Emily and I discussed, and we both agreed that relay races are the way to go. If Ms. Graham still wants us to run four laps, we can each circle four times before the handoff. Ms. Graham didn’t veto either. Yes!!!! Relays approved.
SHARON
When Ms. Graham blew the whistle
To start our relay,
I pumped my legs so fast
That I could hardly feel them.
Like they were disconnected from my body.
Aviva grabbed her baton
A few seconds before me.
I passed her right off,
My lungs burning for air
And the track dust fluffing around my feet.
But then as I neared the end of my fourth lap,
Aviva finished her third,
Handing her baton off
To Blake’s outstretched palm.
Maybe it was the heat.
Or the lack of oxygen to my brain.
Did Aviva really just cheat?
She doesn’t seem the cheating kind.
Did she get confused? Miscount her laps?
All I know is she turned her head,
With a face as happy as summer.
Kayley put her arm around Aviva’s shoulder
And whispered in her ear.
I watched as Aviva’s smile melted.
HENRY
SCENE: Class lecture. Students are hot and sweaty after the run. The room is stinking up like old socks in a microwave. Ms. Graham makes everyone set their chairs up in a big circle.
MS. GRAHAM: Today I was impressed with someone’s character. One of our students, who will remain unnamed, accidentally ran three laps instead of four. This person didn’t realize until after they’d handed the baton off. If they hadn’t said anything, I wouldn’t have known. But they did. This person came up to me in private and shared the mistake.
KAYLEY: (nudges Aviva quietly)
AVIVA: (blushes)
MS. GRAHAM: I want to compliment this student for his or her character. I know that there are times when people in this room have not been entirely honest and trustworthy. I won’t point fingers, but you know who you are.
HENRY: (dripping sweat like a broken faucet and glaring pointedly at Kayley)
KAYLEY: (stares straight ahead, innocently)
MS. GRAHAM: I’d like you all to journal about honesty today. Reflect on yourself. Reflect on your personal choices. I challenge you to be as honest as you can. Bottom line, you get to choose what kind of person you want to be. Make choices that make you proud.
STUDENTS: (quiet, thinking)
HENRY: (trying not to sweat on Aviva, who is sitting next to him and still blushing)
AVIVA
Date: October 5
Ms. Graham gave us this huge speech today, and it’s because of me. Once I realized I’d screwed up, there’s no way I could have stopped myself from telling Ms. Graham. Kayley said it was no big deal, that it wasn’t like I cheated on purpose. But knowing that I cheated started chewing up my insides, and I had to tell.
Ms. Graham acted like I was so honest and everything, but I’m really not. I didn’t tell anyone that Kayley stole the nylon idea or that she lied about her pinkie promise. Yesterday, Kayley told Emily-the-vegetarian that the school pizza sauce had meat in it (which I know is a complete lie), but I didn’t say anything. Doesn’t that make me a liar too? Probably.
When Ms. Graham talked about choosing what kind-of a-person we want to be, of course this made me think about Emily. I know it hurts her feelings that I’m hanging out with Kayley. I don’t mean for it to, but I need Kayley to be my friend for next year.
Plus I think Kayley’s been a little nicer recently. I’m pretty sure she suggested the relay race for me. She’s an okay friend. I just wish she wouldn’t be mean to Emily. And I wish it was easier for me to stand up to her. Why can’t I go back to being friends with both of them? Why do I have to pick?
EMILY
Status:
Dear Hope,
I felt sick to my stomach after what Kayley told me. I had no idea that the school sauce had meat in it. I’ve been off meat for three years now. Ever since Dad did that article on the way cows and chickens are treated. I’ll never buy school lunch again!
I went to the bathroom to splash water on my face. I know it’s ridiculous to cry about something like pizza. But I’ve never been any good at holding back tears. Cecilia and Sharon were washing their hands in the sink. They sort of looked at each other, then looked at me. I’m pretty sure they could tell I was upset. But they didn’t make it weird by asking a bunch of questions. Instead they just walked with me back to class.
Ms. Graham assigned us to write about honesty. If I’m being honest, I’m pretty lonely. Dad’s gone…always. Mom’s busy painting, and since the house is empty except for us, we don’t do “sit-down” dinners anymore. I mostly eat on the couch with the television on. My friends are disappearing. Sharon and Cecilia are nice enough, but it’s not the same.
Honesty is a complicated thing. I can’t just go up to Aviva and Kayley and tell them how much they’re hurting me, because too bad for me, they DON’T CARE! I can’t tell Mom, because she’ll just worry and be sad, and then I’ll have to cheer her up again. I can’t tell Dad, because…he’s never here. So what’s the point of being honest if there’s no one to be honest with?
Love and luck,
Emily
BLAKE
KAYLEY
Dear Ms. Graham,
I’m an honest person. In fact, I’m more honest than most people. I only lie when I have a good reason to lie. Just so you know, when I told Emily the pizza had meat sauce, that wasn’t a lie. It was a joke. There’s a difference.
And the egg drop? There’s no rule against researching what works and doesn’t work. Keeping our ears open is really no different from Googling on the internet. We were just being resourceful. Plus we wound up having the Egg-Off anyway, so it’s all good.
