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Emily went into school early the next morning. She was concerned for Thomas and wanted to spend a little more time with him than she did on most mornings.
She beat Thomas and Chloe there. She flicked on the lights and crossed the room to her desk. As she settled in, Kyle, the social studies teacher, appeared in the doorway.
“Morning, Kyle,” she said, trying to sound amicable. She wasn’t Kyle’s biggest fan. He’d proven to be a fair-weather friend.
“Saw you at the meeting last night,” he said, keeping his distance.
“Oh? Sorry, I didn’t see you there.”
“No need to apologize. There were a lot of people there. I was just going to offer you some friendly advice.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. Take it or leave it, but I just wanted to say, no matter where you fall on this thing, stay out of it. And it’s probably going to be impossible to stay neutral. So you just might want to avoid the topic altogether.”
She stared at him, processing what he’d just said. “Are you telling me I shouldn’t have gone to that meeting?”
“No, of course not. I just ... Emily, I do care about what happens to you. I want us to be friends. And while I know that you haven’t taken my advice in the past, I hope you will believe me that this is going to get pretty heated, and you don’t want to get caught up in it. Trust me.”
“Trust you,” Emily repeated phlegmatically.
Thomas and Chloe appeared in the doorway together, just in time.
“Like I said, take it or leave it,” Kyle said, and he was gone.
“What was that all about?” Thomas asked.
“Do you guys ride to school together?”
“Yes, thank God,” Chloe said. “I hate the bus. It smells like hot feet. Thomas is nice enough to give me a ride.”
“That is kind of you, Thomas.” Emily got up and shut the door. The two kids looked at her inquisitively. She didn’t shut the door often. “Thomas, I was so sorry to hear about your grandmother. I would have said something earlier if I had known.”
“It’s OK,” he said, even though it was clearly not OK. “Thanks.”
“So tell me how you’re really doing with all this windmill stuff.”
He shrugged and looked down at his hands.
“Miss M!” Chloe chirped. “I heard you’re starting a softball team!”
“What?” Emily was honestly shocked. “Where did you hear such a thing?” Then she had a thought. “Did you just try to change the subject on me?”
“It’s OK, Chloe,” Thomas said. “I’m all right, Miss M. I really don’t care about it. I just wish it was over. I mean, it’s going to happen. We’ve got the land, we’ve got the grant, and it’s going to happen.” He leaned closer to Emily. “Don’t say this to anyone, but the wheels are already in motion. These few whiners who are bellyaching just need to shut up. It’s not like we’re putting up a nuclear plant or something.”
“This is true,” Emily said. “Are you getting flak about it? Or is your family?”
Thomas shrugged.
“Yes and yes,” Chloe said. “But he’ll be all right, Miss M.” She put a hand on Thomas’s back. “Thomas is tough stuff. And he has me to protect him.” She raised her arm and flexed her bicep.
Thomas laughed at her, but his eyes remained serious. “A lot of island people already dislike my family because we’re not dirt poor. This is no different. It will be all right.”
“Remind me what your parents do for work?”
“My mom left the island, and us, years ago. But my dad is an accountant. And my stepmom helps him with that business. She’s also a graphic designer. Works online, at home.”
“I see.”
There was a pause, and Chloe rushed to fill it. “But really, are we going to have a softball team?”
“Seriously, who told you that?”
“It’s all over the school. Is it true? I’ll play for you ... if it’s true.”
Emily looked at her. “Do you want to play softball?”
“I dunno. I’ve never played it before. But it sounds like fun.”
“Do you think there would be any other interest?”
“I don’t know. I could take a survey?”
Emily thought about that for a moment. Then the bell rang. “Sure,” she said. “Take a survey.”
No one mentioned softball during first period, but Emily’s mind was busy mulling the idea over. Could she really do this? Should she really do this? She was surprised at the gut tickles the idea gave her. But she had been cooped up all winter, inside, on an island, and maybe she just wanted to get outside in the fresh air.
The bell rang and she traded in her freshmen for her juniors. As they settled in, she traveled around the room handing back papers. Hailey, their resident basketball superstar, asked, “Are we really going to have a softball team, Miss M?”
“I don’t know yet. Do you want to play?”
“I don’t know,” Hailey said slowly, but she looked intrigued.
Emily moved on to the next desk and handed an essay back to Hannah, who said, “I’ll play!”
“Really?” Emily was surprised at her eagerness.
“Sure! Why not? I like to hit things.”
Much of the class laughed at this admission as Emily stopped at the next desk. She looked down at DeAnna, who didn’t look up at her. “How about you, DeAnna?”
Hailey gasped. Hannah’s jaw dropped. DeAnna looked up, stupefied.
“What?” she asked.
“If we had a softball team, would you play?”
“I don’t play sports.”
Emily heard someone behind her snicker. DeAnna’s cheeks got red, and she looked down at her desk. Emily regretted saying anything.
Noah came to the rescue. “It’s never too late to start, DeAnna. Might be fun.”
DeAnna didn’t respond.
“Well, you don’t have to decide right now. I still have to convince Mr. Hogan that we need a softball team. I don’t even know if it’s possible.”
“Really?” Hannah said. “You’re really going to try?”
Emily looked at DeAnna. “Yeah, I’m really going to try.” Even as she spoke them, the words surprised her ears.
