“I spent each night there, when I was Queen. Long hours into the early morning I would read each card and study each pearl of wisdom. I wanted to be a good Queen, to soak in the decades of insight from the Queen’s before me. As I read them though it only served to highlight one truth, that what these cards held didn’t compare to the source of wisdom I had already gained.”
-Megan Trendale, On Being a Little Sister.
The next few weeks went by in a flash and before either Alison or Megan knew it their mom was driving them all to Cheer camp. Camp Oska was about an hour away but it seemed to take forever. They were going up a day early since their mom was now in charge of the Middle School Cheer team. Priscilla Bellows had resigned when it became obvious that Keri was not going to get better quickly. Penny Trendale jumped at the opportunity and St Pious had agreed.
Megan and Britney were in the back seat texting a thousand words a minute, both beyond excited to be on the cheer team and to be sitting at Alison's table. Alison stared out the window occasionally noticing familiar landmarks from when she came here last year, when Keri had been set to be Queen. The talking from the backseat washed over her but didn't stick, her mind kept drifting to Ali as she saw the trees whipping by outside the car window. Ali had gone into woods like these and had not come out. Alison had caused her to go there as if she had chased her all the way from the school with a whip. Chased her by her betrayal, her taunts, and something even deeper.
If she had been paying attention she would have noticed one of the voices stopping behind her. Megan had caught her looking out the window as the trees passed by and seen the tears in her eyes in the reflection in the glass. Anger boiled deep in Megan's heart. “She's thinking of her I bet. Stupid Alianna. It's been months. A few more though and Ali won't even remember her and then I''l be her only sister.” “Meg” Said Brittney after a minute of hearing only her own voice. Megan looked at her friend. “Huh?” Brittney began to giggle. “Where did you go? I think I was talking to myself for like a whole minute.” Megan laughed at herself. “Sorry Britt, the trees looked really pretty outside and I got distracted.” Megan laughed, and so did Brittney. Alison heard the laughter as if it was from far away. She thought back to the day they met, her and Alianna. They were both 5 and their mother's had taken them to the same playground. Their mother's got to talking about something and she remembered staring at the blond haired girl who was hiding behind her mother's leg just as Alison was. Ever so slowly they inched out toward each other and when they got near each other Alianna was the first to speak. “Hi. I'm Ali.” She said slowly, cautiously. Alison remembered the excitement she felt when she learned that this girl had the same name as her. “Hi Ali, I'm Ali too.” She said giggling. Alianna giggled too. “That's awesome.” She said. “Yah so Awesome.” “Do you want to be my friend?” Alianna said. “yes, that would be super awesome!” “Yay” Said Alianna. “Yay echoed Alison. From then on they were always together. They started the Ali club, thought up the Ali Wall/Ali Sally game. The game had originally started out where they would carry around one of those plastic eggs with two folded papers inside that they would randomly shuffle. At the end of each school year they would open them and see which one of them would be Ali Wally and which would be Ali Sally for the next school year. Each year they changed nicknames, eventually, once they became proficient at writing, this game shifted over to their Diary's. They had found special stickers at a craft store that you could lift up and put back multiple times without hurting the paper or meeting up the sticker. When the diary’s were full at the end of the school year, they would exchange them, and then they would both close their eyes and then count one, two, three, and open them and look down and see which nickname each had had for that year. Neither of them could remember perfectly who had had each name and so they would both laugh when they saw which name they had had and how badly they had messed it up through the year. They both still had each other's diary as they hadn't been able to get together before the end of sixth grade because that was the day that Alison joined the table and forsook Alianna, her sister. The tears fell and she didn't care, she let them fall as the memories played over and over in her head. It was either let them fall as they were now, or let out the ugly cry that she has been holding back since Ali disappeared.
Megan kept watching her sister out of the corner of her eyes as she talked to Britney. She had always been good at multitasking. She watched the tears pour from her sisters eyes, and each tear stirred her anger even more. She had a bunch of M&M's in her hand that she had been snacking on, she slowly maneuvered one so that she could flick it at her sister when the car began to slow down. She looked forward and saw a large wooden sign that read “Welcome to Camp Oska”.
“We're here girls.” came her mom. Her mom sounded more excited to be here then they were. Her eyes darted back to Alison who had some how miraculously erased her tears and looked perfectly normal. Megan sighed in frustration and popped the M&M's in her mouth.
They parked and Alison was the first one out of the car. She stretched and then looked around. The camp seemed empty, but there was a staff person moving about here or there. The High School team had left earlier this morning and so they had the run of the camp till tomorrow. Then she saw someone else. A girl with brown hair what looked like a High School Cheer uniform, except it was longer and more, well, proper. She was standing under the canopy of the main camp offices with her bags next to her looking down at her phone. Alison shaded her eyes against the sun and squinted. It was Amy Reader. She began walking over toward the camp offices toward Amy. Amy was so engrossed in her phone that she didn't notice Alison. “Hi Amy” Alison said. Amy jumped and nearly drooped her phone. The only thing that saved it was the loop on the back of it got caught on her finger. “Oh...” She took a breath and put her hand to her chest. “Oh, Hi Alison, I'm sorry I didn't hear you come up.”
“I'm sorry Amy, I didn't mean to startle you, are you okay? Did your ride not show up?” Amy nodded her head. “My mom was on the way up here but she got a flat tire and so she had the car towed to get a new one. She just texted me and said she finally got it fixed and would be here soon. My Dad is in Indiana for business and so I had to wait for her to get it done.”
“I'm sorry that you had to wait this long alone Amy.” “It wasn't bad, Jennifer, the new High School Queen, waited with me for quite awhile, her mom totally supported her. They left about 30 minutes ago because they needed to pick up her brother from Soccer camp, but it was supper nice of them to wait with me as long as they did.” “Wow, that is really nice!” Alison said with as much genuineness as she could, but the guilt of what she did to Ali began to stab at her heart again, and also the oddness of the new Queen's actions.