I cannot believe Aviva went up and confessed to you, Ms. Graham. That girl is too honest. If she farted and someone smelled it, she’d probably fess up instead of pretending she didn’t know where it came from. Still…it’s hard not to respect her for that.
Ms. Graham, if you like honesty so much, you’ll get honesty. I will be 100% honest for the rest of the day! See? I can be like Aviva too.
SHARON
Kayley has the special ability
To take anything she hears
And twist it
Torque it
Mangle it
For her own purposes.
Like this honesty thing…
Today she straight-out
Told Emily she’d outgrown her.
Told Blake he needed a tutor.
And pointed out the stain on Aviva’s skirt.
“What? I was just being honest.”
I heard that sorry excuse
For a jab
Spill out of her mouth
Way too many times.
Sometimes that girl
Makes me want to scream.
HENRY
SCENE: Ms. Graham writes the following on the board: “Being honest is not an excuse to be mean.” Students brace themselves for a lecture.
MS. GRAHAM: (perches on stool) What do you all think I mean by that statement? (points to her socks, which are decorated with frogs) Like, for example, what if I asked you all what you think about my socks?
STUDENTS: (raising hands)
MS. GRAHAM: Don’t answer that quite yet. Because if you were honest, some of you would say that this pattern is too babyish for a teacher in a fifth-grade classroom. Some of you would say that you don’t like it. But I bet that most of you would stop yourselves and think that ma
king a comment like that might hurt my feelings.
HENRY: (whispers to Kayley) So if I ask you whether I’m the funniest, most entertaining seat partner ever, just be honest and admit that I’m growing on you.
KAYLEY: (scootches away) You’re definitely the most irritating seat partner ever. And that’s honest.
HENRY: (modestly) Thank you. I try.
MS. GRAHAM: Remember, you get to decide what kind of person you want to be. Let me ask you this—are there any options that would protect my feelings and be truthful at the same time?
EMILY: Your socks are creative.
SHARON: And colorful.
HENRY: And frog-tastic!
STUDENTS: (laugh)
HENRY: They’re frog-alicious. And frog-erful. They’re practically a frog-a-rama!
MS. GRAHAM: Yes! That’s a perfect way to both protect someone’s feelings and be honest.
AVIVA: I really do like your socks.
SEVERAL STUDENTS: (laugh)
AVIVA: What? (looks around) I do. (blushes)
MS. GRAHAM: Thank you for sharing, Aviva. I like them too.
HENRY: Me too.
AVIVA: (smiles at her feet)
EMILY
Status:
Dear Hope,
I cannot believe Kayley had the nerve to say she had “outgrown” me! Like I’m a pair of too-tight pants? Well, guess what? I’ve outgrown her too. That “being honest is not an excuse to be mean” lecture was TOTALLY directed at Kayley. I’m pretty sure everyone knew it. Everyone except maybe Kayley? Clearly she’s “decided” what kind of person she wants to be, and that’s a JERK.
I decided that I forgive Ms. Graham for not letting me change table groups. As awful as it is to be in Kayley’s class now, I can’t imagine how it’d be if we were in the same table group. I hardly ever say this word, but…I think I hate her. And I definitely hate that she took Aviva away from me.
I can’t hate Aviva, even when I try to. I just miss her. She practically let me move in with her for the first couple of weeks after the divorce. That was while Dad packed his things and Mom filled up the bathtub with tears. I can never forget that Aviva was there for me then.
I’m glad Aviva spoke up about the socks. She loves anything about nature. When we studied snails in second grade, I swear she got obsessed. She thought snails were the cutest things ever. Seriously. She drew pictures of them to tape up all over her room. I remember crawling around in her backyard with empty spreadable butter containers. We poked holes with pencils in the lids. We picked up snails with our hands.
Personally, I never thought snails were cute, not even the babies—I just acted like I did. I guess that’s a lie too, kind of, but I was just trying to be a good friend. If Ms. Graham asked me, I’d say that’s the kind of person I want to be—a good friend.
I wish things weren’t so broken with Aviva these days. Maybe she’s like one of those animals that change colors based on their environment? To camouflage themselves? Geckos and chameleons do that. And some frogs change their colors to avoid getting gobbled up by predators. Although I don’t think Aviva wants to change? Maybe she thinks she has to morph herself to survive. Not that Kayley would eat her up. Or would she?
Love and luck,
Emily
PS I’ve been eating lunch with Sharon almost every day. She’s definitely growing on me. Sharon’s like an anti-chameleon. She doesn’t change for her environment even when she REALLY should. Sometimes that makes her seem weird. And sometimes that makes her seem cool. For sure it makes her reliable. Cecilia is nice too. When I’m with them both, I don’t have to try to be fun or cheerful. I can just be me.
KAYLEY
Dear Ms. Graham,
You said we get to choose what kind of person we want to be. You’re right. I choose to be the kind of person who stands up for what I believe. I know part of your “being honest is not an excuse to be mean” lecture was pointed at me, but sometimes people need to hear the truth. I say it like it is. My mother does too. She shares her opinion and if it makes people mad, well then, too bad for them.
