Planet High School

by Mia Rodriguez

  I smile. "Thanks, Aunt Letty."

  "Count on me for all the help you need."

  "I'm going to take you up on that," I rush. I'm going to need all the help I can get.

  "Please do."

  When Benjamin comes over to my house that evening to have dinner, I'm anxious to tell him, but I wait till after our meal. I'm enjoying how well he gets along with my family. Even the twins have little crushes on him.

  "Thank you for having me for dinner," he tells my parents as soon as he arrives.

  "Thank you for joining us," my mom responds.

  He sits next to me at the dining table. After my dad says grace, we start passing the pot roast and side dishes. The twins stare at him throughout the meal. Benjamin does a good job ignoring it.

  "Tell your parents to pick a day next week, so they can come have dinner with us," my dad tells Benjamin.

  "I sure will."

  Every since my family had made up with the Quintanillas, my parents seem happier. They really like Benjamin's family and get along perfectly with them. Laughter, fun, and pleasant words are always being exchanged between neighbors. This makes me think what a silly waste it had been all those years they didn't talk to each other. I'm more determined than ever to start my club. There are too many people out there not speaking to one another for silly reasons and ideas.

  "Your parents are the best," my dad states, grinning.

  Benjamin grins back. "They are."

  "We should have a barbeque this weekend with just the two families," my mom announces.

  Dad almost wants to bust with excitement. Grilling is such a thrill for him. "Yeah! That's what I'm talking about!"

  "I'll tell my parents," Benjamin states.

  After the meal, Benjamin and I go to my backyard where we sit on lawn chairs and stare at the starry sky. I tell him my idea.

  "Wow, Zuria, it's a great idea."

  I smile. "My Aunt Letty thinks so too."

  "Count me in for any help."

  I'm pleased that the people closest to me are willing to help me.

  At school, after I tell Lorena and Peebo about the club, they seem excited too. When I set my plan into motion, the administrators like the idea behind the club, so they okay it.

  Together with a group of friends, we hang up posters and spread the word. There seems to be excitement about this kind of club. I'm thrilled. I talk to Aunt Letty about how to organize the club. She suggests that there be no officers but instead, I should be the coordinator for it. No formal leadership because it'll be a club of ideas. It should be a democracy where everyone votes on stuff. Ms. Brizz and another teacher agree to be our sponsors. The first meeting will be in a week.

  A week!

  I'm nervously trying to figure out who our first speaker will be. Who to ask. I get suggestions of picking amongst some politicians. Other students tell me I should ask some community leaders. I'm having a really hard time deciding. There are so many choices, and I want the first meeting to be very special. If I have a boring start to the club, students might not give it a chance.

  I have to make the right move.

  The speaker has to be charismatic, absorbing, and credible. The speaker will have to tell us great truths.

  Benjamin tells me he doesn't know why I'm having such a hard time with choosing the speaker. He chuckles as he shakes his head.

  "If it's so easy then who would you pick?" I ask, irritated.

  "That's easy," he says smugly.

  "Easy?"

  "Yes."

  I eye him with disbelief. "Really?"

  "Yep."

  "Who?"

  He smiles slyly. "You really can't guess?"

  "No."

  "Think."

  I let out an exasperated sigh. "Just tell me, Benjamin."

  "Your Aunt Letty, of course. Who else?"

  Chapter 37

  I stare at him open mouthed, feeling very silly. How in the world hadn't I thought of it?

  "Sometimes it's hard to see what's right in front of you," Benjamin states.

  "I guess I take her for granted," I murmur.

  "You get to visit with her all the time, but the rest of us aren't so lucky. She should be your first speaker, Zuri."

  Calling my aunt, she readily agrees to do it. Everything is set. The pieces are all in place.

  As the day starts nearing, I start having my doubts. It's not because I don't have faith in my favorite aunt's ability to speak to a crowd. It's not because I consider her anything less than brilliant. It's not because I don't adore her and admire her greatly.

