The Last Lap

Chapter Eight

I looked through the different websites and clicked until I got sucked into the internet. Somewhere along the way I ended up on youtube watching speeches by different leaders. When I couldn't focus anymore I went on my phone. I had a couple messages. The most recent one was from Alex.

.: Riptide -Wifi- 9:33 AM 58%🔋

⇦ TheOfficialMizukage

★: hi senpai pls notice me

📷 ________________________________ [Send]

I laughed to myself at his childish behavior. Who knew someone that looked like, and almost was, a man could act so much like a middle schooler? I made my response quick and short.

"Hi Alex! What's up?" I typed before ditching it to use the bathroom. My mother was working her second job, meaning if I wanted to I could stay up until dawn. She wouldn't be there to check up on me. My father, the one that thought I was responsible, would probably walk past my door and go to his room. I really wanted to get the project done.

.: Riptide -Wifi- 9:35 AM 58%🔋

⇦ TheOfficialMizukage

★: Aren't you supposed to be in bed young lady?

You: aren't you?

A: Don't change the subject. Wyd?

You: I'm getting ready for bed but I might stay up.

A: Why? Get some rest. You work too hard.

You: i think that you hype me up too much. Im ok

A: nah. What are you thinkin' about right now?

📷 ________________________________ [Send]

I blinked a couple times and hesitated to reply. There were a thousand possible answers to this question. I started with the most simple one.

.: Riptide -Wifi- 9:35 AM 58%🔋

⇦ TheOfficialMizukage

You: im thinking about our trip to the ice rink and your old school

★: what about it?

You: Well, I wanna know what you think would help the kids at your old school?

★: Why

You: I wanna make our school for diverse

★: That's interesting. What's the plan?

You: I don't know yet. I've been reading about this case in CT.

You: it's basically about how this one child sued the state for ignoring inequalities

You: they ended up making a new district to solve it

★: Sounds interesting to me. Good luck with that :)

You: that is a really costly solution but I think that I could do something else just as effective

★: You could do some group building activities or something with the Timothy kids

You: David said it's a waste of time :(

★: He's a waste of time LMAO

You: You're disrespectful LMAO

★: it's a joke but anyways. You should do what you think is needed to solve the issue.

★: Fate is in your hands Emmie :)

📷 ________________________________ [Send]

I opened a blank document and started to furiously click away to the keyboard to list the goals I had in mind.

Create an environment that is more culturally aware

Include students from diverse backgrounds in school programs

Eliminate negative stereotypes

My phone blinked with messages but I put them on hold for a moment. I could always get back to him later. I looked back at the face of the child on the website I found. Questions popped through my mind. What was so bad about giving everyone an equal chance? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Everyone had the right to an equal education regardless of their background.

I started to type the letter but no matter what I did I couldn't come up with the words that accurately portrayed my points. I left the bullet points in the document and closed the tab. I started to watch the I Have a Dream speech. I was distracted by my phone.

.: Riptide -Wifi- 9:35 AM 58%🔋

⇦ TheOfficialMizukage

★: Are you still there Ema?

You: Yeah, sorry. I'm just watching the speech by MLK

★: Why are you so interested in this all of a sudden?

You: Because something happened to me recently.

You: I was Caesar and they were Brutus.

★: Ah yes, the ol' betrayal by Billy Shakes. Iconic.

You: Racism is dumb. Like MLK said, people should be judged not by the color of their skin but the content of their character.

★: You're right. That's what I think too.

You: I sure hope you think so or else we would be in trouble lol

★: I think you can change the town's perspective.

You: I doubt it. Mostly old, white people live here.

★: You never know Ema. You never know.

📷 ________________________________ [Send]