I hate it when I think people are cool and then they change up on me. It feels like a trick. Like what Kayley and Aviva have done to me. (It doesn’t help that they’re both Whistlers.) Or like the birthday when I turned six and Mom decided to go healthy and make me a watermelon cake. She seriously stuck candles in a slab of watermelon and thought I’d be happy. Or the divorce…for obvious reasons.
But Life does that to me all the time. Sticks its tongue out at me and wags it. “You thought things were gonna be okay? Nope—just kidding. Life’s gonna suck again.”
Discouraged,
Emily
(I can’t even put on my fake-happy face right now.)
CECILIA
Hola Abuelita,
I’m so glad I have friends outside Ms. Graham’s class. The other teachers aren’t doing the Whistler thing (thank goodness), so I can forget about this annoying classroom drama at lunch.
I don’t understand Ms. Graham. Shouldn’t she be pairing us up so the Whistlers can help the Non-Whistlers learn? Some things are a mystery to me.
Abuelita, guess what? I’m going to join a soccer team outside of school. Some of the girls who play at lunch are on a YMCA team. There are practices on Mondays and Wednesdays at four-thirty at Melbourne Park. Mami doesn’t get off work until five, but it’s close enough to our apartment to walk. Can’t wait to start!
Today I dove for a save in the high corner and blocked it! Someday you’ve got to see me play goalie. Maybe Mami can take a video on her phone and send it to you. Te extraño mucho.
WORDS TO PRACTICE
YMCA = Do you remember going there on weekends for their tiny tot soccer, Abuelita?
Besos y abrazos,
Cecilia
KAYLEY
Dear Ms. Graham,
Today you made me laugh! No offense, but you’re a little batty for giving Whistlers first choice on everything. Although I agree that we needed more order in the classroom. And the whole “take it to the class” thing is a big time-waster. Don’t get me wrong—it’s nice to have freedom and responsibilities and all that, but not everyone’s as mature as I am.
So I’m glad you came up with a system. It’s simple: Whistlers Rule! Non-Whistlers Drool! You should observe our next recess, though, so you can see how some of those Non-Whistlers are behaving. Like poor sports! Just because they can’t whistle. Sheesh!
BLAKE
SHARON
Sometimes I wonder
Why I always have to be the one
To speak up.
Does no one else have a voice?
Does no one else see the unfairness?
Does no one else notice
The way the Whistler stupidity
Pits kid against kid
So easily?
Although I guess
When you look at history
(Which is, by the way, the point—obviously)
Grown-ups
Have done much, much worse.
If that’s the point, though,
To show us what we can do
To each other
So easily, so quickly,
Then maybe it’s best if I don’t say
A single thing at all.
AVIVA
Date: October 18
Am I the only one that thinks this Whistler thing is a metaphor? I mean, Ms. Graham has us reading The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, and we’re learning about segregation in history. The scary thing is how much everyone has gotten into it. Some of the boys started a water fountain fight at recess. I don’t think Ms. Graham realizes how fast things can get out of control.
I brought Kermit to sit with me at my desk today. I watched him breathe, and that calmed me down and helped me think. Should I say something? I always get stressed about speaking up, like maybe I’m wrong or something. I usually just wait around and eventually someone says what I wanted to say. I guess I let someone else be my voice.
Ms. Graham set up the class council. Now’s the time to use it. We need to vote this Whistler thing away. This is uber-ly stressful.
Maybe I should speak up now.
KAI
Hey, Frog!
Kayley’s getting on my nerves. She thinks she’s such hot stuff because she’s a Whistler. Our teams are sort of rivals anyway, what with them stealing our first Egg Drop idea, and all that tension between Emily and her.
Girls are so mean to each other sometimes. And Kayley’s walking around like she’s Draco Malfoy or some Percy Jackson demigod. Emily’s been sniffling all morning, and her eyes are lobster red.
I’m done.
Someone’s gotta say something. It might just have to be me.
KAYLEY
Dear Ms. Graham,
I can’t believe Kai! Who does he think he is? Cornering me like that! Talking so loud that half the school could hear?
Well, I stayed totally calm.
I told him in a very soft voice so only he could hear that I knew he’d stolen Blake’s journal, so who was he to talk! That I could tell on him if I wanted to. That made him stop talking real fast.
SHARON
Aviva surprised me today.
She dropped a note
Into Ms. Graham’s mailbox as she walked by
When we filed back in from recess,
Sweaty and breathing hard.
Ms. Graham had taped the note
Squarely on the front of her desk.