  It's because she's my Crazy Aunt Letty.

  She may be too out-of-the-box to spring on some students at the very first meeting. I mean, should I have made her the speaker somewhere down the road and play it safe for the first meetings?

  "No," Benjamin tells me.

  "No?"

  "Shake the students up right from the beginning. It'll do them some good."

  "Or it'll scare them," I say wryly.

  "It's not bad to be scared about all the craziness going on in this world," states Benjamin.

  "You think so?"

  "Hey, slipping on mud on a hill in Mexico was one of the best things that ever happened to me. It really shook me up. Your aunt can do the same for those of us who are just rambling through life with our brains in a jail. She can challenge us to break free."

  I liked that example. Benjamin really had a way with words sometimes.

  "Okay," I state.

  The day is here for my first meeting of Teens for a Better World, and I'm very jittery. I don't know where my inner warrior great grandmother or Katniss Everdeen are, but neither seems to be with me today.

  Having my favorite aunt speak today is risky at best. She's blunt and doesn't tolerate anything that remotely resembles B.S. It's anyone's guess as to what will come out of her mouth today.

  I decide to let Benjamin introduce her since it might be considered a conflict of interest if I do it. People might think that I'm only saying nice things about her since she's my aunt.

  "When Zuria asked me to introduce today's guest speaker, I couldn't have felt more honored. Ms. Leticia Orzo is one of the people I most admire. Yeah, she's pretty awesome. If you don't know her or about her, you're on a lucky streak right now. Ms. Orzo will challenge all your ideas about yourself, and will bring light into your brains. Sometimes our minds are full of fog, and it takes someone like her to cut through it. A lot of us who live in her neighborhood go to her for advice all the time.

  "Let me give you just a little of her background. Ms. Orzo put herself through college with scholarships and has a Ph.D. in English Literature. She's taught English throughout the world. She retired and now helps at-risk students. She's a hero. Give her a warm welcome because she's going to knock your socks off."

  An enthusiastic but calm applause ensues. Wow! What an introduction. I'm so proud of my boyfriend.

  As my favorite aunt steps up to the front of the large crowd in the classroom wearing her usual costume of a loose jean skirt and a black T-shirt with the word peace emblazoned on it in colorful, metallic letters, I take a sharp breath. She hadn't bothered to dress up. She always does things her way.

  She starts speaking in comfortable tones as if she's used to being in front of groups and people. "I know Benjamin introduced me as Ms. Leticia Orzo but please call me what everyone calls me—Crazy Aunt Letty. I'd rather be considered crazy with ideas than in a box and close minded.

  Several in the crowd yell, "Right!!! Crazy Aunt Letty rocks!!!"

  Then she starts her speech. It only takes a few minutes for me to stare in awe at her—like everyone in the room is doing. She's right on target with everything. The world is a mess. Us, the young, are going to inherit all kinds of problems and twisted ideas that should've been straightened out a long time ago. I mean, how long have we humans been on this earth and we keep
doing the same idiocies over and over again? Where's the learning? Where's the expansion of the very little we actually use of our brains? Where's actual progress? Why can't the future be about learning our lessons from the past? Why are we stuck in our own ethnocentric places? What's up with that? Really!—what in the world is up with it? How many times can you do the same silly thing before realizing there's a better way?

  Why was that couple at that restaurant with Lorena and Peebo saying such derogatory things? Why were their brains so shut off to enlightenment? Aunt Letty is right! Us, the young, have a different experience with our ability to connect to everyone in the world. We don't have to sit in our claustrophobic corners and convince ourselves that that's the only superior space there is. We're going to be the ones inheriting the earth, so we'd better start helping to straighten it and ourselves out now. The adults are leaving us with a whole quagmire in our hands.

  Chapter 38

  Everyone except for one of the teachers gives my Aunt Letty a standing ovation. Ms. Brizz rushes up to her when the very enthusiastic applause dies down, after a long moment. The other teacher rushes out of the room with a stricken look.

