’s party,” Neville said, “I’m not a girl.”
“Of course you are, Miss Thompson,” Kassie said, “All the boys are invited this year.”
Andromeda’s eyes went wide. “But that means-”
“Yup,” Kassie smiled.
“It’s a-”
“Mhmm.”
“But it can’t be.”
“Oh,” Kassie made an evil grin, “But it is.”
“It’s a-”
BOY/ GIRL PARTY!!!
***
Kassie made her parents get a dimmer for the basement, she wanted the lights to be just right. The entire fourth grade class was in attendance. However, instead of mingling amongst themselves, it was almost as if Kassie was on stage and everyone was looking upon her.
“So glad you could all make it,” Kassie said.
“Love what you’ve done with the place,” Katherine said.
“I wasn’t done talking,” Kassie said.
Katherine shut up instantly.
Josie looked around at the freak show she was witnessing. She leaned over toward Andromeda and whispered, “What is up with this school?”
Josie had never seen Andromeda so scared.
“Josie,” Kassie said, “Is there a reason you’re interrupting my party?”
Everyone turned to Josie.
“Uh, yeah,” Josie said. “Cus it sucks.”
Everyone gasped in shock.
Kassie flinched for a moment, then said, “Go on. Tell me what it is that bores you about my party?”
“We’ve just been sitting around listening to you tell us what you did on your summer vacation. For an hour.” Josie said, “No one is having conversation. No one’s dancing. I’d even settle for a dumb party game at this point.”
“Well,” Kassie smiled. “It’s funny you mention games. Because we’re about to play the ultimate game.”
From out of nowhere, Kassie produced a brown, glass root beer bottle. “Let’s form a circle,” she said. “Josie, you’re first.”
Josie stood her ground. The group circled up and Josie grabbed the bottle.
“Let me explain the rules,” Kassie said.
“I spin and we kiss,” Josie said. “Not that complicated.”
“This isn’t spin the bottle,” Kassie said. “This here is Modified Seven Minutes and Heaven. You don’t just give the other person a peck on the cheek. You go into the closet for seven minutes. And do whatever you want.”
“Fine.” Josie grabbed the bottle and gave it a spin. It landed on one of the boys on the soccer team. I don’t remember his name but it’s not important. Boys are never important in these things.
“Seven minutes, right?” Josie asked as she went into the closet with him.
Kassie tried not to show it but there was a bit of a huff. Oh that’s right, Kassie had a crush on that dude. What the fuck was his name?
“So what do we do?” Phoebe asked.
“What?”
Kassie asked.
“For seven minutes,” Phoebe said. “Are we just going to wait for them?”
Kassie thought about it for a moment, then shrugged.
Seven awkward minutes later, Josie and that boy came out of the closet.
“Who’s next?” Josie asked.
“I’ll go!” Katherine volunteered.
“Now now,” Kassie said. “It’s my birthday. I’m going next.”
When everyone was situated, Kassie gave the bottle a spin. It landed between Violet and Neville.
“Uhm… I guess I’ll respin.” Kassie gave it another spin, this time it landed directly on Neville.
Neville gasped.
“You know,” Kassie said. “We should’ve shuffled everyone up after Josie and [that boy] came back. Everyone! Get up and move to a different spot.”
As everyone got up, Kassie added, “And I’m getting a new bottle.” She walked over to the fridge and grabbed another root beer. By the time everyone had was once again settled in a new formation, Kassie had downed the whole bottle. She burped.
She gave it another spun and it landed, again, on Neville.
“What is with this bottle?” Kassie asked, tossing it to the ground in a moment that caused everyone to grow still and gasp.
The glass bottle bounced on the carpet.
Phoebe let out a giggle.
Kassie shot her a look.
“Fine,” Kassie said. “Let’s get this over with.”
Kassie sat with Neville in the closet, silent for the first minute.
“Do you have any gum?” she asked.
He shook his head.
“Why are you so weird?” Kassie asked.