“I would like to propose a new law,” it read.
“That every student is treated equally.”
Aviva sat in her seat,
Her cheeks the color of pomegranates.
I wanted to hug her.
Why couldn’t she own her idea?
It was a good one.
Still…I’m proud of her for speaking up.
And I’m proud of me for holding back
Just a little bit
So she could be heard.
Dear Blake,
Do you want to hang out sometime? We could skateboard or something. Or we could build something cool for the frog habitat.
I think you’re a great runner and artist.
From Kai
* * *
—
Dear Kayley,
Are we cool?
So you know where I’m coming from—I don’t like it when I see people get hurt feelings. Emily’s all right. You all used to be friends, right? Seems like she shouldn’t have to feel bad all the time.
Your affirmation—I liked your relay race idea.
From Kai
* * *
—
Dear Aviva,
I really miss the way we used to hang out and laugh about stuff. I’m not sure what happened? You will always be one of my best friends.
From Emily
* * *
—
Dear Ms. Graham,
I love your frog decorations, and I think you’re a good teacher. Did you just happen to have all those frog decorations at home? Or are you buying them for our class? Did you like frogs before Kermit? I’m curious about this.
From Emily
* * *
—
Dear Kai,
Yes, we can skateboard. Or build something for Kermit. That will be fun.
Blake
* * *
—
Dear Kermit,
I wish you could talk. I’d love to hear what you have to say. Affirmation: You’re the most frog-errific frog I’ve ever known.
Henry
PS I made you a mailbox out of an empty tissue box. Seems only fair that you get letters too.
* * *
—
&
nbsp; Dear Kayley,
You run fast.
Blake
* * *
—
Dear Blake,
Thank you. I am a fast runner. So are you. You are a good artist. I think you should take professional drawing classes. You had some good ideas for the Egg-Off too.
From Kayley
* * *
—
Dear Kai,
People don’t have to stay friends with the same kids forever, you know. It is possible to move on. That’s life.
From Kayley
PS We need to talk.
* * *
—
Dear Kayley,
When? Where?
From Kai
* * *
—
Dear Kai,
Lunch recess. Tomorrow.
From Kayley
* * *
—
Dear Kayley,
A true comedian needs to be able to make anyone laugh. At first you never smiled, not even with my best material, but now I get a smile like 25% of the time. My goal is to get it to 50% by the end of the year. Wish me luck.
From Henry
* * *
—
What do you think, Ms. Graham?
—Blake
* * *
—
Dear Emily,
I’m sorry things have been so weird.
I miss you too.
From Aviva
* * *
—
Dear Henry,
Good luck! You’ll need it if you think you’re going to make me smile 50% of the time. You ARE funny (that’s your affirmation), but in an irritating itchy-bug-bite way. I don’t laugh because I’m trying not to encourage you.
From Kayley
* * *
—
Dear Emily,
I’ve really liked eating lunch with you this year. You are one of those people who are always nice.
From Sharon
* * *
—
Dear Blake,
Thank you for your drawing. It’s perfect. I’d love it if you can sketch me a large one, maybe on one of those extra poster boards? I’d like to hang it in the classroom as a reminder for everyone.
Also, I just want you to know that I notice your kindness and caring for Kermit. I see you checking on the habitat, making sure there’s clean water and food. Kermit appreciates you too.
Sincerely,
Ms. Graham
* * *
—
Dear Kai,
How do you read so fast? Every time I turn around, you’re reading another book. Also, you’re brave to stand up to Kayley.
From Cecilia
* * *
—
Dear Blake,
Dude! You are the best artist ever in the history of the world. You’re gonna be famous. When you’re a millionaire, remember I said that. Of course I’m gonna be a millionaire famous director too, so maybe we’ll play golf or something.
From Henry
* * *
—
Dear Henry
Ha ha, dude!
Can’t wait to be rich.
Blake
* * *
—
Dear Sharon,
I can’t believe we’ve been at the same school since kindergarten and we’ve been eating lunch together since September, but we haven’t ever really gotten together outside of school. Maybe we can hang out sometime.
From Emily
* * *
—
Dear Cecilia,
My mom says I was born with a book in my hand. If you ever need a recommendation for a good read, let me know.
From Kai
* * *
—
Dear Emily,
It’s been a pleasure teaching you all.
And thank you for your interest in my extensive (and rapidly growing) collection of frog posters, socks, figurines, earrings, and decorative coffee cups. They are all new purchases for me, although I prefer to buy “gently used” when I can. Now I’ve got a classroom theme.
