Kimberly: Book Two of the Kimberly Hummel Series

Chapter Two

 "Alright. Who can tell me who Christopher Cross is?" Mr. Schue asked Monday afternoon in Glee rehearsal.

"He discovered America," Brittany said.

"Close. He did write an iconic chart topper, 'Sailing'."

"I have a bad feeling about this lesson," Kurt said.

"Never heard of him. Don't wanna hear about him," Tina said.

"Now some people think of the term 'easy listening' as a bad thing. But I'm gonna let this music speak for itself. You guys love Lady Gaga and the Rolling Stones, and you guys are really good about putting it all out there. But really good music can also be controlled and restrained. It doesn't have to attack an audience. It can let them come to you."

"'How can you get caught between the moon and New York City'?" Finn read the music. "'They're like a hundred miles apart'."

I raised my hand, "Mr. Schue, if I may, I think I speak for all of us when I say that it's not that we don't love the idea of spending a week on silky smooth adult contemporary, it's just that, as teens, this isn't the easiest music for us to relate to. However, there is a burgeoning Facebook campaign that has swelled to over five members. The ardent demand?" I looked at all my friends. "Is that at this week's fall homecoming assembly, the McKinley High School Glee CLub perform a number by, wait for it, Miss Britney Spears."

Everyone started getting excited as I crossed my arms, leaning back in my chair with a smile, happy that I finally did something to make my friends all happy collectively.

"Yo, Spears is fierce, yo," I heard Artie say.

We all started talking excitedly amongst ourselves only for Mr. Schue to say, "Sorry, Kimberly. Kimberly. Sorry. No. No. No. I don't think she's a very good role model."

"But, Mr. Schue, we kind of grew up with her," Rachel said.

"She's the reason why I want to become a performer," Tina said.

"I don't want to do Britney," Brittany said.

"Why not Britney Brittany?" Kurt asked.

"Because my name is also Britney Spears," she said, confusing all of us.

"What?" Mr. Schue asked.

"What the hell is she talking about?" Mercedes said.

"My middle name is Susan. My last name is Pierce. That makes me Brittany S. Pierce. Brittany 'Spierce'. I've lived my entire life in Britney Spears' shadow. I will never be as talented or as famous. I hope you'll all respect that I want Glee Club to remain a place where I, Brittany S Pierce, can escape the torment of Britney Spears."

Kurt and I looked at each other. What the hell just happened?

"Well, there you have it, guys," Mr. Schue said. "It's been decided. No Britney. Sorry."

"Thanks, Britt," I said sarcastically.

"Thanks a lot," my brother said.

"Leave Brittany alone," Santana said.

"Thank you for understanding," Brittany said to her. "It's been a hard road."

"Um, can we move on?" Rachel asked.

"Yes. Let's talk about Michael Bolton."

* * * * *

"Alright. Here's the deal," Carl Howell, Miss Pillsbury's new boyfriend, who was a dentist, said a few days later as he stood at the front of the choir room. "You chew this little capsule. If there's any plaque you missed, the dye will stick to it and turn your teeth blue."