“We used to be friends, remember?” Neville asked. “In preschool.”
“Were you the kid that sneezed like a gallon of snot on the teacher?”
Neville paused for a second. “Yeah.”
Kassie smiled. “Nice.” She reached out her hand, and, for a second, Neville looked like he thought she was going to hit him. A second later, they shared a high five.
“So at least we can tell them we touched.” Neville shrugged.
Kassie looked at the time on her phone. She sighed.
“Okay, let’s kiss.”
“What, really?”
“Don’t look at me,” she said, “Don’t touch me, and don’t tell anybody.”
Neville nodded, then closed his eyes.
Kassie leaned in and pressed her lips against his. For brief second, all was well, then Neville seemed to pull back.
“What?!” Kassie spat out.
“Nothing,” Neville looked away.
Kassie stared him down. “Something wrong with the way I kiss?”
“I didn’t say anything,” Neville said.
“Like you would know,” Kassie said, “I bet that was your first kiss.”
“It wasn’t yours?” Neville asked.
Kassie didn’t answer.
“I knew inviting you was a mistake.”
Suddenly, two full bottles of root beer hit Kassie’s bladder, ready to burst.
“Uh oh,” she checked her phone, her eyes blurring at whatever time it said. It felt like they had hours to go until they were freed from their time in heaven.
“Something wrong?” Neville asked.
“Shut up,” Kassie said.
She tried the door, but at her instructions it was locked from the outside. If she started banging on the door demanding to be let out it would make her look bad.
As every slowly second ticked away, Kassie grew desperate.
“Close your eyes and cover your ears,” she said.
“Why?” Neville asked.
“Just do it!” she snapped.
Neville sat down, closed his eyes, and covered his ears.
“And hum.”
Neville started humming.
Kassie looked around. She pushed what shoes were on the floor out of the way and grabbed at her underwear, slipping them down to her thighs as she realized it was almost too late. She figured there was a chance her new party skirt could get damaged in the process, so she gave up on trying to save her panties and hoisted her skirt above her waist.
It was warm.
When she was done, Kassie pulled her now very wet underwear back around her waist and dried her legs with her mom’s fur coat, which she draped over the dark stain in the carpet.
Neville was still humming.
“Neville,” she said. “Stop doing that.”
He stopped as she got out her phone. “It’s been fifteen minutes? Why haven’t they unlocked the door? Or come for us?”
“I don’t think anyone locked the door,” Neville said, easily opening it.
“You have got to be kidding me,” Kassie said, we butt stinging wet with shame.
As the two exited the closet, they saw everyone hanging around, chatting and having a good time. A few people were even dancing as Phoebe DJed from her phone that was plugged into a speaker.
“Whathafuh?” Kassie said.
“Oh, we forgot you were in there,” Katherine said. “Josie here got the party going though. She’s a real catch, isn’t she?”
“I’ll be right back,” Kassie said.
As Josie talked with Andromeda and Maddie, she couldn’t help but notice a certain stride in Kassie as she walked up the steps.
***
“Kassie?” Josie knocked on the door, but it slowly opened on its own.
“What are you doing in here?” the fiery ten year old asked, quickly lowering her dress.
“I thought you might want some help.” Josie said. “I have been around enough… Well I knew right away what was wrong with you the way you were walking.”
“Well whatever you think you know,” Kassie said, “It’s none of your business.”
“Fine,” Josie said. “I’m done trying to be your friend.” She turned to the door.
"Hey," Kassie said, stopping her. "Don't tell anyone, kay?"
Josie stood for a second, but didn't face Kassie. And then she left.
Kassie sighed. She took her wet underwear and buried them at the bottom of the garbage can in the bathroom.
She washed her hands and considered heading back down to her party. Instead, she laid down in bed for a moment and started to cry. She wasn’t bawling like a baby, but her eyes were certainly getting a lot wetter.
There was a knock on the door.
“Go away, Josie!” Kassie called, starting to wipe her tears.
