“What do you mean, Jon is the Big Sister?” Sarah’s indignance was palpable. “He hasn’t even taken the class! I bet he doesn’t even know any of the stuff he’s supposed to be teaching.”
“Jon has the better grades between the two of you, overall, and his birthday is in November.” Ms. Minors’ expression was calm. “Yours is in March. Overall he’s the one more qualified to be teaching between the two of you, and he’s older than you.”
“But why do I have to be the Big Sister?” Jon’s indignance was only slightly harder to palp than Sarah’s. “It’s the Big Brothers and Big Sisters, right? Why can’t I be a Big Brother?”
“Grant requirements,” came the reply. “Home Ec isn’t explicitly a gendered class, but this year it just happens to be all-girl. Because of that, when the grant was written all the language specified Big Sister and Little Sister. You were added later, Jon, and by then we couldn’t change the language.”
“Then I want out,” Jon turned to leave the room, but Miss Fine was standing at the door, holding the contract from her office and pointing directly at Jon’s signature. Jon’s shoulders slumped as he turned back to join the class.
“Now Sarah, come with me,” Ms. Minors put a hand on the cheerleader’s shoulder. “I know this might feel silly, but we need you to be introduced with the rest of the Montessori girls when they join the class. Jon, you can take Sarah’s seat, since she’ll be joining you there anyway.”
It was only after Jon sat down that he realized this meant he was seated at the cheerleaders’ table.
