by Belle Payton
There was a brief commotion on the stage behind Ava. She turned around. Mr. Kelly had risen to his feet.
“The board recognizes Mr. Kelly,” said Mr. Guajardo.
Mr. Kelly took off his hat and held it against his chest. “I’d just like to say that with all due respect for this young lady, it is highly irregular for a girl to be permitted to play the great game of football.”
Ava’s mom had put her hand on Ava’s arm, and now Ava felt her grip tighten.
Mr. Kelly went on. “There’s a lot of rough contact, and a young lady might get injured, and the school district would be liable. There’s no call for a girl to be playing a boys contact sport, and the law permits her to be prevented for her own good, given that there is an alternative sport offered, volleyball, which is much safer and more appropriate for young ladies. Thank you.”
He put his hat back on and sat down.
Ava sprang back to her feet. “Actually, I would like to say something,” she said.
Mr. Guajardo looked a bit surprised. “Very well. The board recognizes Miss Ava Sackett. You may proceed.”
Ava swallowed. Her mouth had gone dry. Her heart was pounding. She did not like public speaking. Her anger and indignation had given her temporary courage, but now that courage drained away again. She looked at the members of the school board, who were all facing her, some with their hands folded in front of them, others with arms crossed—waiting. She looked out at all the people sitting in the audience.
And then she spotted Coach. He’d come after all! She could just make him out, silhouetted in the back doorway. She’d know his big, muscular frame anywhere. He must have slipped in so no one would see him. Her courage returned. She faced the board and spoke in a loud, clear voice.
“I’ve been playing football since I was three years old. I love the game. And my parents taught me the importance of fighting for what you believe in, the right way, with respect and persistence. And I don’t believe it’s fair to deny a kid the right to play a sport if she’s good enough to make the team. Well, Coach K told me I was good enough, and that if I were a boy I would be on the team. So I’d like to please ask that you make the decision to let me play football.”
Suddenly she became aware that Alex was now standing next to her.
“Mr. Guajardo, may I also say something?” asked Alex.
“The board recognizes Miss, er”—another board member leaned toward him and whispered something—“Miss Alexandra Sackett.”
“Thank you,” said Alex. “Ladies and gentlemen of the school board, my name is Alexandra Sackett, and I would like to say that it is unacceptable and unlawful to make a decision to bar a student from playing a sport based on her gender. This is a discriminatory policy and in clear violation of Title Nine, the 1972 federal law that mandates equal opportunities for men and women in education and athletics.”
As Alex took a breath, Ava stared at her sister in wonder and admiration.
Alex went on. “As such, today I started an online petition requesting that Ashland Middle School allow Ava to play. As of this evening, we already had over eighteen hundred signatures, and they were still coming in fast when I left for tonight’s meeting. I am sure the American Civil Liberties Union will take an interest in this decision if it doesn’t go the way it rightfully should.”
There was a murmur in the audience, and several camera flashes went off.
Ava linked her arm through Alex’s, and the two sisters stood side by side.
Mr. Guajardo took off his glasses, and then put them back on. “Well!” he said. “Those were very impressive speeches from both of you. Thank you, Miss Sackett, and Miss Sackett, for your remarks. I move that we dismiss the spectators, media, and guests for our discussion. We will notify you of our decision tomorrow.”
“Seconded,” mumbled someone else.
“Please clear the auditorium now.”
With that Mr. Guajardo banged his gavel. Immediately a crowd of reporters and parents and kids moved toward the stage. Ava turned to look at her mother.
“How do we get out of here?” she asked.
“Pssst! This way!” said a voice from offstage.
It was Jack Valdeavano, and he was beckoning to the Sacketts. Next to him were Coach, Tommy, and Kylie.
Quickly Ava, Alex, and Mrs. Sackett moved toward them, and they followed Jack backstage. They hurried through a dimly lit passageway and down some steps to a doorway with a lighted exit sign.
