Holly Banks Full of Angst (Village of Primm, #1)(7)
She took a moment to gaze upon the crowd. To slowly scan the room, giving everyone the chance to feel Mary-Margaret and My Love’s love. And then: “Anyhoo. Changing topic. If you’re new in town and you’re wondering how the PTA operates at Primm, I’m here to tell you, we’re not like other PTAs. For one, we’ve severed all ties to any national parent association and are now completely independent of anyone or anything that’s ‘official’ or regulated. We felt too constricted by all of those silly ‘official’ bylaws and guidelines imposed on us by all of those ‘official’ parent-teacher organizations. So I decided, and we all voted to break ties with them. Now, we have the freedom we need for the rules we all want. That’s what makes us special.” Polite clapping from the crowd.
“And now,” said Mary-Margaret, “the moment you’ve all been waiting for: the moment I announce this year’s theme, a theme that I created, with a slogan you won’t soon forget. Are you ready?” She nodded yes to the crowd. “Yes? Ready? Okay.” Big smile from Mary-Margaret. “Here it is: No one can do everything,” she said, with eyes opened wide, “but everyone can do something!”
Holly tapped the arm of the woman beside her. “I know that. I’ve heard that before . . .”
“No one . . . can do everything . . .” Mary-Margaret waited. Presumably to let it all sink in. “But everyone . . . can do something.”
Holly whispered, “She didn’t make that up. She lifted that from Helen Keller.”
“Let’s think about that for a moment. Shall we?” Mary-Margaret paused for a moment of reflection, then pointed the remote and, with the press of a button, loaded a video onto the large motorized screen behind her. The lights in the auditorium dimmed, reminding Holly of her days in film school, of an auditorium like this one where Holly was surrounded not by moms—though she realized some of them could have been moms, too—but by dynamic, creative storytellers studying the art of cinema, filmmaking, and script writing. Holly let her mind wander, pretended she was back in Professor Keegan’s screen-writing class about to analyze the heroine’s journey in The Wizard of Oz. She forgot all about the quote stolen from Helen Keller (or was it Max Lucado? Edward Everett Hale?) and instead got comfortable in her seat and settled in with her coffee.
FADE IN:
EXT. PRIMM ACADEMY GATES — MORNING — ESTABLISHING
Sun is shining in the Village of Primm as a montage of images captures the essence of Primm Academy, from the school gates to the crest to the large wooden doors. The Primm Academy alma mater plays softly in the background as the camera dissolves to:
EXT. PRIMM ACADEMY FLAGPOLE — MORNING
Surrounded by SCHOOLCHILDREN, MARY-MARGARET ST. JAMES, Primm Academy PTA president, wearing a pink blouse and crisp white skirt, hoists the American flag up a flagpole. Patriotic music plays. Camera zooms to close-up:
MARY-MARGARET
Welcome to Primm Academy. As a nationally recognized school of excellence, Primm celebrates the continued partnership between the independent PTA, the school, and the families whose lives are enriched by an active school community. Always striving to provide an outstanding educational experience for our children, the Primm Academy PTA encourages every parent to get involved and to remember: no one can do everything, but everyone can do something.
CAMERA: CLOSE-UP SHOT
MARY-MARGARET
(smiling at schoolchildren)
Children, tell your parents your important message.
SCHOOLCHILDREN
(speaking in unison)
No one can do everything, but everyone can do something!
MARY-MARGARET
(saluting the camera)
Ask not what Primm can do for you. Ask what you can do for Primm. May God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America!
The crowd in the auditorium erupted into applause as the projector rolled back into the ceiling. Holly checked the expressions on the faces of the moms sitting near her, the moms who, only moments ago, were trading snarky gossip but now appeared mesmerized.
Mary-Margaret leaned into the microphone. “At this time, I’d like to dismiss the dads. Thank you for coming to tonight’s meeting,” Mary-Margaret cooed. “We know you’re busy and this isn’t your cup of tea, so you’re free to go. Leave it to the moms to run school functions, the PTA, the class parties, after-school activities, fund-raising, teacher appreciation, playground duty, backpack check, carpool, homework, snack schedule, field trips, holiday parties, health screenings, the science fair, Paint the Playground Project, library book drive, graduation ceremonies, Technology in Our Classrooms Initiative, Box Tops, and the Raise the Flag fund-raiser. You’re free to go. Thank you. Thank you, dads, for making an appearance at tonight’s function.”
What? Holly scrambled for her phone, fired a text to Jack.
HOLLY: Unbelievable! PTA president dismissed the dads.
JACK: What?
HOLLY: The dads left—well. Most of them. Why do they get to leave?
JACK: I have no idea. I’m not there.
HOLLY: Why are moms assigned to school duties? Why am I here and not you?
JACK: Because you’re better at it. Relax.
HOLLY: I am relaxed. But I want to be home with Ella right now. Why does everyone assume I should do the school volunteering and not you? You’re Ella’s parent too.