Dedicating Every Day to You

Chapter Eleven

On Friday after school, I'm absolutely panicking. I have no idea what I'm going to say in my speech, and we are in the car on the way to the conference hall right now.

Thank goodness for Theo and Harriet. They're carpooling with us, and Harriet has shed her shyness and is belting out every song that comes on the radio. Theo has a fine-tipped Sharpie and is currently drawing an elaborate pattern of swirls and dots on the cover of my notebook.
"At least I can say that I've tried," Harriet wails along with Adele on the radio. Her voice is nearly pitch perfect, and she's clearly in her element, singing and with her eyes closed.

"Nice song, Harriet," Theodosia says, beaming at our friend. The sleeve of her purple sweater shakes back and I notice something on her arm.
"Is that a tattoo?" It's a beautiful design, a spider mum flower inked out in pure black.
"Nah, just marker. I can give you one, if you wanted." She seems so cavalier about the entire thing, as though she normally walks around with tattoos- although knowing Theo, she probably does.

This whole week has been amazing. I made it through to Advanced Ballet, and I'm actually doing well in math class. Harriet and I studied for History together on Thursday night, and she stayed for dinner and charmed Alex and John with her smile. I've got blisters all over my feet from dancing, I'm exhausted and have a six inch stack of homework.

I've never been happier.

"No tattoos," Alex and John say in unison from the front seat.
"It's just marker," I whine.
"You're speaking at a presidential press conference," John whines back. "You can't have a tattoo."
"Oh yeah," I sigh. "The speech I still haven't written. That speech."

I open my backpack and dig out a purple marker and a stack of index cards. I have no clue what to say. I'm supposed to talk about how getting a good foster home can change your life, but I never had a bad one so I have no idea how to talk about it.

A well-placed foster child...No, that's not quite right. I feel so fake trying to write about something that has never happened to me. I put myself on autopilot, writing whatever words come to my head. It's hard to focus, with Alex throwing french fries at John's head, Theodosia making snarky comments about the people driving past, and Harriet belting out an old Tina Turner song.

"Alex-" John starts to speak, but a fry hits him on the nose. "Alexander-" Fry to the cheek. "ALEXANDER HAMILTON DO I NEED TO PULL OVER?"
Alex loses his mind laughing. "Sorry, babe. I couldn't resist."
John looks furious. "I've married a five year old."
Alex kisses him. "You know you love me."

I look at the other girls to see if they're dying from second-hand embarrassment, but to the contrary. Theodosia is beaming at them, and Harriet is actually crying a little.
I give her a hug. "You okay?"
She wipes her eyes on the sleeve of her shirt. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just...my family situation is awkward, to say the very least. It makes me really happy to see someone with a really happy, good family."

I unbuckle and finish hugging her.
"Buckle back in this second, Kathryn Laurens-Hamilton!" Alex shouts from the passenger's seat.
I love my full name, because every time it gets used, I remember that I have two parents who love me and who aren't afraid to be proud of who they are. "Okay, Alexander Hamilton," I respond, laughing. He tosses a fry at my head, and I catch it in my mouth. (Note to self: when choosing a drive-thru, never, never, never let Alex choose where we go. He will pick some place with projectiles.)

John pulls up at Onaodowan Conference Hall, and I get chills of nervousness. I grab my stack of index cards out of my backpack, tuck my hair back into the semblance of a dancer's bun that I was wearing, take a deep breath, and step out of the parked car.

The very air is charged with nerves and electricity. My heart is pounding as we walk up the steps to go inside. Martha greets me with a hug, and Washington shakes my hand.
"They're all waiting for the three of you," he says, smiling warmly. "Harriet, you're first, then Theodosia, and then Kathryn."