“You can get out this way,” he said. “I don’t think the reporters know about this stage door exit. My cousin is on the stage crew, and he showed me around recently. The parking lot will be just to your right, around the corner.”
“Thank you so much!” said Mrs. Sackett.
“Thanks, Jack,” said Ava.
“No problem. It’s the least I could do. You guys were awesome,” said Jack. “Now hurry up before they figure out where you’ve gone!”
“See you tomorrow!” said Kylie, giving Ava a big hug.
They got home ten minutes later, Mrs. Sackett and the girls in one car, Coach and Tommy in the other. Mrs. Sackett heated up the lentil soup she’d made earlier, and they all sat around the table.
“I’m proud of you girls,” said Coach. “You stood up for what was right, and you stood up for each other. A parent can’t ask for more than that.”
“Yeah, you guys were pretty cool,” agreed Tommy, ladling out the last of the soup into his bowl. “And I bet you’ll be on the ten o’clock news.”
They were.
CHAPTER
SIXTEEN
Thursday morning, as their bus pulled into the unloading area at school, Ava looked out the window to see a crowd of reporters.
“Oh no,” she said, nudging Alex and pointing outside.
“Wow,” said Alex. “They’re certainly making a big deal out of this.”
As they stood up to file off, Ava put a hand on her sister’s shoulder. “Hey, Al? Thanks for your speeches yesterday and last night.”
Alex smiled. “It took me a while to get a clue, but I guess you’re used to that by now.”
Ava saw with relief that Ms. Farmen was standing at the door of the bus, ready to escort Alex and Ava into the school. “We’ll let you know when the school board’s decision has been announced,” she said to the reporters. “Now please let these children enter their school so that learning may commence.”
Once again, the reporters meekly dropped away.
As they moved down the hallway toward their lockers, Alex pointed at the walls. “Look!” she said. “With all the football excitement, I totally forgot today was election day!”
Someone had put up dozens of new posters advertising Alex’s campaign. Every few feet was another sign.
“ ‘She’s five foot two and the president for you!’ ” Ava read. “ ‘Check the bracket next to Sackett!’ These are great! Who do you think did them?”
“I’m guessing it was Emily and Lindsey,” said Alex, smiling.
“I’m going to go vote,” said Ava. “Good luck today, Al.”
“Thanks, Ava,” said Alex. “Good luck today to you, too. I hope they let you go to practice.”
Ava was about to go into homeroom when Ms. Kerry intercepted her in the doorway. “You’re supposed to report directly to Ms. Farmen’s office,” she said to Ava. “Good luck.”
Ava thanked her, and a few minutes later Mrs. Gusman was escorting her into Ms. Farmen’s office. Coach Kenerson and Mr. Guajardo were also there. They stood up when she came in.
“Sit down, Ava,” said Ms. Farmen. “This will be brief, as I know you need to get to class. Mr. Guajardo?”
“First off, Miss Sackett,” said Mr. Guajardo, “I would like to commend you, and your sister, for the way you conducted yourselves at the meeting last night. The board was very impressed with your poise, your perseverance, and the respectful way that you presented your case.”
“Thanks,” said Ava, her voice barely above a whisper.
Her heart was pounding with anticipation.
“The board has decided that it will allow you to remain a member of the Ashland Middle School football team.”
Ava leaped up and shrieked. “That’s totally awesome!” she said. “Thank you so much!”
Coach Kenerson was beaming. “Told him you’re my best kicker,” he said. “I’m going to move Xander to punter and have you be our field goal kicker. You’ve got an excellent foot. And I want you to train with the receivers, too, Sackett. You’ve got good hands.”
“Receivers?” repeated Ava, dumbfounded. “I’ve never played that position.”
“You had the second-fastest time in the pro-agility test,” said Coach K. “And a four-point-nine-five-second forty. I’d be foolish not to use your speed and quickness.”
“All right, Ava, you may go to class now,” said Ms. Farmen, rising from her chair. Everyone else stood up too. “Congratulations.”