“How are you doing Alison, really?” Amy asked. Alison looked at her, and she could see Amy's eyes searching hers for anything below the surface. She thought she had locked everything away, but Amy's face became empathetic and Alison mentally stamped her foot. “I got to get my emotions under Lock and Key or else I'll never survive 8th grade.” “I guess keeping my emotions under tighter control is a bit of a frustration right now.”
The irony was thick in her voice. Amy laughed a little, it wasn't a taunting laugh, just that she caught the irony. “Its okay Alison. I know it was rough with Mandy at the end there and Jim leaving the table, but I heard that you brought on Britney Shaffer, that is so fortunate, her Dad is like the richest man in Black Canyon, I think Wilkes-Barre too. And Bradly Lockman should soften Tiffany up a little.” She said, nodding her head in approval. “You are going to do Okay. So, did you pick a Prince yet?”
Alison looked around to make sure no one was listening. Seeing her do that Amy moved closer to her. Alison bent low and whispered “Billy Poke.” Amy stood back and started to laugh really hard. When she slowed down some she looked at Alison with tears forming at the corners of her eyes. “Come on Alison, who is it?” Alison looked at her with the same unreadable expression. “Billy Poke.” Amy's mouth dropped. “Pig in a Poke Billy? Alison what...?” She closed her mouth and looked shrewdly at Alison. “The Cinderella Story?” She said in an exasperated whisper. “Alison that is cool for the first few months but then kinda plateaus, and you really have to work hard to make something out of it for the second half of the year. And it never usually ends pretty. Why...why are you doing this, and with Billy?” Amy asked with genuine concern on her face. “I need support at the table Amy. Mandy has at least half the table on her side. I am going to announce Megan as my heir apparent and she and Britney are best friends. Britney's cousin Beau is moving here at the end of the summer from California. She described him to me and he seems like the complete deal.” Amy scrunched her eyes at Alison and opened her mouth in surprise. “So why in the world would you chose Billy Poke?” Alison sighed and shook her head. “Because I need support, Amy. I know Beau is perfect to fill the Prince's seat, he is a complete stranger and new to the table and I know Mandy and Tiffany will try to sink their claws into him and use him against me. He'll definitely be at the table, there is no way I can't bring him in, but I need a sure thing for Prince Amy, not a possibility. I need someone who will be absolutely loyal to me, and there is no chance Mandy can steal them away. The one advantage of the Cinderella Story is that when you bring someone to the table who has been mercilessly picked on up till now, their loyalty is absolute. He'll do anything I ask him to do, anything, to make sure he never gets put back at the reject table.” Amy sighed and nodded.
“You are really good at the game Alison, more than I gave you credit for. You are willing to take risks that no one else would even consider and so they don’t see it coming. Remember what I told you in the mat room, however, be careful with the Game. You have shot up really quickly and that can be a good thing, but you've also missed a whole year of playing and learning to play it. It can destroy you, especially as Queen, if you're not careful.”
Alison looked at Amy and nodded. “I know Amy, believe me I see the cliff's on either side of this road, but I have no choice. I've given up everything I held dear for this chance to get something that might fill…” she clamped her mouth shut and shook her head. . “ I have to see it through.”
Amy looked confused. “What are you trying to get out of this Alison, what are you needing filled?” Alison opened her mouth again to say it, but then closed it. “Sorry Amy, that's ultra top Secret.” Amy nodded and shrugged. “I had to try.” She smiled reassuringly at her. “You will do okay Alison, at least for the next year.” Now it was Alison's turn to be confused. “What do you mean? Why won't I do good in High School?” Amy looked at her, then looked around to make sure no one was looking. Alison moved in closer to her. “Look Alison...” “Ali, call me Ali Amy, I've brought you in far enough that I consider you a friend.” Amy looked at her with some shock but then relaxed and smiled. “Thanks...Ali, it's been awhile since anyone wanted to be an actual friend with me. What I did to Sharon kept people at arm's length.” Alison smiled at her. “Anyway, Amber was a completely different Queen than any of the High School Queens in the Chronicle. She frowned upon gossip and slander and most parts of the game, and she instead rewarded good deeds and to encourage each other and in going to this Bible study that a few kids have at the High School every morning at 7 am. But it wasn't just a show, it was who she was. She was always nice to everyone and helped out anyone who needed it, it's rumored that she even donated a kidney to Kristy Newsom’s sister Kelly who was Queen two years ago.
Amber started to change the rules of the game while she was Queen. She picked Jennifer to be Queen after her and from what I can see Jennifer is following right in Amber's footsteps.” She said as she waved her hand over her new uniform. “Jennifer gave us these new, more proper, uniforms and told us this week that she is going to require sixty additional hours of volunteer service for everyone who is at the High School table. That is in addition to the sixty hours that the School makes us do each year, and that is just to sit at the table. The more hours that you put in the more cred at the table you get. I'm going to have to volunteer at the Hospital almost everyday each week if I want to get ahead. She also is inviting everyone to this youth group at the Church she goes to. Amber goes there too, and Julie and now also Jim.” Alison's face had been growing more and more concerned as Amy talked but now her mouth dropped in surprise. “Wait. What do you mean Julie and Jim are going to a youth group? Julie, Julie Kurtz? Former Queen of the Middle School table, ruled with an Iron fist, destroyed your friend Shannon, that Julie, and Jim too?” “Yeah, I know, I couldn't believe it when I saw them there. Julie is wearing long dresses and covering clothes and this bandanna that covers the top of her head. I saw Amber and Jennifer wearing one too. It was so crazy too. See, I went because I wanted to get on Jennifer's good side, and score some early points before Cheer Camp.
I had no Idea what I would find when I got there though. This man named Aaron, Jennifer said he was the youth Pastor at the church, which I didn't understand because he wasn't wearing the priests uniform like at our Church, but anyway, he got up and read a story from the bible about a woman who had been caught in adultery and Jesus forgave her sins. Well when he finished I looked over and Julie was a mess. She was ugly crying all over the place with her hand over her mouth and the other over her stomach. Anyway, Jennifer and Amber took her to the back and tried to calm her down, but then Amber went and said something to this Aaron guy and he then instructed everyone to move downstairs. I have no Idea what is going on, but Jim looked as confused as I was. He's a mess too, He's all torn up about Keri, and worried about what he's going to find when he gets back to the Dungeon.” She was about to say more, but suddenly her phone buzzed and Amy looked down at it. She smiled. “Phew, my Mom said she's coming down the main road to the camp now.” She looked back at Alison.