“It’s just me,” Phoebe said as she walked in and closed the door behind her. “Everyone is having fun downstairs. What’s wrong with you?”
Kassie stared up at her ceiling fan and asked, “Am I a bad kisser?”
“What?” Phoebe asked, stepping back. “How should I know? Wait a minute, did you kiss Neville in there?”
Kassie froze, then grabbed an extra pillow and covered her face. "This is the worst day of my life. Even the class weirdo dosen't want to kiss me." From the darkness, she could feel Phoebe crawling into bed next to her.
“You know,” Phoebe said, “This is already the best party you’ve ever thrown. Even if Josie’s the one who saved it after we all forget you were in the closet. Anyway, I think we can get away with hiding out up here for the rest of the night.”
Kassie mumbled under the pillow.
Phoebe smiled. “Yeah,” she said, “I like Josie too.”
They lay their together, silent in Kassie’s bed, for a brief moment.
“Why do you smell like pee?” Phoebe asked.
That's when Kassie really started to cry her eyes out.
***
By the start of the next week, everyone was still talking about Kassie’s epic party. Even though she was rejected by the grossest boy in class and then peed all over herself in a closet, it had gone better than she could’ve hoped.
“Hey, Josie,” Kassie said as she passed the new girl in the hall. “Thanks for coming to my party.”
“Oh,” Josie was taken back a bit. “No problem. Cassandra.”
“Ugh,” Kassie turned around. “I’m ten now. Call me Kassie.”
Josie smiled and nodded.
“Come on, Feebs!” Kassie snapped her fingers and walked into class with her protege.
After the bell rang and everyone settled, the teacher addressed the class. “Now as you all know,” she said, “Being in the fourth grade is not going to be like the last few years. The school understands that you are mature and smart enough to make intelligent decisions as a class. Some of you want five more minutes of recess, some want the vending machines back in the lunchroom. To make your voice heard, this coming quarter we’re going to hold an election for a fourth grade class president. He or she will represent this class in the student government for the rest of the year. Sign ups will be on my desk and campaigns will begin immediately. Good luck, everyone. Now, get out your reading books and turn to page 34.”
Kassie smiled. She had finally figured it out. Running for and winning the election. Being class president. Finally having control over things Katherine could only dream of. This was it.
This was how she would take the fourth grade. And then the whole class would turn to clay in her hand.
Clay!!! That was the boy's name.
Could never offend your dirty words come out
Clean, clean tomorrow, who told who,
Who told ya, who cares if you
Want to play that game even though I
Ain't living for the sky I'm too-”
“Cassandra!”
The girl stopped where she was and looked up, where she saw the principal staring down at her.
“Morning,” she said as she pulled her earbuds out. “How are you, ma’am?”
“Those lyrics are highly inappropriate for a girl your age,” the principal said.
“I’m not nine anymore,” Cassandra said. “Today’s my tenth birthday. Look at what dad got me,” she held up her brand new phone, which was quickly taken away, yanking the earbuds from her head. “Hey!”
“Personal electronics are forbidden on school grounds,” the principal said as she tucked the phone away. "You may pick this up at the end of the day. After detention.”
“But-”
“Oh!” the principal stopped, “And happy birthday.”
The principal headed inside as Phoebe approached Cassandra with a smile.
“Happy birthday, Kassie!” Phoebe held out a small wrapped box with a big smile.
“Phoebe, I need your phone!” Kassie said.
“For what?” Phoebe asked as she held out her phone.
Kassie pocketed the phone and said, “For today,” as she walked inside.
Maddie and Zoey walked by and saw Phoebe standing at the entrance to the school, holding a birthday present.
“Oh, God, is that today?” Zoey asked.
“I’m afraid so,” Phoebe said.
“Which means tonight is-”
“Indeed.”
Zoey sulked inside, leaving Maddie alone with Phoebe.
“Is today like an assembly or something?” Maddie asked.
“You better get inside,” Phoebe said, “Trust me, you do not want to upset Cassandra Hart on her birthday.”
