The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth - Alexandra Robbins [95]
Regan hoped she could use her position as the head of Johnson’s all-faculty Diversity Committee to start the GSA. At the next meeting, the group debated how to utilize a main bulletin board to demonstrate the school’s diversity.
“We could put up flags for each country that’s represented here,” one teacher said, as if suggesting a completely original idea. The other committee members nodded.
“Maybe we could put up a map and use pushpins to show where different teachers are from,” another teacher suggested.
“Well, we’d have to revise that because we can’t have pins readily available to students,” an administrator interjected. “That could be dangerous.”
Regan wondered if she was the only committee member who thought these ideas were boring. “That’s great,” she said, “but diversity is more than just national origin. Maybe we could do something for religious diversity and family diversity.”
“I would be uncomfortable doing anything religious,” a teacher said. “If we’re going to put up symbols of different religions, then what about the kids who are Satanists? Do we have to include them?”
Regan thought that argument was ludicrous, but before she could say anything, the administrator spoke up again. “I would be really wary of putting anything on a bulletin board that deals with religion.”
Surprised that the group considered religious diversity to be controversial, Regan didn’t fight the point. “What about family diversity?” she suggested. “Adoption, single moms, two dads . . .” The group ignored her, instead resuming discussion of the map.
This committee isn’t going to help Johnson at all, Regan thought. She kept quiet for the rest of the meeting.
Not long afterward, when Regan was walking past the main office, she did a double take. Right there was a prominent bulletin board devoted to the school’s Christian fellowship. The bulletin board featured images of a cross and a Bible.
ELI, VIRGINIA | THE NERD
Eli’s mother had been urging him for about a month to go shopping with her at JCPenney. “It’s seventy-five percent off!” she said. “We can get you some winter clothes and clothes for college!”
Eli reluctantly agreed, although he expected such an outing to be a disaster. The last time they had gone out, she had insisted on taking him to the optometrist to tighten his glasses because, she told the doctor, “he’s always pushing them up.” But he liked his glasses the way they were.
Eli browsed through a row of T-shirts without designs or logos. He picked up solid blue, yellow, and orange tees and continued wandering around the section. Hesitantly, he approached a rack of plaid button-down shirts, their sleeves already rolled fashionably. He mostly wore only plain T-shirts, but maybe, he thought, I can try stepping out of the box. He picked up a black, white, and gray plaid shirt and headed to the fitting room.
Eli methodically went through the solids, briefly looking down and checking the fit for each one. When he tried on the plaid button-down, he left the top button undone over his white undershirt and peeked in the mirror. His eyes widened. Hey, this looks good! he thought. Shopping for clothes that gave him a thrill—this was new to Eli. Encouraged, he decided to pick out a second plaid button-down, or perhaps even another clothing item he’d never worn before.
As Eli sauntered out of the dressing room, he saw his mother riffling through shirts sporting logos. “What did you find?” she asked.
Eli proudly held up his discoveries. His mother hesitated, then heaved