“One more thing Alison. I got some pretty good ears, and I overheard Jennifer talking to Jim before they left. She said that she was going to be paying you a visit during lunch on the first day of School to talk to you about the changes they are making to the game at the High School and that she is going to greatly encourage you to follow suit.
The last time this happened was about seven years ago. As social media took off, everyone and their little brother was making videos and posting them, and the stuff the A table was putting up started to just become white noise. So the High School Queen that year, an April Wylle, came up with a new system of gaining cool cred. She had read a quote from one of the Queens at the Captains Cove that said “If the present isn’t working for you, look to the past.” at least that is what was written in the chronicle. She was inspired by this and changed the entire cred system. The more you knew about classic rock from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s the cooler you were, same with movies and commercials. The reasoning was that it took actual work to research this stuff and become knowledgeable about it. The more knowledgeable, the cooler you were. That’s why Keri goes on and on about Rush and Jim keeps playing Simon and Garfunkel, and Mandy’s wall has so many posters of Bob Dylan.” Alison’s mouth dropped. “Get out, are you serious? I always heard everyone talking about old bands and movies but never knew why. I tried to become knowledgeable, but without knowing why, or what ones to memorize, it was really hard. Why didn’t anyone tell me?” Amy smiled and shook her head. “That’s lesson four of the game Ali, if you have knowledge and you know someone else doesn’t, don’t give it to them, unless it benefits you in some way” She shrugged. “ Anyway, you can refuse Jennifer’s suggestions and do as you wish for the rest of eighth grade, but I doubt you'll find a very warm welcome when you and Mandy get to the High School table next fall unless you find a way to impress Jennifer and Julie now. I don't know how you're going to play this card that is being dealt to you, but please, if you really meant what you said about friendship, don't tell Jennifer that I told you all this. I don't know how much longer I have it in me to keep playing the game, but I'm hopeful this new game will at least not be as heavy as the one that we have been playing.”
Alison let the worry flood her face and was about to ask Amy more questions when a car horn honked and Alison turned to see a white Toyota Corolla pulling up to the office. Amy waved at the woman behind the steering wheel. The door opened and a short heavy set woman got out. “I'm so sorry dear that you had to wait so long.” Said Amy's mom as she ran up to her and hugged her. Amy hugged her back and then pulled away. “It's okay mom, I had some friends to talk to while I waited. Mom, this is Alison, she's one of my friends.” Amy said, turning to her and smiling. Alison smiled back, if not a bit subdued because of all that Amy had told her. She quickly turned on her smile though and waved at Amy's mom. “Hi Mrs. Reader, I'm Alison Trendale.” “Oh it's very nice to meet you dear, and thank you so much for keeping Amy company, I was so worried that she would be waiting all this time alone.” “I was glad to have the chance to talk with her and catch up with her, it was no problem at all.” Said Alison. “Well, I definitely appreciate it. Are you ready to go dear?” She said as she turned back to Amy. “Yep, all set mom.” “Okay, lets get on the road then, your brother is driving me crazy right now, and so we should probably get home.” Amy nodded. And looked towards the back seat. Her brother was there with his arms crossed and a sour look on his face. He caught her staring at him and so he stuck out his tongue at her. Amy sighed and shook her head.
Her mom took her bag and went toward the trunk. Amy picked up her back pack and slung it over her shoulder. She turned and gave Alison a hug. “Thanks for talking with me, it's nice to have that again, someone to talk like this too.” Alison gave her a hug back. “Anytime Amy, you didn't have to share that with me, but you did and I'm really grateful.” They pulled apart and Amy turned and went to the car. She opened the back door and put her backpack on the seat and then dodged a candy wrapper that was thrown towards her by her brother. She shut the door quickly and opened the passenger side door. She waved at Alison.
“Let me know when you're back, and we'll grab some coffee at the Perking Meter.” Alison smiled and waved back. “Sounds awesome. I'll text you next week once I'm back.” Amy nodded and got into the car. Mrs Reader waved at her from the driver's side window. “It was nice to meet you Alison.” Alison waved back. “It was good to meet you too Mrs Reader.” Then the car pulled away and Alison gave them one last wave. Then she turned and headed back to their car. When she got there her mom, Megan and Brittney were nowhere around. “Mom.” She called out, but there was no answer. She looked in the car and didn't see any of their stuff. “They must have gone to the dorm.“ She said to herself. She walked off down the path that lead to the girls' dorm. It was a long white two story building. She went in the doors and took the elevator to the second floor. When she got off, she went to the end of the hall and stopped at the door at the end of the hall. It said Captain on a plaque on the wall by the door. She tried the door and it was already opened. She went inside the room and inside there was a desk to the right and then a couch on the left that was facing a TV mounted on the wall. In the back of the room was a closet and a door that led to a private bathroom. Her bags were set next to the closet and across from the closet was a pretty wooden day bed with Megan laying on it. Alison frowned when she saw this. “Hey, that's my bed.” Megan jumped up looking completely surprised. “Um..Ali, wow, so sorry it just looked really comfortable. This is such a cool room, and it is so cool that it's yours.” Alison smiled. “It will be yours next year too if you play your cards right.” Megan jumped up and down and squealed. “I know right. Okay, so I showed Brittney the room too when we brought your stuff up and told her that you were going to name me as your heir and so I would be Queen next year and if that happened then I would totally make her my Heir and Queen when she got to eighth grade. She totally spazzed out a little. I think we won't have any problems with her staying loyal.” Megan said. “That's good to hear. You did good Meg, thanks for getting Brittney on our side.” Megan practically beamed when Alison complemented her. “Anything to help you out Ali. Who were you talking too out front?” Alison looked at the open door and shut it. “That was Amy Reader. She was the Table’s Historian last year, and she was telling me about what was happening at the High School table.”
