Remember; You Have the Universe

[ 64 ]

StudCo
has already
sprung up
Christmas decorations
weeks ago;
pine trees and
candy canes
painted on
glass doors,
garlands
wrapped tightly around
banisters,
Cadence's glittery
homemade
snow globes
dotting office counters,
a giant
paper sleigh and
reindeer
slapped on the wall
in the Commons,
complete with a
find the missing
presents
activity
(we've taped up
card stock presents
splattered in
random places
around the school,
rewards of candy
promised to
those who
find the
multiple hundred
gifts—
which took
half a century
to print and
cut out).
One of the
members of StudCo,
who's on
Swim,
manages to talk
one of the
VP's
(aka a
Swim coach)
into dressing up as
Santa
on the last day
before break
and the
huge
service fundraiser
event;
Merry and Bright.

Essentially,
we're raising money
to donate to
families in need
so they can afford
a magical,
merry, and bright
Christmas.

I think it's
supposed to be
heartfelt and
inspiring,
but as StudCo,
my main concern is
trying to get
everyone motivated
to donate
to our cause;
students.
Staff.
Families.
City Council.
The community.
Businesses.
Everyone.

It is slightly
stressful.
And it is
my favorite project
of the year,
not because of
Christmas but
the happy mood
everyone is in,
all the work to do,
the magical snowfalls,
the kind-hearted
service done,
and of course,
the food trucks.

When we
partner up
for
gathering final
monetary donations from
teachers' classrooms,
Cadence
quietly chooses
someone other than
me.

As if I
wasn't already
enough of a loser
with my cannula,
unable to
climb up ladders
to decorate or
lead the school in
our fight song
because I cough
too hard when I
shout that much,
I am paired with
a girl who
asks me why
Cadence and I
are suddenly
separable.

I ignore
the question
completely,
because I
don't know
100%,
and pick up our
box and start walking.
Last year,
this was
so fun.
Cadence and I
giggled and skipped
down the hall,
laughing at our
inability to
click our heels,
sobering up
as we
entered classrooms,
announced the
quickly impending
Merry and Bright
activities,
and thanking them
for their donations,
even though we all knew
it was to earn
passing grades or
a class pizza party.

I don't pretend
to feel the
team spirit
uniting this girl and
me as
StudCo.

Let's just
get this
over with and
pretend it
never happened.