Vote (10 page)

Authors: Gary Paulsen

BOOK: Vote

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You’d expect, after all that activity, and stink, I’d be so exhausted I wouldn’t be able to think. But you’d be wrong. I was still worried about how it was all going to work out.

So I did what I always do when I don’t know what I’ve done except that I’m sure something about it was wrong and I don’t know what to do next: I went to talk with Mom and Dad.

They were in the living room; Mom was reading and Dad was working on some spreadsheets.

“We need to talk.”

A wave of dread crossed their faces.

“As you know, I ran for student-body president this week.” I don’t know why, but I caught Mom giving Dad her “don’t say a word” look.

I continued, “Well, here’s the truth: I only did it to impress a girl. Not just any girl. The most amazing girl the world has ever known.”

Mom gave the smallest of nods. Dad, who’d been watching her closely, mimicked her gesture perfectly.

“I faked my way through the campaign all week, but then I came up with some great ideas at the debate. I’d really like to make them happen.”

“Uh-huh.” My parents looked like synchronized bobble-head dolls as they nodded encouragingly.

“But Cash more than likely has the popular vote. And I think there’s going to be a huge movement to write in votes for Katie, who, if I’m honest, is the most qualified person to be president.”

“Go on.” Mom and Dad were leaning forward, looking a little tense; this is usually the point in the story where I confess that everyone in my world is super mad at me.

“The thing is, I’d be embarrassed to lose, but I’m a little scared I might win. What if I can’t live up to all the expectations? And what about Katie and Cash?”

Dad leaned forward like he wanted to say something. Mom opened her mouth to speak. I cut them off with a raised hand.

“So, anyway, I’ve been thinking: I’m going to email Mr. Crosby and concede the election before the winner is announced on Monday.”

Dad couldn’t help himself; he had to ask: “Why?”

“Because Cash is the right guy for the position. And Katie worked harder than anyone all week. Cash will be the president and Katie’ll make sure he does a good job. I’m going to make sure my ideas
about raising money to help build homes, and throwing our support behind the girls’ basketball team, actually happen. This time, I’m not just going to talk, I’m going to do the work and see it through all the way to the end.”

Mom and Dad kept looking at me.

“It’s all about teamwork,” I explained. “Just like Markie said when we were talking about the election.”

Mom and Dad looked at each other. He mouthed “Markie?” and she raised her eyebrows and shrugged. They’re not like me; they don’t know Markie as a source of wisdom and straight talk.

“Good talk, Mom and Dad, thanks. I always feel better after we work things through.”

I got up and left the room. As I was walking to the downstairs computer to email Mr. Crosby, I heard Mom say to Dad: “See, Michael, I told you he’d start to figure these things out on his own.”

14
The True Politician Knows How to Make a Dignified Exit

Even though I withdrew from the race and Cash was declared the winner on Monday morning, Katie wound up as sole president anyway.

Seems that Milania’s mother is a talent scout for a modeling agency and she saw all the photos of Cash and sent them to her bosses in New York and, long story short, Cash is now the face—or, more accurately, the butt—of a line of jeans.

He didn’t have time to flex his gluteus maximus
and
be president. Katie was thrilled to step in.

Even though Cash is still the best-looking guy in our school, he didn’t get the girl.

I did.

Tina showed up at my house Sunday afternoon. I was sitting at the kitchen table, dipping a banana in a bowl of melted chocolate chips, when she knocked on the back door. Just like I’d wished on Thursday.

I tried to speak when I saw her, but no words came out. She smiled, let herself in and sat next to me. So close I could see the freckle underneath her left eye.

“Katie called and told me about the debate and your idea about raising money for the house-building charity.”

“The whole thing is kind of a blur and I meant to talk to you and—”

“I’m sorry I missed it. Of all the days to have my teeth cleaned, right?”

“It was, uh, really something.”

“Katie also said you withdrew from the race so you could concentrate on fund-raising and supporting the girls’ basketball team.”

“Yeah, I’m trying to figure out how that’s gonna work.”

“I have an idea: we could use my grandma’s old canning jars for the coin collecting. Maybe we’d even have time to deliver them to the classrooms
before school tomorrow so people can start contributing money right away.”

“Oh, wow.…”

“If you’re not busy this afternoon, we could send out an email blast with the basketball team’s schedule. Get everyone excited about the upcoming home games.”

“Really?”

“After we eat bananas dipped in chocolate chips and watch a movie.” She grabbed a banana from the bunch on the table and started peeling.

Did I mention Tina is the world’s most perfect girl?

And it was the world’s most perfect second date. Totally worth all the crazy things I did to prove myself to her.

Now that I’d
gotten
Tina and didn’t have to worry about how to
keep
her any longer, all that was left was planning the world’s most perfect third date. And how hard could
that
be?

Besides, I have the greatest idea.…

Gary Paulsen
is the distinguished author of many critically acclaimed books for young people, including three Newbery Honor Books:
The Winter Room, Hatchet
, and
Dogsong
. He won the Margaret A. Edwards Award given by the ALA for his lifetime achievement in young adult literature. Among his Random House books are
Paintings from the Cave; Crush; Flat Broke; Liar, Liar; Masters of Disaster; Woods Runner; Lawn Boy; Lawn Boy Returns; Notes from the Dog; Mudshark; The Legend of Bass Reeves; The Amazing Life of Birds; The Time Hackers; Molly McGinty Has a Really Good Day; The Quilt
(a companion to
Alida’s Song
and
The Cookcamp
);
How Angel Peterson Got His Name; Guts: The True Stories Behind
Hatchet
and the Brian Books; The Beet Fields; Soldier’s Heart; Brian’s Return, Brian’s Winter
, and
Brian’s Hunt
(companions to
Hatchet
);
Father Water, Mother Woods;
and five books about Francis Tucket’s adventures in the Old West. Gary Paulsen has also published fiction and nonfiction for adults. His wife, Ruth Wright Paulsen, is an artist who has illustrated several of his books. He divides his time between his home in Alaska, his ranch in New Mexico, and his sailboat on the Pacific Ocean. You can visit him on the Web at
GaryPaulsen.com
.

Gary Paulsen is available for select readings and lectures. To inquire about a possible appearance, please contact the Random House Speakers Bureau at
[email protected]
.

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