“Yikes, oh no.” Megan said, slapping her head and reaching down on the bed and picked up an envelope and handed it to Alison. “I saw this on the pillow when I laid down on the bed. It had your name on it. Don't worry, I didn't read it.” Alison looked down at the envelope. It had her name written on the front in a very neat penmanship. She looked up at Megan, and then back at the letter. She opened it noting with relief that what her sister said was true and it had not been opened and unfolded the paper inside. Inside was the same neat penmanship.
Hi Alison,
I just wanted to leave you a note to say congratulations on being elected the Middle School’s Queen and Cheer Captain. I know that you will do well and if you ever need anything don't hesitate to reach out to me. Amber is my best friend and I know first hand from her how hard it can be to be Queen. This past week leading cheer camp was fun, but also took a lot of hard work adding in some suggestions from Amber and some of my own and so I just wanted to say, I understand how hard it is and I’m here if you need anything. I've written my cell number at the bottom corner of this note. I also left you a little surprise in the fridge. I hope you enjoy it and have an awesome week of cheer and building up your team.
One more thing. Julie, Susan, and I wanted to see if you would be okay if we came and visited with you, Mandy and your Heir the first day back to school during your lunch hour. There are so many cool things happening this year at the High School table and I wanted to share them with you in case they might work for your table this year also. Shoot me a text when you are able if that would be okay with you.
I'm praying for a good rest of the summer for you and your team.
God bless,
Jennifer Benton.
Alison sat down on the bed and re-read the letter again. Megan sat down next to her. “Everything okay Ali?” She said, looking at the letter. Alison turned to look at her. “This is from Jennifer, the Queen of the High School table. She has requested to meet with You, Me, and Mandy on the first day back at school. Amy told me a lot about these “cool things” that she says are going on at the High School table this year. Meg, I'm really going to need you this year, it may be a harder year than we thought.” Megan looked really concerned, but also put her arm around Alison. “You know I got your back Ali, what is wrong though with them telling us about cool things?” “Well, it's not the type of cool you're thinking of.” Alison told her sister everything that Amy had said and they spent the next hour talking it all over. They were interrupted by a knock at the door. “Meg, are you still there?” Came Brittney's voice from the other side of the door. “Your mom wants us to gather in the main hall in a half an hour, but I want to show you our room first.” Megan looked at Alison. “It's okay Meg, go ahead. I'll be at the Captain's Cove after dinner working on some things. We can talk about this more there if you want to join me.” Megan gave her sister a hug. “I'll come up later and we can finish talking about this.” Megan got up and headed for the door. Once the door was shut and she was alone, Alison laid the letter on the bed and went over to the fridge to see what Jennifer had left her. Inside was a small chocolate cake with the word Congratulations Alison written on it. There was also a Starbucks frap with the words Salted Caramel written on it. “How did she know what my drink was?” She said out loud to no one. She took the frap out of the fridge but left the cake, intending to share it with her mom, Meg and Brittney at dinner. Alison sat on the bed with her back against the headboard and sipped her drink and looked out the window trying to figure out how to protect the reputations at the Table this year and also impress Jennifer and Julie enough to keep her and Mandy's place when they get to the High School. Slowly a plan began to form in her mind. She would have to take the table underground. Do their cool things somewhere else, where Jennifer couldn’t see, all the while making it look to her that the middle school table was following suit.
Everyone enjoyed the cake at dinner and then she went up to the Captain's Cove. Megan said she would be up after she got a shower. It was a small cabin up the mountain near the camp, a ways off into the woods. It had been donated to the camp by one of the Captains forty years ago who had come from a rich family so that the Captain could have a place to get away from everyone else and the drama that always ensued. It was a one room cabin with a fireplace and a couch and two recliners. There was a fridge, a sink and a bathroom. There were many little trinkets laying all across the shelves and mantle and tables, there was a shed outback that held the earlier trinkets put there to make room for new ones, as it wasn’t just the Queens from St.Pious that used this camp, but from also from a number of High Schools around the area.
Each year the Captain would leave a small trinket, that meant something special to them, to help decorate the cabin. Each trinket had a small note card taped to it. On the card was a brief story of what the trinket meant to the Captain and a quote or piece of advice to future Captains. Alison had brought a small music box with a porcine ballerina on it. The Music Box belonged to her and Ali’s Nanna. She had given it to Alison the year before she died. It was one of her most treasured things, but after that day when she had bumped into Mrs Oaksen she didn't feel like she had the right to keep it any longer. She set it in an open space on the mantle of the fireplace. She turned the little crank on the side and sat down in the chair and pulled her legs up to her chest and listened to the soft gentle tune it played like she had when she was a girl and her and Ali would go stay over at Nana’s and they would sit and just listen to the soft melody. She must have gotten up at least ten times to crank the box again, trying to burn the song and memories into her head. She didn’t hear the door open, she was too focused on the memories. The song ended and she started to get up to crank it again when she saw someone out of the corner of her eye. She jumped and turned to see Megan standing by the door staring intently at the music box. She almost seemed angry. “Meg, I’m sorry, you startled me. Are you okay?” Megan looked at her as if she had forgotten she was there, but quick as a flash her smile was back on her face. “Yep, totally, this is such a cool place. I'm so excited Ali, so tell me more about what you were saying back in your room. They stayed there till midnight talking about the plan Alison had come up with. Megan was yawning her head off, so Alison had told her to go to bed. She spent some time looking at all of the trinkets and looking at some of the cards. She came across one that stood out. It was two metal bars linked together, with a metal pin attached to the back. She picked up the card and read it.
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“These are Captain's bars, my Father was a Captain in the U.S. Marine Corps and he was a true Hero. He fought in many battles, but when I faced my toughest battle, he was right there beside me all the way. He fought off my own enemy and many of our country's enemies. Every girl needs a hero to rely on. Make sure you find a good one and hang onto them no matter what.