***
“Do we have to go to her party?” Josie asked at lunch.
“Let me put it this way,” Andromeda said, “The last year Katherine was queen of the class until she was ten minutes unfashionably late to Cassandra’s party. The last time someone skipped the party she transfered school. Even Violet is invited and she has to go or else.”
Josie waited. “Or else what?”
Andromeda squinted her eyes, the most serious she had ever been, and said, “You don’t want to know.”
“I wasn’t even invited,” Josie said.
“That’s because they went out last month,” Andromeda said, “Trust me, everyone in our grade has to go.”
“Hey guys, watch,” Neville said. He held up a playing card (7 of hearts) and covered it with a napkin. He blew on it, and the napkin fell off, revealing the 4 of clovers.
Josie let out a giggle.
“What are you wearing?” Andromeda asked.
“What?” Josie asked, looking down. "You mean a pul-"
“No, I mean to the party,” Andromeda rolled her eyes.
“Clothes,” Josie said. “Mostly. Might get some glasses. I don’t need to wear them but they make me look cool.”
“Are you talking about my party?”
The girls looked up as Kassie hovered above them.
“Here you go,” she handed an envelope to Josie, or rather she set it down in front of her.
“Can’t wait to see you there,” Kassie said.
“Sorry, I have plans,” Josie said.
“You know, Josie,” Kassie began to whisper, “This party is a great way to get on my good side and save a seat next to me when I take the fourth grade.”
“And have you come up with an explanation for what that actually means?” Josie asked.
“Sorry, I keep that to the inner circle,” Kassie said as she turned and handed an envelope to Neville.
“But this is a girl’s party,” Neville said, “I’m not a girl.”
“Of course you are, Miss Thompson,” Kassie said, “All the boys are invited this year.”
Andromeda’s eyes went wide. “But that means-”
“Yup,” Kassie smiled.
“It’s a-”
“Mhmm.”
“But it can’t be.”
“Oh,” Kassie made an evil grin, “But it is.”
“It’s a-”
BOY/ GIRL PARTY!!!
***
Kassie made her parents get a dimmer for the basement, she wanted the lights to be just right. The entire fourth grade class was in attendance. However, instead of mingling amongst themselves, it was almost as if Kassie was on stage and everyone was looking upon her.
“So glad you could all make it,” Kassie said.
“Love what you’ve done with the place,” Katherine said.
“I wasn’t done talking,” Kassie said.
Katherine shut up instantly.
Josie looked around at the freak show she was witnessing. She leaned over toward Andromeda and whispered, “What is up with this school?”
Josie had never seen Andromeda so scared.
“Josie,” Kassie said, “Is there a reason you’re interrupting my party?”
Everyone turned to Josie.
“Uh, yeah,” Josie said. “Cus it sucks.”
Everyone gasped in shock.
Kassie flinched for a moment, then said, “Go on. Tell me what it is that bores you about my party?”
“We’ve just been sitting around listening to you tell us what you did on your summer vacation. For an hour.” Josie said, “No one is having conversation. No one’s dancing. I’d even settle for a dumb party game at this point.”
“Well,” Kassie smiled. “It’s funny you mention games. Because we’re about to play the ultimate game.”
From out of nowhere, Kassie produced a brown, glass root beer bottle. “Let’s form a circle,” she said. “Josie, you’re first.”
Josie stood her ground. The group circled up and Josie grabbed the bottle.
“Let me explain the rules,” Kassie said.
“I spin and we kiss,” Josie said. “Not that complicated.”
“This isn’t spin the bottle,” Kassie said. “This here is Modified Seven Minutes and Heaven. You don’t just give the other person a peck on the cheek. You go into the closet for seven minutes. And do whatever you want.”
“Fine.” Josie grabbed the bottle and gave it a spin. It landed on one of the boys on the soccer team. I don’t remember his name but it’s not important. Boys are never important in these things.
“Seven minutes, right?” Josie asked as she went into the closet with him.
