CHAPTER 14

After school, Sofia waited for Abuelo by the flagpole as always. Her brain was swimming with ideas from the field trip. She was deep in thought when suddenly she heard an angry voice behind her.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

She turned around. It was Marisella.

Sofia didn’t have to ask what she meant.

“If you’re in charge of the election,” said Marisella, “you could tell everyone to vote for the bird! Then, if I have to give up Pickles, the class can take care of him! It solves everything!”

“I can’t do that,” said Sofia. “I can’t tell people who to vote for. I have to be fair.”

“It’s not fair if I have to get rid of my pet and you won’t help me,” said Marisella. “You could if you wanted to.”

Before Sofia could respond, Marisella turned her wheelchair and left.

A moment later, Abuelo arrived.

“I don’t think I like being election commissioner,” Sofia said. “No matter what I do, somebody will be mad at me.”

“You can’t fix how other people feel,” said Abuelo. “All you can do is the right thing. Everything else will sort itself out.”

Abuelo handed Sofia a warm cookie, and they walked home in silence.