“I need a hero, I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light, He's gotta be sure and its gotta be soon and he's gotta be fresh from the fight...” Bonnie Tyler
Keri Bellows.
Alison dropped the card and bars and they made a clanging sound on the floor. Tears began to form in her eyes. Alison's father had left when she was two years old and Megan was just a year. He had left their mom for a younger woman. Alison felt the emptiness of not having a father, made even more empty by reading a story of how another girl’s father fought off her enemies. Keri had a Hero, Alison didn’t. She reached down reverently and picked up the Bars and the card. On the bottom of the card she noticed more writing under Keri's name.
“P.S. If you want to stay one step ahead of any rivals this year, click the center of the daisy that is carved into the headboard of the Captain’s bed. I would have told you the password when you became Queen. Pass it on to the next one.”
She placed the bars and card back in its place and then played the music box one more time, before turning off the lights and heading for her bed.
The next morning everyone else from the team arrived and Alison, Megan and Brittney helped everyone find their rooms and settle in. Alison was expecting Mandy and Tiffany to be cold towards her when no one was watching, but they both said “Hi” to her, and she didn't feel any cold shoulders coming from them. She made a mental note, not sure what was going on, but to get to the bottom of it. Her mom got everyone together because she had a special announcement. “Girls, welcome to Middle School Cheer camp. I'm Ms Trendale and I'll be your coach this year. Mrs Bellows has taken the year off to be with Keri until she gets better. I am really looking forward to working with you all this year, and its really going to be the best year yet for St Pious Cheer team. We have a big surprise this year. We have brand new uniforms, courtesy of Mr Shaffer, Britney's Dad. Alison.” Alison came out from behind the curtain and modeled the new uniform. Everyone oohed and awed at the sparkly and expensive uniforms.
“Brittney please tell your father thank you so much for this very generous gift.” “I will Ms Trendale, my parents are looking forward to our first game that we cheer for.” Alison saw Lottie eyeing up Brittney and then Lotti looked at her in the new uniform and then back at Brittney. Lotti got a sour look on her face and crossed her arms and proceeded to pout. “She has learned enough about the game to figure out that Britney will be on the center pyramid during our routines. Sorry Lotti, but her parents are going to want to see their Daughter front and center and I also need her loyalty” Alison mused as she did a cartwheel into a backflip and everyone clapped. When she landed she turned and faced everyone. “Yes, thank you so much to your Dad Britney. These new uniforms are awesome. We have everyone's uniform backstage so step right up and get them. Please try them on and let us know if there are any issues so we can get them fixed up before school starts. All the girls showed their excitement in different ways, jumping up and down, giggling, making ooh and awe motions with their mouths. Alison spun around once more and then walked to the front of the stage. “I am so glad all of you are here and on the team. This is going to be the best year yet for our team and for our table and I am just so excited to be part of both and all the cool things that lay ahead of us. Dinner is at 6 tonight, so we have free time till then, so get settled and get to know eachother. Tomorrow our first practice starts at 7 am and then breakfast after. There is a full schedule in each of your rooms along with a welcome bag that I put together for each of you. Again, so awesome to be here with you all and we will see you at Dinner.” All the girls cheered and then dispersed back to their rooms.
Alison hung her uniform up in the closet and then sat down on her bed and was running all of the routines in her head that they would start to practice tomorrow. After a while she lay back on the bed and rubbed her eyes. When she opened them she was staring at the headboard and saw a daisy carved in the corner. Memories of Keri's card from the Captains Cove came back to her. She had been so tired last night she had forgotten to check on what the card had said about the daisy. She sat up and pressed the center of the daisy. The center pushed inward like a button and she heard a click below her. She looked at the side of the bed and saw that a small slit had opened in it and there was something in there. She put her fingernails in the slit and grasped something hard. She pulled it out and out came an ipad mini. She turned it on and a login came up and a password request. She scanned her memory but didn't remember seeing a login or password on Keri's card.
“What kind of help is this if I can't log into it, Keri never told me the Password.” She tried Keri's full name and tried Cheerleader as the password. The error message came up. She tried a few more, but none of them were right. Then the memory of the night she spent at Keri’s house, and also when she saw her at the Hospital came back and Alison remembered the teddy bear with the black fur that Keri had been cuddling. Alison then remembered the same bear in Keri's hospital room, and the name Keri had called it, Liquorice. “That has to be it.” She tried it and a green light appeared and the home screen popped up. She was so excited she almost dropped the ipad. There was a folder called “Rooms” and she clicked on it and three rows of folders appeared each with a title “Room” and then a number. There were 15 rooms. “There are fifteen rooms for the cheer team.” A disturbing thought came into her head. She clicked on room two, which was the first one past the bathrooms, just up from her own. Mandy and Tiffany's room. She clicked on it, and it opened to reveal a video icon. She hesitated. “Had Keri bugged each room?” She almost tossed the ipad in the garbage, but then she remembered how odd Mandy and Tiffany had treated her, they had actually been nice to her. Her need to know what was going on overcame any sense of wrongness she felt. She clicked on the camera and the screen went to full screen and showed a room with two beds across from each other and a desk and an AC unit in the window and a closet in the far wall. Tiffany and Mandy were sitting on one bed talking. Alison put in her ear buds and switched on the ipads Bluetooth. When they connected she could hear them talking.
“I know what I said while we were decorating your house for the end of the year party, but, are you sure about this Mandy? We could still make her life hell and maybe she will cave and then you would be Queen.” Said Tiffany with a hard note in her voice.
Mandy sighed and shook here head back and forth. “Tiff, you saw what she did to Keri.” “Yes, but You demanded that she do it.” Tiffany said with incredulity. “I know, but I was mad, and I didn't think she would actually do it, at least as well as she did. Keri was one of the strongest queens the table ever had, and she was ruthless. I didn't think Alison would actually follow through with the punishment. I figured it would turn her to goo and she would walk away and I would be Queen. Tiff I've never heard of something that damaging being broadcast about someone. If Alison is willing to betray her best friend, that Alianna girl, to be popular and turn on the toughest Queen since Julie Kurtz in order to be Queen, then she is literally willing to do anything to succeed and stay in power. I'm sorry Tiff, but you know what she has on me. Keri must have video taped the whole thing while she was helping me, but I don't know how she did it, I didn't see her phone in her hand.”