Speaking of which, I have to stand up for the privacy of our journals. Today I wrote Kai a note for his mailbox with my left hand to disguise my writing.
Kai,
You’re a thief. I know you took someone else’s journal. You’re the reason for that whole honesty lecture. It was a pain.
—Anonymous
PS Ms. Graham, I don’t know why I keep writing these journal entries to you. Since I’m pretty much not letting this journal out of my sight except at recess, I don’t think you could possibly be reading it. But somehow it feels right to keep addressing it to you.
KAI
Hey, Frog!
I got this note in my box today, calling me a thief. And I thought, “Here we go.” I’m not one to walk away from anything, and even though this whole journal thing was an honest mistake at first, I know I’ve got to own it.
I tried to catch up with Blake today…so I could explain, but I took too long gathering my homework folder, and before I knew it, he was halfway down the street. I called to him a couple of times, but he had his earbuds in, and I guess he was listening to music or something, so he didn’t hear me. Then the dude walked so fast! I couldn’t keep up and I was practically running.
All of a sudden he disappeared around a corner…and in an okay neighborhood. (????) So maybe I’m wrong about all this. His journal made it look like he was really poor or something. Maybe he and his mom are renting a room.
I guess the best thing is to be nice to the guy. Last year our teacher read Wonder out loud to get us talking about being kind to each other no matter what our differences are. I thought I’d hate it, because I’m a fantasy and sci-fi guy. But when she got to that part where the kids and Auggie are in the woods, I had to put my face down on my desk so no one would see me crying and think I was a wuss. And then I borrowed Wonder from the library and read it at home a whole mess of times. I don’t know why I liked it so much. I guess it just makes me want to be a better person.
PS I know Blake’s really into Kermit. I could take him to visit my parents’ university. There’s a whole biology wing—I bet he’d love it.
BLAKE
HENRY
SCENE: Ms. Graham loses her marbles.
MS. GRAHAM: We’ll be changing seats and table groups for the next two days while I try a new teaching technique.
STUDENTS: (half groan and half cheer)
HENRY: Finally! Now I can try my material on someone who’ll actually crack a smile.
KAYLEY: Finally! Now I can actually focus without being interrupted every three seconds.
MS. GRAHAM: This will only be for two days, so don’t get too excited or too upset. This morning, when I called you each up to my desk for an assessment, I asked if you could whistle. All of those students who were given an orange sticker with the word “Whistler” in black letters, please place this sticker on your shirt now.
STUDENTS: (rumbling)
MS. GRAHAM: For the next two days, we’ll call this group of high achievers the Whistlers. At this time, I’d like all the Whistlers to move their desks to the front of the room. And all the Non-Whistlers, move your desks to the back of the room.
STUDENTS: (confused rumbling)
MS. GRAHAM: Quiet, please. I know this seems strange, but new research is showing that on average, Whistlers are capable of accessing a greater percentage of their brains. If I keep all the Whistlers at the front of the room, maybe the Non-Whistlers can learn from them. We are trying to maximize learning here.
HENRY: (whispers) Uh, what? That makes zero sense. Neither I nor my sister can whistle, and we’re Taiwanese. If some percentage of people use higher brainpower, it’s us Asians. We rule the world!
KAYLEY: Shhh!
HENRY: (w
hispers) No, seriously. You watch TV, right? Have you ever heard of an Asian who wasn’t brilliant?
KAYLEY: You mean besides you?
HENRY: Hey! That was funny! You’re getting the hang of this.
KAYLEY: Shut up. Plus that’s a stereotype anyway. You’re being racist.
HENRY: I’m allowed to make jokes about my own minority group. Didn’t you read the handbook? Aviva sometimes jokes about not eating bacon, because she’s Jewish, but I can’t. It’d be offensive if I did. You can joke about rich people. That’s how it works. I’m allowed to joke about the superior intelligence of my people.
MS. GRAHAM: Kayley and Henry. Please hold your conversation. Kayley, I’m assuming you’re explaining this concept to Henry, since it does sometimes take Non-Whistlers longer to understand.
HENRY: (whispers) Is that a joke?
MS. GRAHAM: Non-Whistlers will need more time on assignments, so I’ll be releasing the Whistlers first for recess and lunch and after school.
HENRY: What about people who can raise one eyebrow at a time? (raising right eyebrow) I bet we use a higher percentage of brainpower too. Or how about people who can sneeze with their eyes open? (comedic pause) Because my neighbor can. For real.
MS. GRAHAM: (yelling) Non-Whistlers! Focus!
SHARON: (raises hand)
MS. GRAHAM: Sharon, you’ll have to wait. You’re a Non-Whistler. I’m going to be taking questions from Whistlers first. If you listen carefully, Non-Whistlers, your questions will be answered.
HENRY: (groans silently)
EMILY
Status:
Dear Hope,
I can’t believe I was beginning to like Ms. Graham. I thought she actually cared about us. But apparently, I was wrong. I’m a Non-Whistler, and she’s being SO mean to us! I hid in the bathroom at recess to practice my whistling, but I can still only blow air.
Operation Frog Effect Page 5