CHAPTER 12

Sun-up Showdown

“Sometimes big change happens one small step at a time” my mom once told me.

I tried to remember that, so I wouldn’t feel FRUSTRATED.

But all of my steps were so small! I’d be an old lady before Pine Tree Middle School had fair cheerleader tryouts.

But great leaders don’t give up.

Later that night, I called Becca. I told her my plan. She agreed to help.

Friday morning we met on the corner. I gave Becca a petition clipboard and a pen.

We walked to school early, but the cheerleaders had gotten there first.

Becca and I hid behind a tree and watched. Monica was standing on the steps with a bottle of vegetable oil and a rag.

The other seventh graders had oil and rags, too.

Nobody looked happy. Not even Anna and Carly.

Gina and the other eighth-grade cheerleaders weren’t there. I guess they didn’t want to be around if the younger girls got caught.

Becca was SHOCKED. “I can’t believe Monica’s going to grease doorknobs!” she whispered.

“She hasn’t done anything yet,” I said.

Monica waved her rag. “I’ve got something to say,” she told the other cheerleaders.

The other girls looked at her.

“We’ve practiced all week to learn the Cougar cheers,” Monica said. “We’ve worked hard to be cheerleaders, not criminals!”

All the girls were quiet for a second.

Then Linda yelled, “That’s right!”

“So I’m not going to do Gina’s stupid dare,” Monica said. She marched down the steps and dropped her oil and rag in a garbage can.

“I’m not going to either,” Kristin said. She threw away her oil and rag.

Then Linda and Karen threw theirs away too.

Anna and Carly hesitated.

“If you don’t oil doorknobs,” Anna said, “Gina won’t pick you for the squad.”

“She’ll have to pick two of us,” Monica said. “The squad needs four new cheerleaders.”

“Yeah, and you can’t be a cheerleader if you get suspended,” Kristin pointed out.

Anna and Carly looked at each other. Then they tossed their oil and rags too.

All of the girls grinned and gave each other high fives.

“And one more thing!” Monica yelled to get everyone’s attention. “The best cheerleaders should be on the squad, like Claudia said. Not the most POPULAR kids.”

“That’s not going to happen,” Anna said.

“It WILL happen if we want it to,” Monica said.

She pointed at the tree where Becca and I were hiding. “I’ll sign your petition, Claudia,” she called.

I smiled. Then I walked over to Monica and handed her my clipboard. Kristin and Linda signed too.

“That was so cool, Monica!” I said, smiling. “You’re turning out to be a great leader, just like you wanted to be.”

“I am?” Monica asked. She looked SURPRISED.

“Absolutely!” I exclaimed. “You stood up for what’s right. Against Gina! Even though it might ruin your chance to be a cheerleader.”

“She’s right,” Becca said.

“I guess I did,” Monica said.

“And you stopped all those other girls from making a huge mistake,” I pointed out. “Everyone followed your lead. Even Anna.”

“Then you’re a great leader too, Claudia,” Monica said, smiling. “You inspired me.”

“Does that mean we’re friends again?” I asked.

“Always,” Monica said. “Even when we get mad. No matter what. Friends Forever.”