“It was Trudi. While Keri was helping you, Trudi filmed the whole thing. Trudi was always Keri's videoographer. When you told me what Alison did the memory of that night came flooding back and I remembered something I had forgotten before, I remembered catching sight of Trudi with her phone out as I rushed to see if I could help you.”
Mandy's mouth dropped open, but she quickly shut it. “That little....” She made a frustrated sound, and then took a breath and calmed down. “Anyway, if Alison is willing to do all that she has done, then she could easily ruin us both. I mean did you see poor Lotti's face today at the meeting? She was all set to be center pyramid this year, and now its going to Brittney because her Dad is rich.
Alison will do anything to stay at the top and I don't want to be on the receiving end. She even used her own sister to get Brittney to come to St Pious instead of the public school. I hear Lacy Carmichael, the new Queen at the public middle school, was trying really hard to get Brittney to come there because she promised her table that she would find awesome new places to have their parties and she wanted to use, like, the five large houses that her dad owns in the area to hold the parties. Alison is willing to use her own sister in her game of chess and I wouldn’t be surprised if she would destroy Megan to keep herself in power, and you know what, I have to respect her drive and determination. Honestly, it outweighs my own. Anyway, we just need to make it through this year and then its a level playing field again once we get to High School.”
Tiffany looked at Mandy, trying to read her expression, searching for any sign of this all being a joke. Finding no hint of it she sighed and nodded. “Your right Mandy, it just goads me because it should have been you in the Captains Cove this year.” “Its okay Tiff, we just have to stick together this year and be as good of friends to Alison as we can, so she has not reason to come after us.”
Tiffany nodded and got up off the bed and went to the closet. Alison turned off the video, and the Ipad and placed it back in the slot. She pressed the button again and the slot was covered by a piece of wood that slid into place. Alison lay back on her pillow and mouthed the word “Wow!” “This totally changes everything.” She said softly. “Especially that little gold nugget about Lacy”. Alison had heard she was trying to woo Brittney to the public school, but she hadn’t known why. Lacy had a promise she needed to fulfill to her table or else she wouldn’t stay Queen long, and Alison needed a group they could play the game with on the down low. “I definitely need to set up a meeting with her.” Then she slapped her forehead. “The public Middle School cheer camp is right after ours, I can leave Lacy a thoughtful gift and a letter saying I need to talk with her, just like Jennifer did for me.”
Over the next hour all her plans shifted and conformed to these new pieces of information. When it grew close to the time for dinner she got ready and then opened her door just a crack and looked down the hall. When she saw Tiffany start to walk into the hall from their room she opened her door and moved into the hall and shut it. She walked down the hall toward her looking like she was heading to the elevator that led down to the first floor. By the time she got close to Tiffany, Mandy had appeared in the hall. They heard her approach and they both turned together, put smiles on their faces and waved. “Hey Alison.” “Hi Alison.” Alison stopped and smiled and waved also. “Hey you two, are you going to dinner?” “Yep, I heard it is chicken parm which should be pretty good if I remember from last year.” Said Mandy. “I love chicken parm.” Said Tiffany. Alison smiled. “Me too! Hey, I'm going to be at the Cove tonight after dinner. Would you both be able to stop by, I wanted to talk to you about something?” Their cool was shaken a bit and they seemed nervous, but they recovered quickly. “Sure Alison, is 8 okay?” Said Tiffany. “Perfect,” said Alison. “Do you both want to walk to dinner with me?” They both smiled and nodded.
After dinner, Alison stood in the main room of the Cove looking through more of the trinkets and cards left by past Captains. Some of the advice was helpful some not, but so many of the trinkets represented stories of loss and hurt. It seems even the most popular girls at the school had deep huts in their past. That was the one lesson that stood out. To keep fighting no matter what. Her thoughts were disturbed by a knock at the door. “Come in” She said loud enough to be heard. The door opened and Tiffany and Mandy stepped in. They both said “Wow” at the same time. Alison smiled at them. “Hey, welcome to the Capetian's cove. Please both of you sit down and relax. Did you want something to drink?” They both shook their heads. “No thank you Alison, we're good.” Said Mandy as she sat down in one of the comfy chairs. Tiffany sat down next to her, and then Alison moved over and sat in the Captain’s recliner. She studied them for a moment. Her gaze seemed to make them both uncomfortable. She kept studying them waiting to see if anything would bubble up. She was actually a bit surprised when it did. “Alison, before you tell us what you wanted to talk to us about tonight, would it be okay if we told you something?” Mandy said a bit shyly. Alison nodded her head and motioned for them to continue. “Thank you Alison. Look, I know that we had a bit of a rough start back in May with the election and everything, but we just wanted to come to you and tell you that we, Tiff and I, we want you to know that we are behind you Alison. Going forward, we won't oppose you or do anything against you and we'll support you when you bring things to the table, we even hope that we can be friends.” Alison could only hear sincerity in her voice. It took all her control not to react when Mandy said this. Tiffany nodded her head in affirmation. Alison looked surprised, even though she wasn't.
“Wow, well, thank you both so much for bringing this to me and for your support. I don't have any desire to do anything against either of you as well, and I would also hope we can become friends.” Alison looked over at her back pack and considered something for a long moment, she then turned back to Mandy “Mandy, you received a key from Amy, when you became my Second, correct?” She looked back at Mandy. Mandy nodded. Her red curls bouncing up and down. “Yes, but she didn't know what it was for, she said she was just handed it by Trudi along with the packet Keri left for you. Keri hadn't told her what it was for, it was just labeled “ Second’s Key”.”