Kassie tried not to show it but there was a bit of a huff. Oh that’s right, Kassie had a crush on that dude. What the fuck was his name?
“So what do we do?” Phoebe asked.
“What?”
Kassie asked.
“For seven minutes,” Phoebe said. “Are we just going to wait for them?”
Kassie thought about it for a moment, then shrugged.
Seven awkward minutes later, Josie and that boy came out of the closet.
“Who’s next?” Josie asked.
“I’ll go!” Katherine volunteered.
“Now now,” Kassie said. “It’s my birthday. I’m going next.”
When everyone was situated, Kassie gave the bottle a spin. It landed between Violet and Neville.
“Uhm… I guess I’ll respin.” Kassie gave it another spin, this time it landed directly on Neville.
Neville gasped.
“You know,” Kassie said. “We should’ve shuffled everyone up after Josie and [that boy] came back. Everyone! Get up and move to a different spot.”
As everyone got up, Kassie added, “And I’m getting a new bottle.” She walked over to the fridge and grabbed another root beer. By the time everyone had was once again settled in a new formation, Kassie had downed the whole bottle. She burped.
She gave it another spun and it landed, again, on Neville.
“What is with this bottle?” Kassie asked, tossing it to the ground in a moment that caused everyone to grow still and gasp.
The glass bottle bounced on the carpet.
Phoebe let out a giggle.
Kassie shot her a look.
“Fine,” Kassie said. “Let’s get this over with.”
Kassie sat with Neville in the closet, silent for the first minute.
“Do you have any gum?” she asked.
He shook his head.
“Why are you so weird?” Kassie asked.
“We used to be friends, remember?” Neville asked. “In preschool.”
“Were you the kid that sneezed like a gallon of snot on the teacher?”
Neville paused for a second. “Yeah.”
Kassie smiled. “Nice.” She reached out her hand, and, for a second, Neville looked like he thought she was going to hit him. A second later, they shared a high five.
“So at least we can tell them we touched.” Neville shrugged.
Kassie looked at the time on her phone. She sighed.
“Okay, let’s kiss.”
“What, really?”
“Don’t look at me,” she said, “Don’t touch me, and don’t tell anybody.”
Neville nodded, then closed his eyes.
Kassie leaned in and pressed her lips against his. For brief second, all was well, then Neville seemed to pull back.
“What?!” Kassie spat out.
“Nothing,” Neville looked away.
Kassie stared him down. “Something wrong with the way I kiss?”
“I didn’t say anything,” Neville said.
“Like you would know,” Kassie said, “I bet that was your first kiss.”
“It wasn’t yours?” Neville asked.
Kassie didn’t answer.
“I knew inviting you was a mistake.”
Suddenly, two full bottles of root beer hit Kassie’s bladder, ready to burst.
“Uh oh,” she checked her phone, her eyes blurring at whatever time it said. It felt like they had hours to go until they were freed from their time in heaven.
“Something wrong?” Neville asked.
“Shut up,” Kassie said.
She tried the door, but at her instructions it was locked from the outside. If she started banging on the door demanding to be let out it would make her look bad.
As every slowly second ticked away, Kassie grew desperate.
“Close your eyes and cover your ears,” she said.
“Why?” Neville asked.
“Just do it!” she snapped.
Neville sat down, closed his eyes, and covered his ears.
“And hum.”
Neville started humming.
Kassie looked around. She pushed what shoes were on the floor out of the way and grabbed at her underwear, slipping them down to her thighs as she realized it was almost too late. She figured there was a chance her new party skirt could get damaged in the process, so she gave up on trying to save her panties and hoisted her skirt above her waist.
It was warm.
When she was done, Kassie pulled her now very wet underwear back around her waist and dried her legs with her mom’s fur coat, which she draped over the dark stain in the carpet.
Neville was still humming.
“Neville,” she said. “Stop doing that.”
He stopped as she got out her phone. “It’s been fifteen minutes? Why haven’t they unlocked the door? Or come for us?”
