4

Graphs or Glaciers, Pencils or Alpine Peaks

Lilly stared at the email. The water in her tub kept filling and filling until a trickle of moisture around her bare feet jolted Lilly out of her dazed state. She jumped to her feet and rushed into the bathroom. Water sloshed over the side of the tub, splashing and soaking her jeans. She wadded across the flooded floor, skidding on the slick tile.

She leaned over the tub, dragging her sleeve through the now frigid water, turned off the faucet and pulled the plug. Only a few drips fell, leaving ripples on the glassy surface. A small whirl pool formed over the drain. Although the tub was emptying fast a small stream continued to meander down the hall. The unexpected waterway ended in a tiny, soapy pool that puddled against the barricade of her leather purse.

How dare she? How could Gran even consider signing her up for something like this? It was just like the living Nativity, only with bears!

She stared at the water as it spiraled down the drain. A smidge of her anger slid away along with the chilly water. No, Gran meant well. The crime was committed out of love and it did seem as though the Jr. High youth group really did need her. They couldn’t exactly go on the trip without a female chaperone. Lilly imagined the outrage of the girls in the group as Pastor Bob informed them that it would be a guys-only outing.

She, Lilly Charity Park, had the power to prevent this injustice. She even knew how to hike. Lilly had taken Strudel on many a walk to see the ducks, even going so far as to travel two or three miles in search of wild fowl. She could step up for the 6th to 8th grade girls of their community and offer them equality. The same opportunity as their male peers to hike within God’s wide world. To see the glory of His creation, orderly, lovely, all the mathematical perfection of a single star, or the genius contained within the delicate shoot of a young plant.

Lilly didn’t have to remake her teaching aids for the school year. No, she only required the construction of a few additional resources to guide them through this backpacking adventure.

Principal Oropeza wanted her to volunteer among the youth, so traversing a mountain pass with her students would surely count for an entire year’s worth of positive contact outside of school. This trip into the wilderness was the answer to her teaching woes.

Lilly stood, shivering and wet in the hall, staring into the distance. After she gave them this fabulous opportunity, the 6th graders in her group would come around. They would see the organization within the natural world and come to appreciate all things academic. Especially if she could map out every aspect of their trip in glorious detail. The children would tremble with excitement to see her charts and graphs lending assistance as they trekked across the mountains. The children would grow to adore mathematics, and the subjects that students truly loved could never be a drudgery to study.

Strudel thundered down the hall. He lunged toward a large, shiny bubble that had settled near her purse. Her pup’s flowing coat seemed to be a hindrance when wet. He tripped and face planted into the puddle before skidding across the floor and bumping up against the wall in a soggy mound of fur.

Perhaps she should take him in for a trim. Oh no, what about Strudel? Who would take care of her baby while she was off conquering the great outdoors and the minds and hearts of the 6th grade girls in their church?

Gran could watch him. Yes, she had made the mistake of allowing Strudel outside to be savaged by squirrels. But if Lilly taped the cat door shut before leaving, and posted handy reminders around the house on aesthetically pleasing posters featuring adorable cartoon characters that reminded Gran not to feed him any more cookies, then Strudel would be safe, and Gran would not be insulted by Lilly’s cautious approach to pet ownership. Plus, Lilly had seen an old backpack up in Gran’s attic when she’d had to grab those hummingbird feeders for her last week.

She glanced at the email. Her heart gave an unpleasant lurch. The hike began in two hours! How had this happened, surely they’d had her email earlier than this? Or had Gran just volunteered her, today? Grandma had forgotten something. Something that had not been troubling her when Lilly dropped off Strudel that morning. An hour… she had just enough time to print up a few colorful posters and hiking charts, take Strudel back to Gran’s, and pack that backpack.

Lilly smiled down at the unexpected email. She would do it! This was exactly what Mrs. Oropeza had wanted. A grand gesture that would show her troubled students exactly how practical mathematics could be. It was perfect, an answer to her desperate prayers.