The More Things Change (Shawn Hunter)

Father/Son Game

A/N: If anyone doesn't like the fact that the oc is black, go away.

"And to the republic for which it stands one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all." The class recited the pledge of allegiance. I kept my head down both because I know how the class would react but also because I've been feeling weird lately. When we finished we all sat down. Mr. Feeny looked over at Topanga and I.

"Miss Lawrence, I couldn't help noticing that you didn't recite the Pledge of Allegiance this morning." Mr. Feeny said, luckily saving me for after.

"Yes, sir. I elected not to." She replied.

"Why was that?" Mr. Feeny asked. He was an impressive actor.

"I didn't feel like it." Topanga replied monotonously.

"And Miss Archer?"

I just shrugged in reply. Shawn sent glares to every kid who looked at me oddly.

Cory then turned to Shawn with a grin plastered on his face. "This is gonna be cool." I rolled my eyes. Won't be long before this bites him.

"What was that, Mr. Matthews?" Mr. Feeny looked in his direction.

"Uh, I said, this is gonna be cool, Mr. Feeny." I snorted in an attempt to hide my obnoxious laughter. Shawn looked at me with a goofy grin before he looked at my freshly straightened hair with a pout.

"Why?" Mr. Feeny asked curiously.

"'Cause you're finally gonna nail Topanga for being weird." Cory explained.

"Do you think it's weird to engage in social protest?" Mr. Feeny asked with his head cocked to the side.

"I think it's weird to pick on me when she didn't say the pledge of allegiance." Cory whined.

"Well, Mr. Matthews... it seems that you and Miss Lawrence have opposing positions for this morning's debate."

"Uh-oh." Cory groaned.

"You been set up, bud." Minkus snarked from his seat in the front.

"Mr. Feeny told you not to say the pledge?" Grumbled accusingly as Topanga smirked and turned around.

"Ohh. Today's social studies discussions, American traditions... the Pledge of Allegiance versus social protest. Mr. Matthews, defend old Glory. Miss Lawrence, defend the right to dissent." Mr. Feeny explained before making them stand.

"Just because it's a tradition doesn't mean you have to do it." Topanga spoke out to the class and I was paying attention until I felt someone take my hand and squeeze it. I smiled and wrote down the definition of tradition on a sheet of paper for the blue eyed boy beside me.

"But it's the Pledge of Allegiance. It takes, like, ten seconds to say. Why can't you just say it and make everyone happy?" Cory exclaimed. Wow...Just wow.

"Because if I'm forced to do it just because it's some tradition I don't understand... then it doesn't make me happy." Topanga reasoned and I handed the paper to Shawn.

"Can you spell... peculiar?" Cory spoke teasingly to the dirty blond haired girl.

"You can't even spell loufa!" I muttered as Shawn read the definition while still holding my hand.

"Oh, and you're normal? You talk to a flag every day and you don't even know what you're saying." Topanga said. She was right.

"But I do it. I do it because I'm supposed to do it. And that's what makes me a great American." Shawn took the hand that wasn't in mine as a trumpet he started humming 'Glory, Glory, Hallelujah' as Cory began what I could only assume was going to be a ridiculous speech. "That's what makes this country great. That flag. Because that flag gives us the right to have this discussion. And this discussion is the most important discussion we will ever have, and..." The lunch bell rang before my brain started oozing from my ears. "Out of here!" Was the last thing Cory said before he bolted out of class.