“I don’t think anyone locked the door,” Neville said, easily opening it.
“You have got to be kidding me,” Kassie said, we butt stinging wet with shame.
As the two exited the closet, they saw everyone hanging around, chatting and having a good time. A few people were even dancing as Phoebe DJed from her phone that was plugged into a speaker.
“Whathafuh?” Kassie said.
“Oh, we forgot you were in there,” Katherine said. “Josie here got the party going though. She’s a real catch, isn’t she?”
“I’ll be right back,” Kassie said.
As Josie talked with Andromeda and Maddie, she couldn’t help but notice a certain stride in Kassie as she walked up the steps.
***
“Kassie?” Josie knocked on the door, but it slowly opened on its own.
“What are you doing in here?” the fiery ten year old asked, quickly lowering her dress.
“I thought you might want some help.” Josie said. “I have been around enough… Well I knew right away what was wrong with you the way you were walking.”
“Well whatever you think you know,” Kassie said, “It’s none of your business.”
“Fine,” Josie said. “I’m done trying to be your friend.” She turned to the door.
"Hey," Kassie said, stopping her. "Don't tell anyone, kay?"
Josie stood for a second, but didn't face Kassie. And then she left.
Kassie sighed. She took her wet underwear and buried them at the bottom of the garbage can in the bathroom.
She washed her hands and considered heading back down to her party. Instead, she laid down in bed for a moment and started to cry. She wasn’t bawling like a baby, but her eyes were certainly getting a lot wetter.
There was a knock on the door.
“Go away, Josie!” Kassie called, starting to wipe her tears.
“It’s just me,” Phoebe said as she walked in and closed the door behind her. “Everyone is having fun downstairs. What’s wrong with you?”
Kassie stared up at her ceiling fan and asked, “Am I a bad kisser?”
“What?” Phoebe asked, stepping back. “How should I know? Wait a minute, did you kiss Neville in there?”
Kassie froze, then grabbed an extra pillow and covered her face. "This is the worst day of my life. Even the class weirdo dosen't want to kiss me." From the darkness, she could feel Phoebe crawling into bed next to her.
“You know,” Phoebe said, “This is already the best party you’ve ever thrown. Even if Josie’s the one who saved it after we all forget you were in the closet. Anyway, I think we can get away with hiding out up here for the rest of the night.”
Kassie mumbled under the pillow.
Phoebe smiled. “Yeah,” she said, “I like Josie too.”
They lay their together, silent in Kassie’s bed, for a brief moment.
“Why do you smell like pee?” Phoebe asked.
That's when Kassie really started to cry her eyes out.
***
By the start of the next week, everyone was still talking about Kassie’s epic party. Even though she was rejected by the grossest boy in class and then peed all over herself in a closet, it had gone better than she could’ve hoped.
“Hey, Josie,” Kassie said as she passed the new girl in the hall. “Thanks for coming to my party.”
“Oh,” Josie was taken back a bit. “No problem. Cassandra.”
“Ugh,” Kassie turned around. “I’m ten now. Call me Kassie.”
Josie smiled and nodded.
“Come on, Feebs!” Kassie snapped her fingers and walked into class with her protege.
After the bell rang and everyone settled, the teacher addressed the class. “Now as you all know,” she said, “Being in the fourth grade is not going to be like the last few years. The school understands that you are mature and smart enough to make intelligent decisions as a class. Some of you want five more minutes of recess, some want the vending machines back in the lunchroom. To make your voice heard, this coming quarter we’re going to hold an election for a fourth grade class president. He or she will represent this class in the student government for the rest of the year. Sign ups will be on my desk and campaigns will begin immediately. Good luck, everyone. Now, get out your reading books and turn to page 34.”
Kassie smiled. She had finally figured it out. Running for and winning the election. Being class president. Finally having control over things Katherine could only dream of. This was it.
This was how she would take the fourth grade. And then the whole class would turn to clay in her hand.
Clay!!! That was the boy's name.