I had considered everything planned to be a waste of time...

Pete'sVagina
70.1 Drill
by Erin Halfelven

Lunchtime. Cheerleaders were allowed to leave class five minutes early on Fridays so they could get lunch stuff from the cafeteria or snack bar without having to stand in line. Then they had to eat quickly, bus their trays, and assemble for an abbreviated version of a pep rally. Basically, a simple cheer, a short skit, a song and another cheer, all in ten or twelve minutes.

I let Lee take care of my books as I rushed to my place. On Monday, I had considered everything planned for Friday to be a waste of time, but a crash course on how to be a cheerleader had changed my mind. This kind of thing turned out to be exciting and a lot of fun. Not as much excitement as football, but really, a similar sort of energy.

As far as knowing all the songs and cheers, I was strictly a rookie, and Joanna and Coach Debbie didn’t let me forget that, keeping me behind and to the edges of most formations, where I couldn’t mess up everyone by forgetting which foot to stick in first and wave it all about. Yes, we did the Hokey Pokey as a cheer routine.

Megan and I grabbed a taquito plate and apple slices from the snack bar, with a box of lemonade each, and went to the cheer table under the big Zane Grey Oak in the quad. The taquitos were hot and crunchy with a smear of guacamole, a small heap of lettuce and grated cheese, and a tiny paper cup of salsa on the paper plate.

They smelled appetizingly greasy, and despite rumors of what went into the meat paste inside them, they were everyone’s favorite lunch. I always felt sorry for the Catholic kids on Fridays, because most of them passed up the taquitos and ate fish sticks instead.

We ate quickly, keeping the usual gossip and giggles to a minimum, basking in the righteous satisfaction of getting to watch everyone else stand in line to receive their lunches. Even Jake, Dave, and Gogo. I wondered vaguely where Lee had gotten to as I poured the last of my salsa on the little bit of salad, when Megan poked me with her elbow.

“Who’s that with Lee near the podium? They don’t look like any teachers I recognize.”

I knew who they probably must be, but hadn’t expected to see them on campus until the big pep rally after school. I spotted one face I knew immediately.

“The older lady is Lee’s mom, Mrs. Frick. She’s city treasurer. She’s got this idea that she can get publicity for the town out of me playing football. Supposed to have some reporters with her.”

“That… that sounds awful,” Megan responded, surprising me.

I glanced at her. She looked a bit annoyed.

“It’s like she’s taking advantage of you,” she added to explain why it upset her.

“Huh? Well, I guess I don’t mind….” I stopped. Someone else had joined the little group. I thought at first it might be Maggie Lynch, the newspaper reporter I’d met at Lee’s house. But she was much prettier and better dressed, and I could see from halfway across the quad that she was wearing a professional level of makeup.

“Hey,” said Megan. “Isn’t that the weather girl from KLEO?”

The blonde woman was examining Lee with a slight smile, sidling up closer to him.

I frowned, and for some reason, Megan giggled.

*