So it was official: There was an “us versus them” thing going on.
The war escalated in language arts, when Ms. Kransky asked me and Jake to talk in front of the class about our decision to give up our phones.
“I would like everyone to hear from these impressive young students, who have recognized a problem and are trying to do something about it,” she said. “We can all learn something from them.”
Talk about a foolproof way to get everyone to hate you.
Two minutes after we started talking about how great it was to sit at lunch and actually look at each other, among other wonderful things about a phone-free existence, an actual phone started ringing.
Charlie Joe held his hand up.
“I think I’m getting a call,” he said. He got out his phone. “Hello?” Charlie Joe listened for a second. Then he held the phone out toward me. “It’s for Katie.”
“Charlie Joe, put that away,” Ms. Kransky ordered.
Charlie Joe looked concerned. “What if it’s an emergency?”
For a second I got scared. Could he possibly not be making a joke for once?
“CHARLIE JOE!” commanded Ms. Kransky.
“Okay, fine,” Charlie Joe said, putting away his phone. “But you get my point. If someone really did have something important to tell Katie, or Jake, or any one of the Cavemen who gave up their phones, how would they do it? What if it was an emergency? Cell phones are not horrible. They’re incredibly useful. They can even help save lives.”
“You’re making a good point,” Ms. Kransky said. “You’re just making it the wrong way. One more stunt like that and you’ll be in detention.”
“Yes, Ms. Kransky,” Charlie Joe said sweetly.
Then, incredibly, another phone beeped.
Nareem’s, of all people.
He turned red and fumbled for his phone.
Ms. Kranksy had had enough. “TURN ALL PHONES OFF!”
“Sorry,” Nareem mumbled. “My mother sometimes texts to ask me what I’d like for dinner.
“And THAT sums up the problem,” Ms. Kransky said. “Charlie Joe is right, phones and texting can be wonderful tools. But that’s lost under all the unnecessary noise and distractions and time wasting they also cause.”
Jake and I nodded solemnly in agreement.
“Thank you, kids,” Ms. Kransky said to us. “You may return to your seats.”
We sat down.
“And I’m sure Charlie Joe apologizes for calling you ‘Cavemen,’” Ms. Kransky added, shaking her head.
“Oh, we don’t mind,” Jake said. “We kind of like it, actually.”
I smiled, adding, “It’s better than being called ‘Phonies.’”