Ava shook hands quickly with all three of them and then practically danced her way to Spanish class.
Alex was just setting up her science lab with Madison when Ava’s text came in, telling her about the football decision. She knew, of course, that she wasn’t allowed to use her phone in class, but today she didn’t care if she got in trouble. She’d told Ava she wanted to be the first to hear.
She inhaled sharply when she looked at her phone.
“What’s up?” asked Madison, who was lining up their beakers.
“Alex?” Mr. Lehner was across the room, helping Ella Sanchez and her partner, Nate Nielson, adjust a Bunsen burner. He peered at her through his safety goggles, looking a bit like a fish in an aquarium. “Something to share with the group? I’m sure you weren’t texting, right?”
“Um, well, maybe just a tiny bit,” said Alex, flushing. “You can give me a detention for it, Mr. Lehner, but I had to know what the school board decided about my sister.”
“Well, tell us then!” said Mr. Lehner. The rest of the class stopped what they were doing at their lab tables and all waited to hear what Alex was going to say.
“They’re going to let her play!” said Alex, bouncing up and down with excitement.
The class erupted in a cheer. Alex was pleased to see that even Ella looked genuinely delighted.
After science class, as Alex was packing up her stuff, Ella Sanchez made her way over to her.
“Hey, Alex, can I talk to you for a minute?” she asked shyly.
“Sure!” said Alex, trying to hide her surprise. She and Ella had never really had a conversation before now. And on election day, of all days!
“I just wanted to tell you that I think your speech yesterday was really great,” said Ella. “I’m really happy for your sister. And if I don’t win this dumb election, I hope you do. The worst scenario would be if Logan won.”
Alex smiled. “I agree! I have a sinking feeling he’s going to win because he’s so popular. Plus, I don’t think my speech that was all about my sister necessarily helped my candidacy. But I really appreciate your saying that, and I think you’d make a great president.”
“Well, between you and me,” said Ella, lowering her voice, “I honestly won’t be devastated if I lose. My parents are the ones who pushed me to run. My mom practically wrote my speech, and my dad’s secretary make all those fancy signs. I would rather just hang out at the science lab and work on my experiments. But they think I need to be well-rounded for when I apply to college. Which won’t even happen for five more years.”
Alex laughed. “Thanks for telling me, Ella,” she said.
“I’ll walk you toward S wing,” said Ella. “I want to float an idea past you, if you’re free after school today.”
CHAPTER
SEVENTEEN
Thursday afternoon Ava emerged from the girls’ locker room in her helmet and full pads. The girls in the locker room from the volleyball and cross-country teams had all high-fived her and congratulated her. She was happy the whole controversy was over and just wanted things to get back to normal so she could concentrate on football.
“Hey, Sackett,” said a voice as she passed the boys’ locker room. She turned. It was Xander, also wearing his practice uniform and pads. His helmet was under his arm.
“I just wanted to say congratulations on making the team,” he said, his eyes cast down.
“Thanks. You too. I’m sure you’ll be an awesome punter,” she said.
“I’m going to be a lineman, too,” he said, and Ava could hear the pride in his voice. “So, um, I also wanted to say I was sorry,” he said in a low voice.
“For what?”
“I’m the one who stuck that picture in your locker. It was dumb. I was just afraid, well, afraid of what people would say if I got cut from the team, beaten out by a girl.”
Ava nodded. “I get it,” she said. “But I wish people would stop looking at me like a girl who plays football, and just look at me as a football player.”
“Yeah, well, you mow down enough guys, they’ll forget pretty quickly,” he said.
Ava grinned at him. “I hope so,” she said.
The two walked up to join the rest of the team. For the warm-up run, Ava noticed that Xander pointedly ran next to her, rather than with Andy. After the run, the captains told Ava to move to the front line for stretching.
