CHAPTER 5

Good Ideas, No Takers

Great leaders fight for great causes.

I couldn’t make a new country, like George Washington did.

Or start the Red Cross to help people, like Clara Barton did.

There just weren’t any big causes for seventh graders. Not at Pine Tree Middle School, anyway.

So I decided to fight for a little cause.

“I have a great idea,” I said at lunch the next day. “Let’s put all the Wrappers from our straws in the paper recycling bin instead of throwing them away.’

“Why?” Adam asked. He ripped the end off his straw wrapper. Then he blew the wrapper right at Peter.

Peter ducked. The wrapper hit Tommy in the face.

“Wrapper war!” Tommy yelled. He aimed his straw at Peter.

Peter’s wrapper hit Tommy first. “I win!” Peter yelled, smiling.

“Come on, guys,” I said. “This is serious.”

“What is?” Monica asked.

“Recycling straw wrappers,” I explained. “The paper company can use old straw wrappers to make new ones. We can save a tree.”

Tommy wadded up his wrapper and threw it at Adam. He missed, and the wrapper landed on the floor.

Ms. Stark was watching. “Did you drop something, Tommy?” she asked, folding her arms.

“Oops!” Tommy said. He ran over to pick up the wrapper. He made a jump shot. The wrapper went into a trashcan. “Two points!” he yelled.

“Why didn’t you put it in the recycle bin?” I asked.

“I forgot,” Tommy said. He shrugged. “Sorry.”

” Recycling is a good idea. Right, Peter?” I asked.

Peter was the smartest kid in the whole school. I was sure he’d agree with me.

Peter looked up. “Do you have an idea for a project?” he asked.

“What project?” I asked nervously. My heart flip-flopped. I felt panicky. “Do we have a project due? For what class?”

“Not for class. For the museum science fair,” Peter explained. He sighed. “I can’t decide. Should I make electricity with wind, water, or solar power?”

“You could recycle straw wrappers,” I suggested. “That would save energy, wouldn’t it?”

“I’ll do wind, water, and sun,” Peter said. “That might win first place.”

I dropped my head on my arms. I was ANNOYED and frustrated. Nobody was listening to me. Not even Monica and Becca.

“I bet you’re right, Becca,” Monica said quietly. She stared at Anna’s table. “Gina will pick Anna and her friends.”

“Yep,” Becca said.

“But only three of them are trying out,” Monica said. “The team will still need one more new girl.” She looked at Becca. “Will you help me practice?”

“Nope,” Becca said.

“Why not?” Monica asked. “I thought we were friends.”

“We are,” Becca said. “That’s why I won’t help you become a snobby cool kid. Besides, the cheerleaders at our school do the mean kind of cheers.”

“What’s a mean cheer?” Monica asked.

“One that makes fun of the other team,” Becca explained. “Or INSULTS them. Like this.”

Becca recited a basketball cheer.

“We’re the best, and you’re not.

Cougars never miss a shot.

You’re okay, but we’re way better.

Cougars win! We’re go-go-getters!”

That gave me an idea. “Maybe you can STOP the mean cheers, Monica,” I said.

“I’m not a cheerleader yet,” Monica said. “And Gina’s the captain.”

“Gina’s a bad leader,” I explained. “A good leader would have fair tryouts, not a popularity contest. And she wouldn’t do mean cheers.”

“Yeah, but who would be a better leader?” Monica asked.

“You!” I exclaimed. “You want to be a leader. This is your chance.”

“I just want to make the squad,” Monica said.

I sighed. Someone needed to stop the mean cheers. It was the right thing to do. But I couldn’t make Monica lead if she didn’t want to. I decided to help her practice anyway.

“Let’s start training tomorrow,” I said.

The bell rang, and we all stood up to leave.

“Don’t forget to recycle your straw wrappers!” I called out.

Everyone was in a hurry. They all forgot.

How could I be a great leader? I couldn’t even get my friends to save a tree!