Alison nodded with her head over to one of the mantles. On the mantle was a wooden box with two key holes next to each other. “It goes to that box. I have one too. The previous Queen always prepares a packet for the next queen of all the things she will need to know. Keri had prepared hers before she got sick. In it it told about two keys that open a box here at the Captain's Cove that is meant for items that both the Queen and her Second considered ultimate top secret. They would be locked here at the Cove and only retrieved if both the current Queen and Her Second agreed.” Alison got up and went over to her backpack and opened a small padlock on one of the pockets. She pulled something out, closed it and re-locked it. She sat back down and held up a thumb drive. “Mandy, this is what I have on you from that night in sixth grade, it is also the only copy left. As a show of good faith, I'm willing to put this in the box on the mantle and lock it there for good, Keri's notes said that there aren't many items in there, but there is a deep, unsung rule that says that future Queens and their Seconds won't look at the other material in there without at least inquiring of the ones who put it there.”
Mandy's mouth dropped, Tiffany's did not. “Wow, Alison that is huge and totally kind of you to offer. Yes, that is definitely something that I am open to.” She pulled a key out of her purse and Alison smiled and nodded and found a matching key on her key chain. She stood up and took a small post it note from the desk and wrote on it, Alison Trendale, and Mandy Ferlon. This is ultimate top secret, not to be looked at without permission. She signed her name and handed the pen to Mandy. When Mandy was done Alison held out the pen to Tiffany. Tiffany looked confused. “You said just the Queen and her second, I'm neither so how can I sign it.” Alison looked at her with the pen still extended. “Usually, it seems, it would be just the Queen and her Second here if something was being put in the box, but Keri’s notes said that the Table Historian would be the only other one allowed to be here to witness this and so you will need to put your name to it also as the Table Historian also knows of the keys and the box as they are the keepers of the keys during the transition of power each year. They have to keep secret the key's, the box, and anything else we talk about tonight.”
Tiffany looked at the box and then the pen and then slowly nodded her head as realization of what Alison was offering her locked in. She got up and took the pen and signed her name also. She then looked at Alison. “I accept the position of Table Hostorian, thank you Alison.” Alison smiled and nodded. “I'll text Amy to get you the archives when we are finished this week. You know the game inside and out Tiffany and so you are the perfect choice, also, because you would have been here as Second if I hadn't used the contents of that drive against Mandy. I'm sorry for any pain I caused you both, there are reasons why I needed to win, but I am sorry for hurting you.”
Tiffany looked up form the card where the three signatures now were and stared at Alison who had turned to face them as she spoke. Tiffany had been manipulated by lies a lot in her life and had become very good at exposing them, but all she saw in Alison was genuine regret for hurting them. It had hurt her when Mandy had conceded and even more when she told her why, it should have been her as second, but Alison took that away. The sincerity of her apology did soften her heart a little bit more. Her eyes watered up a bit but she kept the tears back. “Thank you Alison, I didn't think you knew what being a Queen meant, but these past few weeks I found I was wrong, also, My brother was so excited to get your invitation to the table, and what you just said meant a lot. You have my support Alison.” Was all she said as she finished signing her name. She felt Mandy's hand on her back, and Tiffany mentally berated herself for letting that much emotion show. When she was finished she turned to Mandy and smiled, wiped at her eyes and returned to the seat.
Alison smiled warmly at her as she passed by. Then Alison went to the mantle, put the sticky note on the drive and placed it in the box. There were very few items in here. Most were little folded pieces of paper with names on them and dates, but there was one other drive in there that had Jennifer Beanton's name Susan Jacobs, who was Jennifer's second, and Julie Kurtz, who was Jennifer's heir apparent. Julie’s name was the one listed on the sticky note as the one to whom the video on the drive belonged.
Curiosity almost overwhelmed Alison, especially since the date was from last week. Julie was Jennifer's heir and would be queen of the High School table next year. If she could just get the information from there she could have a card to play over the next two years as the high School table sought to change the game. But she would need Mandy here to do it. Eventually rationality and a little bit of loyalty to the whole system kept her from trying to take the other drive. She shut the lid and looked at Mandy who placed her key in the left slot, Alison placed hers in the right. “One, Two, Three.” she said and on three they both turned their keys.
Mandy took out her Key and then threw her arms around Alison. Alison was shocked for just a second , but recovered quickly and returned the hug. “Thank you.” Mandy whispered. Then she pulled away and Alison nodded and mouthed “You are welcome.:”
Mandy smiled and then went and sat down. Alison put the key chain in her pocket and sat down across from them. “Thank you both again for your support, I can't tell you how much it means to me especially with what might be happening this year.” She said a bit more heavily. Mandy and Tiffany both caught the heavy tone and looked at eachother with worry starting to creep in.
“Jennifer, the new Queen of the High School left me a note in my room. In it she indicated that she, Susan, and Julie would be visiting our table the first day back at school. I talked to Amy, who as Table Historian this last year, has the tables record book. She called me last night and said this has only happened twice before in the past and she gave me all the procedures that need to be followed. It is quite an event, the High school Queen's court coming to the Middle School usually means something within the whole royal system needs to be talked about and changed. I have pieced together at least some of what she wants to propose. She wants to remove the system of gossip and pranks and slander that we have always used to remain the coolest at the school with a system of helping others and encouraging each other. She wants to have the people at the tables have additional community service hours in addition to the ones the School requires, and she wants us to attend a Bible study every morning. She wants to completely re-write the book and we have to find a way to keep it going but also play along with her changes. From what I hear Julie is totally onboard with these changes and probably so also will be whoever Julie chooses next year to replace her. I have some thoughts on how to continue the Game, but would like your help in pulling a plan together. You both have been at the table longer and playing the game longer then I have and so I could really use your insight and experience to get through this.” They both looked at her with shock and worry playing across their faces. “Wow, Alison, wow, I can't believe they want to change everything so drastically. Can't we just say no and go about things as they were?” Said Mandy. Alison shook her head. “No, at least us three cannot, Next year we will be at the High School table, but if we can't find a way to get into this new system and look like we are supporting it we will not last too long at that table, and if we can't stay there, what will we do? Also it will be the same for every queen that comes after. We need to find a way to look like we are going along with it, but to also do things like we always have just behind the scenes. We need to do it so that when we get to our Junior year one of us will be picked for the next year's High School’s Queen. Then we can change everything back. We're not just doing this for us, but for everyone that comes after us. We need to fight this fight and win it, or else the table as we know it will go away.