Can you stay after school today? I’ve been meaning to find a time to chat with you.
Sincerely,
Ms. Graham
SHARON
Not that I’m counting,
But I got one letter in my box today.
I wrote six.
Still…
I have to say that Emily’s letter
Is worth a thousand.
* * *
—
Dear Emily,
Want to hang out on Friday after school?
From Sharon
EMILY
Status:
Dear Hope,
Ms. Graham freaked me out by having me stay after school, but all she wanted was to ask how things were going socially. Only what could I do, tell Ms. Graham what an awful person Kayley had become? And about Aviva being a chameleon? No way. That’d feel like tattling.
So I just sort of shrugged and said this year has been different from what I thought. But that I was okay. She patted my back and just said, “Sometimes what we think we want doesn’t wind up being what we actually want.”
It took me a moment to figure out what she meant. But then I got it—exactly what happened with me and my table group. Now I’m glad I’m not sitting with Aviva and Kayley.
And she smiled and said her door was always open if I need to talk.
And that was it.
Love and luck,
Emily
PS After Aviva and I sent letters to each other, I sort of thought things would change. But she’s still not talking to me or hanging out with me at school. Maybe she only wants to be nice to me when Kayley can’t see?
PPS Sharon invited me over on Friday. I think I’ll go. Why not?
KAI
Hey, Frog!
I was stressing out when Kayley confronted me about Blake’s journal. I almost fessed up, but then I decided if I’m going to fess up, it should be to Blake, not to her. Plus there’s no way she could know I took it on purpose. But then the guilt got to me. I wanted to own this and I haven’t yet, not really. I’ve got to find a way to make this right.
Dear Blake,
Let’s hang out at the park after school tomorrow. Bring your skateboard.
I’m decorating the front of my journal with stripes because guess what? Our journals look exactly the same, and I keep grabbing yours instead of mine. My bad—won’t happen again.
From
Kai
After I finished Blake’s note, I felt much better. I didn’t make it sound like a big deal or anything, and it really isn’t. I can’t wait to hang out—I’ll stuff my backpack full of snacks (I’ve got homemade caramel corn) and let him take as much as he wants. Plus the park is huge and sort of woodsy. I bet we could gather stuff for our habitat.
BLAKE
HENRY
SCENE: Table groups brainstorming social issues. Henry’s group is celebrating because they missed Henry so much during the Whistler experiment.
HENRY: Our team is back together again. I’m misty-eyed.
BLAKE: Yeah, I know. It was weird being split up for that Whistler thing.
HENRY: Fist bump! (offering his hand)
KAYLEY: (not smiling) Shut up. Let’s get to work.
HENRY: Man, you’re good. I got to work on my skills. (hand still stretched out)
BLAKE: (fists-bumps Henry)
KAYLEY: Let’s do women’s rights.
HENRY: We have to pick a current issue, not one from the past.
KAYLEY: Can you ever be serious?
/> HENRY: I AM being serious. Women can vote, right? They can have pretty much any job—fireman, policeman, soldier….
AVIVA: Yeah, but listen to yourself. You just said “fireman” and “policeman.”
BLAKE: You want him to say firewoman and policewoman?
AVIVA: I don’t really care what he calls it—it shows that things are not totally equal.
KAYLEY: (high-fives Aviva) Plus all my dad’s assistants are women. And all the bosses are men. What’s that about?
BLAKE: Our principal’s a woman. And our teacher’s a woman.
HENRY: See—that’s what I’m saying. What about global warming? Gun control? Animal rights? Bullying?
KAYLEY: There’s a ton of issues that are important. But we have to pick one, right? And women’s issues matter.
HENRY: People eat fried frog legs, you know. So…what about amphibian rights? How’d you like it if someone tried to fry up Kermit’s legs?
MS. GRAHAM: (leaning in) I can’t help overhearing. I have to agree with Kayley and Aviva that there are many current women’s rights issues, both in this country and outside of it. Why don’t you spend the rest of this period Googling some gender-equality issues on the computer? After you have more information, your team can decide.
HENRY: (with sarcasm) Frog-tastic.
SHARON
Every time Dad listens to the news
I hear about violence.
Shootings and terrorist attacks…
Awful things that make me
Want to cover my ears
And close my eyes.
Is that because awful things are happening all the time?
Or because violence makes exciting news?
And regular, peaceful stuff is too boring?
Either way, there’s too much of it.
Operation Frog Effect Page 6