CHAPTER
EIGHTEEN
On Friday morning Alex woke up early, feeling strangely calm. Today was the day they were going to announce the election results. So why wasn’t she a nervous wreck? She felt similar to the way she felt after she had handed in an important test. The studying and test-taking were the stressful parts. After you handed it in, there was nothing more you could do to change anything. It was the same with the election. The votes were cast and counted. Whatever happened, happened.
The morning breakfast rush felt lighter and less stressful than it had in some time. Alex and Ava were getting along again. With the whirlwind of speeches, and the school board meeting, and football practice, and Alex’s errand with Ella Sanchez the day before, the twins hadn’t had a chance to have a real talk, but the tension was gone. Ava was happy and excited about football. Alex was relieved that the election was over, come what may.
Just before lunch, everyone filed into the auditorium for an all-school assembly to announce the election results. Alex wished she could sit with Ava, but you were supposed to sit with your fourth-period class, and that, ironically, was gym for Alex. Not her best subject. The only person she kind of knew in the class was Madison.
Ms. Farmen droned on for a few minutes about fall Homecoming and the upcoming all-school community service day. Then at last she cleared her throat. “And now, we turn to the results of the all-school elections. Starting with sixth grade.”
She opened one of the envelopes in front of her and read off the results of class secretary, treasurer, vice president, and president. Chloe Klein got president and received an enthusiastic round of applause and whoops. She stood up and waved, grinning broadly.
Alex held her breath while Ms. Farmen opened the next envelope. She felt Madison grab her hand and squeeze it rather painfully. Ms. Farmen read off the names of the secretary, treasurer, and vice president, each announcement followed by applause.
“And the winner of the presidential election for this year’s seventh-grade class is”—she paused dramatically—“Alex Sackett!”
The place erupted. Alex felt like she was dreaming. She felt Madison gently guide her up to a standing position, and she stood up and waved to the crowd.
Ava and Kylie, about ten seats in front and to the right of her, were going crazy. Corey was over on the left aisle with a big group of his football teammates, and they were standing up and clapping and whistling. Emily and Lindsey were jumping up and down and cheering.
She couldn’t see Ella or Logan. She’d look for Ella later.
She couldn’t believe it. She’d actually won.
Ava’s first game was at home on Saturday morning; the Tiger Cubs we
re playing the Mainville Hawks. She dressed alone in the quiet girls’ locker room. Next door she could hear her teammates yelling and getting psyched. It was strange not to be in the midst of all that, but she’d get used to it.
She walked over to the field in her uniform—number fourteen—and she saw Alex waiting for her near the chain-link fence just behind their bench. As she trotted toward her sister, her eye was drawn to something else. A sea of pink in the stands. Even Alex was wearing a pink shirt, and Alex rarely wore pink.
“Hey, Ave! You like our shirts?” asked Alex, her eyes shining, as Ava got closer.
Ava looked. Alex took a step back so she could read what it said on the front of her pink T-shirt. There was a silhouette of a girl football player and above it, the words GIRLS CAN’T WHAT? Then Alex turned around so Ava could see the back. SACKETT #14.
“Where did these come from?” asked Ava, her eye moving toward the stand. She realized that at least half the spectators—and practically all the middle-school-aged kids—had the shirt on.
“Ella Sanchez,” said Alex. “She was totally psyched about you being able to play, and we met with her dad on Thursday and he offered to help us get these T-shirts made. That’s where I went yesterday afternoon, too—to his printing company. He got half his staff to drop what they were doing so we could get them done in time for the game! They finished them late last night. Ella’s handing them out at the entrance—you wouldn’t believe how enthusiastic people are about wearing them!”
Ava felt her eyes mist up and was glad she had her helmet on. She was not going to be seen crying at her first game. She gave her sister a quick hug.
“Thanks, Al. I’m the luckiest sister in the world.”
“Go win the game!” said Alex, with a tap on Ava’s helmet.
Ava grinned and went to join her team.
Alex was climbing the bleachers toward where her mom sat when Emily and Lindsey jumped up from their seats to give her a huge hug. They were both wearing pink shirts too.