Mandy sighed and sat back in her chair. Then she looked at Tiffany and something passed between them that Alison couldn't discern what it was but Tiffany nodded to her and then she looked at Alison. “We are with you Alison, we don't want to see the current system fall either.” Alison smiled and placed her hand out toward them with her palm down, “Together then?” She said looking at each of them. They looked at each other and then at her and each placed her hand on top of Alison's and they said “Together” at the same time. They spent the next 3 hours brainstorming ideas to try and save the table over the next year.
By the end of it, they had the framework of a plan. She let them know about Billy Poke, and her idea for a Cinderella story. She brought up the Cinderella story to them as a way to make the appearance of them doing good deeds, but all the while keeping things status quo for the table. She had changed her plan, before she told them, to exclude the part about him being her Prince since along with their allegiance came the backing of the rest of the table, she didn't need the extra support anymore from making Billy her Prince. Now she was freed to find a Prince that would fit the normal expectations, and Brittany's cousin Beu fit the profile nicely. They both agreed to help turn Billy into a cool kid, and they definitely approved of her pick of a prince. She also shared with them what she was thought to propose to Lacy about sharing their parties and get-togethers so that they can continue the Game, but under Jennifer’s radar. By the time they left it was 10 pm. Lights out was at 11, so she took the next hour to look over the trinkets and cards from past Captains. She wanted to read them all, to drink in all the wisdom of past Captains, she needed every ounce if she was going to lead the table through this next year.
She sighed in resignation. “Now that Beu is going to be my Bue, I need to know everything about him.” She pulled out her phone and texted Megan. “Are you awake?” A few seconds later came her reply. “Do you seriously need to ask, lol. What's up?” “Lol, just being polite. Is Brittney still up?”. Within a few seconds she got a text from Britney. “Totally, whats up?” Alison laughed. She texted them. “Can you come to the Cove right away? I need to talk to you both.” They were there in a few minutes. They all sat down and then Alison looked at Brittney. “Tell me about your cousin, Beu I think his name is?” Brittney's mouth dropped open. “Oh my gosh Alison, I just know you’re going to love Beu, he'll be here in a week, he's coming to School with us this year.” Megan rolled her eyes knowing far more about the plan for Beu then Brittney did. “So I've heard, I'd like you to tell me all about him. I would like to get to know him better when he gets here.” Brittany basically bounced out of her seat as she began to gush about her cousin. Alison listened, Megan took notes on her phone, knowing Alison would ask her to give her a recap later. When she was done Alison nodded and smiled.
“Thank you Britney, I think Beu is going to be a great addition to the table. If only there was a way to get the whole table together in one place to welcome him and meet him before school starts, like possibly the traditional end of Summer pool party, but without Keri, we don’t have a place to have the party this year.” She said somewhat sadly. Britney looked down, seeming to be thinking very hard, Megan rolled her eyes again hearing the leading tone of Alison's voice. Then Brittney's head shot up, her eyes were huge and a large smile was on her face. “I have it, we'll have the pool party at my house, like the first week of August. My parents will still be in France and Beu will have had time to get settled in, it will be great.” Her smile faded as she looked at Alison to see if she approved. Alison put her finger to her lips as if she were pondering it, then after a little bit she looked at Brittany. “Britney, that is the perfect Idea, it will be a great way to welcome Beu and get to know him, and we can also make it the traditional end of the summer party. Thank you so much for offering your pool for this event.”
“Oh, like totally not a problem Alison, you and everyone at the table are welcome anytime.” Alison smiled. “Thank you Britney, we're very glad to have you at the table.” “Oh, I'm like still on cloud nine over it.” Alison looked at her phone. 10:45. “We better head back, big day of training tomorrow .” They all got up. Brittney opened the door and turned back. “Good night Alison.” “Good night Brittney, and thank you again.” She smiled and almost curtsied, but then thought better of it and opened the door. Megan looked at her sister and could see the weight of things that were laying on her. She loved her sister, but her relationship with Alianna had built a wall between them these past years, since Alianna was gone she had seen it soften.
Alison smiled at Megan and pulled up her phone and began texting her. Megan's phone buzzed and she raised her eyebrow at her sister. “I'm right here.” Megan whispered. Alison only looked at her. Megan shook her head an looked at her phone. “I want you to invite Billy Poke to the pool party. Its where we’re are going to start his Cinderella story.” Megan at first grimaced, but when she saw the last part she shook her head and looked up. “You have a lot of guts sis.” was all she said as she went over and gave Alison a hug. She whispered in her sister's ear. “Be careful, this could go wrong in a lot of ways.” Alison hugged her sister back. “It's a needed piece in the puzzle of surviving next year. It will be okay. Goodnight Megan, I love you.” A tear trickled down Megan's cheek. She had waited years for her sister to tell her that. Emotions were about to break out, but she didn't want to spaz cry on Alison and ruin the moment. So she locked it all away till she got back to the bunk. “I love you too Ali.” She pulled away and waved. Alison waved back, but spotting the tear streak she grabbed her arm. “You okay?” Megan nooded. “Yep, just having a moment with my sis.” She pulled out her phone and held it out at arms length and put her other arm around Alison. “Sister Selfie.” She giggled. Alison laughed too and put her arm around Megan. They both smiled and Megan pressed the white button on the screen. Alison watched her sister leave and shut the door. She was alone again, and the weight of the coming year seemed to press down on her. She pulled up the picture of Beu that Brittney had sent her and looked him over closely. He was handsome and a little rugged, and he seemed to be holding his surfboard with confidence. “I just hope he doesn't have the personality of a surfboard.” She said as she put her phone away and turned the crank on the music box, letting the peace of that tune wash over her frayed nerves.