Before the pandemic I had no idea what zoom meant. Nor did I know what quarantine. Nor social distancing. Nor- Okay you get the pic I had no idea what was coming.
That is the first part of the book i am writing...
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“Why is this my life?” I mumble to myself. I am sitting on a hard, wood bench in the school office, my straight brown hair hanging like a curtain over my face so no one can see me. It’s my first day of 7th grade, I’ve been here for 5 minutes, and I’m in trouble already. I didn’t set off a bomb. I didn’t bomb a test. I didn’t even drop an F-bomb. I merely wore leggings and they’re acting like I did all of the above. It’s leggings, people, leggings! Since when is that a major offense? Suddenly I look up, because my mom is walking in. “What is happening, Ari?” She half speaks half yells. So, as we walk to the car, I recount to her what happened so far today. “Well, nothing really happened! I mean, I walked through the door with Zara, and then this lady, who I guess works there, was just like ‘You’re dress coded! Leggings aren’t allowed!’ And I was like ‘what the frick!’ (No, I didn’t actually say that, Mom). And then she was like ‘If you’d read the student handbook, like you were supposed to, you’d know the rules!’ And I wanted to ask why leggings were banned, but I was too scared to talk, and then she sent me to the office.” “You know what, Ari?” Mom asks, and before I have time to answer she says “I’m on your side for this one.” By then, we’re pulling up outside the house, so I step out of the car and ask, “Really? I thought you’d be mad.” As we walk inside, she replies, “Mad about what? I believe that the school is entirely at fault and you have every right to wear leggings.” I’m more than a little surprised. “Why would they ban leggings?” I asked. Mom sighs and says, “All around the country, there have been school dress code issues. Many dress codes ban things like tank tops, short shorts or skirts, and leggings. Furthermore, some require girls to wear skirts and boys to wear pants, and discriminate against LGBTQ+ students in other ways. People will say that things like shoulders and legs are ‘distracting to the boys’, but worrying about the dress code is far more distracting.” Wow. Just wow. My brain can’t even process all that discrimination. And in that moment I know that I will not let this go unnoticed. I, Ari, will fight back. But before that happens, I need to change and go back to school. So I pull on a pair of tight jeans from 2 years ago, because they’re the only jeans I own, and head out the door. While in the car, I check the student handbook to see what else is banned. Leggings, yoga pants, crop tops, tank tops, spaghetti straps, shorts above your knee (where can you even buy that?) the list is endless! And not one of those things seem to be a rule for boys! When I get to school again, I have missed the first few periods and it is lunch time for 7th graders. I walk in the cafeteria and try to spot Zara. When I see her, she isn’t waving to me like I expected. Instead, she’s just sitting there, seemingly deep in thought. When I go up to her, sit down, and start to talk to her, I realize that my best friend is acting seriously strange.
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