Chapter 59

Of course, Christy Rosenberg and several members of the ‘Cool Crew', including former member Leah VanCleef, are committee members; being how they previously served on the committees for their Freshman Spring Formal and Sophomore Cotillion. And Eddie and Hector, selected to represent the school band, are also on the committee. But also serving on the Junior Prom committee are Nadine and Adele. Nadine volunteered to join the committee because she saw this as her last chance to be part of a major high school event. Adele's only on the committee because Nadine asked her to be on it with her; figuring it would be a good experience for her as well. What the selected teachers hate most about monitoring the committees isn't the actual work involved with orchestrating the dances themselves; but rather, all the squabbling which usually prevails in the preplanning stages. With each member believing their own idea is the best way to go, holding steadfast until there's no other choice but to finally conceded and hash all ideas through the ‘committee mill' in hopes of coming up with an acceptable resolution that everyone will eventually agree upon. It's the same dilemma faced by each teacher, each year, on each committee. But this year will be different; at least for Mr. Trudeaux, who has the good fortune of dodging this annual standoff ritual. Call it a hunch, or just plain dumb luck; but due to his bold and ingenious move at the opening of the first Junior Prom committee meeting, the group is able to bypass the arduous phase in the planning of their prom. He opens by announcing… "I'd like to take a moment before we begin these proceedings to put into effect some guidelines which I feel may aid us in our endeavors to construct this year's Junior Prom. I have overseen enough of these committees throughout the years here to know what to expect will happen over the course of the planning stages. I'd like to try something a little different this time and inject some sort of order into the works. Instead of beginning with the usual free for all…where everyone starts shouting their ideas out into the arena all at once; drowning out one another in the process…I've decided that we shall be a bit more civil and courteous to our fellow classmates, and have each of you take turns to present your ideas. And I have also decided that the order in which you shall present your ideas to the group will be in alphabetical order by first name…" Mr. Trudeaux looks to Adele. "So…Adele…your thoughts?"