The Student Life Committee meets every other Wednesday at lunch. Germinato left out who was catering the lunch. It’s the same company that runs the school cafeteria, which isn’t saying much.
A platter with sandwiches sits on the middle of the boardroom table. I grab an egg-salad on brown bread. The bread is so soggy my thumb goes right through it.
I am the youngest member of the Student Life Committee. The president is a girl from eleventh grade named Vicky. The vice-president is a guy from grade ten named Ivan. There is also a treasurer plus five other members at large, like me.
Someone knocks on the boardroom door. It’s Germinato. Miss Aubin is behind him. “I won’t be long,” Germinato says. “I want to have a few words with you. As those of you who served on the committee last year know, Miss Aubin will act as secretary. Which means she’ll attend all your meetings.”
Miss Aubin gives us a tight-lipped smile. She sits down at the end of the table and opens her laptop. Something tells me she is skipping lunch.
“I want to congratulate all of you on being elected or”—Germinato looks at me—“acclaimed to the Student Life Committee. As I’m sure you realize, being part of such an important committee is an excellent addition to your résumés. Which is why I know I can count on your full cooperation.” Germinato smiles at Vicky and Ivan, and they beam back at him.
“This afternoon,” Germinato continues, “I need every member of this committee to help with an initiative that is close to my heart.” At first I think the initiative will have something to do with recycling, but then he says, “The enforcement of our school’s dress code.”
I look at the other students seated around the table. A couple of them are nodding. A girl is doodling on the back of her notebook. The rest have blank looks on their faces. So I raise my hand.
“Have you got a question?” Germinato sounds surprised.
“More of a comment, sir. You see…I was wondering if maybe we could discuss the dress code and the way it targets…”
Miss Aubin shoots me a look over the top of her computer.
Vicky flicks a spot of lint from her navy-blue sweater. Then she looks up at Germinato. “What is it you need us to do for you, sir?” she asks.
It’s as if Germinato did not even hear my comment. “I need you to go to every gym class this afternoon to ensure that every student is wearing regulation-length shorts.” Germinato extends his hands by the sides of his legs the way he did at the opening assembly. For a second he reminds me of a wooden soldier.
Miss Aubin catches Germinato’s eye. “Sir, it is the beginning of the school year, and this could put them in an awkward position with their classmates.” She pauses, as if she wants to give Germinato time to consider her words. “I could do it, sir.”
Germinato waves his hand in the air. “Last time I checked, Miss Aubin, I was the principal of this school, not you.”
Miss Aubin’s lower lip quivers as she types something on her laptop.
“We’ll do it, sir,” Vicky says.
“Absolutely,” Ivan adds.
“But—” I begin.
Vicky cuts me off. “Eric, we value your participation on the Student Life Committee.” She smiles in a way that tells me she does not mean it. “But there’s something you need to understand. The newbies on this committee, well, they don’t usually say much.”
Ivan nods. “It’s not that we don’t want you to participate, Eric. You need some time to learn how things work around here.”
“I think Eric is a quick study,” Miss Aubin says, without looking up from her computer.
Before Germinato leaves, he hands around a list of all the gym classes for the afternoon. The first group are grade sevens.
I get a knot in my stomach as I remember the promise I made Rowena.
“Do I have to do it?” I ask Vicky when the meeting is over.
“Only if you want to stay on the Student Life Committee,” she says.
“Maybe I should resign…” I mutter.
Ivan pats my shoulder. “Didn’t you hear what Mr. Germinato said about having this on your résumé?”
I thought Miss Aubin would go back to her office, but it looks like she is coming to the gym too. “Eric,” she says, in a half-whisper as we walk together, “sometimes the best way to effect change is from the inside.”