  The next day, students who had been at the meeting keep coming up to me and thanking me for my aunt. Principal Hernandez asks me to her office. I know I'm in trouble but after my aunt's speech, I feel empowered. I step into her office with my head held high.

  The principal tells me that I won't be able to have the club after all. I argue with her, and she gives in a little. She says I can have the club if I agree to several conditions. I'd have to put a formal leadership together with a president and so forth, and she and the other administrators will have to approve of the speakers beforehand.

  I step out of her office upset. When I see Benjamin during lunch, he is as upset as I am when I tell him about what happened with the principal. So are Lorena and Peebo. During Social Studies, Ms. Brizz takes Benjamin and me out of the classroom to speak to us in private. A teacher on her free period across the hall lets us use the room.

  She had heard that the principal had wanted to speak to me and asks me what happened. I tell her the whole story.

  She sighs deeply. "I thought that was going to happen." She's not at all surprised.

  "It really sucks," Benjamin retorts.

  "Look, I'm not trying to defend her," Ms. Brizz states, "but she has her hands tied on a lot of things. A lot is on her shoulders."

  "Well, I'm going to fight her," I state.

  Ms. Brizz eyes me carefully. "I'm sure that Crazy Aunt Letty would tell you to pick your battles."

  "Yeah, she would."

  "This isn't a battle worth fighting. It's better to win the war."

  I have no idea what she's trying to tell me. Apparently, neither does Benjamin. He's staring at her with a strange look on his face. "I don't know what you're saying."

  "You can hold the club outside of the school."

  "I can?" I question.

  "Yes, of course, and then you wouldn't be tied down. You can have your club the way you want it—within reason of course. No one would be able to tell you to put a muzzle on your Crazy Aunt Letty. Think about it."

  After school, Benjamin and I visit my aunt to tell her about the principal and Ms. Brizz. As usual, Aunt Letty listens carefully before giving an opinion.

  "There are pros and cons to having your club in school or out of it," she states.

  "Yeah," I murmur.

  "But there's something huge about being able to do things your way without interference from caged and trapped minds."

  "Ain't that the truth," blurts Benjamin.

  "Where would we hold our meetings?" I ask, worried.

  "I've got the perfect solution," Benjamin interjects.

  "What is it?" I ask.

  "My garage is huge," he states.

  My eyes meet his. "You think your parents will let us use your garage?"

  "Sure," he states simply.

  "Okay," I say, "let's try it."

  Benjamin's parents tell us they're thrilled with our persistence with the club, and are delighted to offer their garage for our use. As we spread the word, students inform me they like the idea of a club outside of the school grounds. Preparations start. My dad buys a slew of folding chairs to be put into the Quintanilla garage. He tells me he'll help with whatever is needed.

  In between all the hoopla of organizing ourselves, I talk to Benjamin about a very important issue. He's all ears.

  "You know, if we're going to help change the world, we're going to have to try to change what we consider our neighborhood first."

  "What do you mean?" he asks with curiosity.

  "Let's host a barbeque with all the new members invited and their families. That way we expand on what we consider our neighborhood."

  "Great idea, Zuri."

  Dad readily agrees to it. There's nothing he likes better than to host a grilling party. He's excited. My mom's excited to meet other people.

  On the day of the barbeque I'm elated with the amount of people showing up. I never imagined that so many would accept. And there are different cultures represented like the make up of our school—Korean, Chinese, African American, various Latin groups, Native Americans, and others. My heart is swelling.

  My Aunt Letty tells me, "Good job, Zuria."

  "It's a small thing, but I think it's great."

  "It's not just a small thing," she chides. "Remember that a beach is made up of millions of grains of sand. Each one is as important as the next for the overall picture. Besides, the gathering of different peoples trying to get along is never, ever a small thing. You just keep doing what you're doing and you have a chance at helping save your world."

