HughTube

Chapter 19

The next day was the announcement of the election results, and I showed up at school a new man. I felt free because I didn't really care anymore if I won or lost. Something about being humiliated before the whole school the day before made everything else seem easy. Simon told me that since both Trey and Tanya were caught doing dirty tricks, I would win hands down, but I said I'd believe it when I saw it. And again, I didn't really care.

I stepped into the atrium and looked over the bustling crowd. The same secrets, contradictions and unwritten rules dictating middle school life were there before me, but I no longer burned to learn them all. And as I feared, I felt a little naked without my HughTube camera to protect me, but I figured I could handle it for a few days.

As I headed for my locker, Simon rushed up to join me. "I can't believe they still let Trey and Tanya run," he complained.

"Why?" I asked. "Just 'cause of the dirty tricks and lying?"

"You're right," Simon said. "That doesn't disqualify them – it just means they're both real politicians."

Just then, Principal Townsend came over the P.A. system with an announcement: "Attention students: We have the results of our Student Council election! Tanya DeLuca, 136 votes. Trey Amaral, 152 votes. And Hugh Hollenbeck, 47 votes. Trey Amaral is our new Student Council President!"

There was cheering at one end of the atrium. Simon and I looked over to see Trey celebrating with his friends. "47 votes," I lamented. I knew I didn't really care anymore, but that was, as they say, a shellacking. "Wow. Now I know why they didn't tear down my posters too: They didn't even see me as a threat."

"Hey, look at it this way," Simon said. "Now Trey has to sit in boring Student Council meetings every week, and you can do whatever you want!" He gave me a slap on the shoulder and headed off to class.

Then Molly emerged from the crowd. Once again, just looking at her face calmed me down. She walked up to me with a warm, consoling smile. "I'm sorry, Hugh. You would've been a way better Student Council President than either of those jerks."

"Thanks," I said. "On the bright side, my sister won Best Super Happy Caring Friend at her school. Guess she was a stronger candidate than I was."

"It's not about strength," said Molly. "The gutsiest thing a person can do is be vulnerable. And you do that everyday with HughTube."

I smiled and wondered how to respond. Sure, I could be self-effacing and deny everything she said. But you know... she was right, and I wasn't afraid to admit it. "Thanks again," I said.

But then I started to worry a bit. The campaign was over. Would Molly want to stick around? "So... I guess you'll be taking off?" I asked, trying to appear casual.

"Taking off?" Molly asked.

"You know, 'cause my 'political career' has been cut short."

Molly gave me a look as we turned to walk down the hall to Social Studies class. "Come on, I don't care about that. I still want to help."

I knitted my brow in confusion. "With what?"

"With HughTube!" she said. "It takes a lot of work to be gutsy. You need all the help you can get."

Molly smiled. It took me a while to smile back because it took me a while to accept what had just happened. I had just made a friend. And I didn't even have to figure out any top secret middle school secrets to do it.

So that was my big HughTube story from last month. No doubt this month will bring another story, complete with all the emotional bruises that always seem to come with life lessons. Will I try out for the football team? Will I go vegan and start wearing crystals to school? Will I ask Molly out on an actual date? I can only guarantee one thing: Whatever I choose to do, I will first fall flat on my face.

But fortunately, I'll always have HughTube to help me up again. In my life, things always seem to take a while. But at least now I think I've figured out a way to eventually, finally get it.

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