  Chapter 39

  Finally, the next meeting of Teens for a Better World is set. In the meantime, I encounter a very sticky problem. Suzy wants to speak to me. She called Lorena begging for forgiveness and pleaded to see me. Lorena is still smarting over what happened, and refuses to give her absolution.

  "You shouldn't talk to her," Lorena tells me.

  When I ask my favorite aunt about it, she asks me what I want to do.

  "On the one hand, I'm still very angry with her," I growl.

  "And on the other hand?" Aunt Letty asks quietly.

  "I feel I should at least hear her out."

  Aunt Letty nods. "That's your sense of decency."

  "But does she deserve it?" I blurt. "After secretly bullying me, should I give her the time of day?"

  "It's not about what she deserves," my Aunt Letty states. "It's about who you are. It's about you being big enough to allow someone that hurt you to speak. If that someone is abusive towards you then of course you shut them down and stop listening. But you still have to determine what they want to say and if they're being honest with you. As human beings, we have the right to at least have a court date."

  "Okay, Aunt Letty."

  I tell Lorena to set up the meeting. She frowns deeply. I tell her I really want her at the get-together so the three of us can say what we want to say to one another. This seems to appease her. Maybe she's got a lot stuck in her heart that needs to come out.

  Lorena and I are sitting on lawn chairs in my backyard when Suzy arrives. She looks nervous and a little meek. I ask her to sit in the empty lawn chair in front of Lorena and me. She does so without hesitation.

  "Who wants to speak first?" I ask.

  "I will," Lorena jumps in.

  "Go ahead," I say.

  She furiously eyes Suzy. "I'm going say it like it is," Lorena snaps. "I had told Zuria not to meet with you."

  "I understand," Suzy murmurs.

  "I don't believe you understand anything," retorts Lorena. "You just think of yourself. You always have."

  "Lorena," I chide, "let's hear Suzy out."

  Suzy sighs. "She's got a right to still be upset with me, Zuria. So do you."

  Lore
na's expression turns to one of surprise. "Wow, Suzy. I never expected you to say that."

  "It's taken me a while to come to my senses, but I have. At my new private school, someone started to cyberbully me. Now I know how it feels."

  "Good!" snaps Lorena. "I'm glad that the shoe is on the other foot!"

  "Zuria, what I did to you is unforgivable."

  "It was pretty bad," I murmur, wincing as I remember the whole mess.

  "I was being selfish which I tend to be as Lorena pointed out. I'm selfish, bossy, and stubborn."

  "I'm glad you admit it," grumbles Lorena.

  "I couldn't see that before, but now that I have to hang out with girls that barely put up with me, I understand now what I didn't see then."

  "Sounds like the new school is doing you a lot of good," retorts Lorena.

  "I really miss you guys," Suzy states, her voice cracking. "I'm so sorry I was such a terrible friend."

  "I'm glad you finally appreciate us," mumbles Lorena.

  "I don't have any real friends at the new school—just girls I kinda hang out with."

  "That must really suck," I say.

  "Big time," Suzy murmurs.

  "Is that why you're here?" questions Lorena, her eyebrows scrunched together and eyes in a slit. "To have friends to put up with you again?"

  "No, Lorena," Suzy rushes. "I really want to apologize, so that I can have some peace with myself. You have no idea what it's like living with what I did to the both of you—especially you, Zuria. The guilt is eating me up alive."

  "Good!" snaps Lorena.

  I eye her and chide her with my eyes. Then I turn back to Suzy. "You did a horrible thing to me, Suzy," I murmur.

  "I know," she says, her eyes teary and voice shaky.

  "But if you're asking for sincere forgiveness—"

  "I am! I am!" she insists with energy.

  "Then I accept your apology," I state.

  "You can't!" blurts Lorena. "How can you forgive the awful things she did to you? Don't you remember the picture she posted with the insults on it? How about the horrible texts and things like that?"

  "Lorena—" I start to say before she interrupts me. Suzy is openly crying now. Tears travel down her face in streams.