The Truth Comes Out

    I was so misrible after school today. All of my classmates hate me. My dad tried to talk to me after I got home but I just wanted to be alone. Things are horrible. It’s so unfair. The people at my school think that Narwin is great. I can’t believe that Coach Jamison won’t let me on the team either. The next morning I told my parents that there was no way that I was going to school again but they made me. Even Ken was surprised that I was going to school again when we saw each other on the way to the bus. He told me big news, too. Allison and Todd wanted to start a petition against me to say that what I did to Narwin was wrong! And they even want me to admit the fact that ‘I’m wrong’! Even worse, Coach Jamison came up with the idea for the petition! I thought that he was on my side and that I could trust him but he’s been against me the whole time! I was so shocked. Then Ken said we should start a petition and make Narwin admit that she was wrong we could sing together. That really made me outraged. At that point I turned around, leaving Ken, and didn’t go to school. I called my mom and told her that I wasn’t going back and that I was home. Everything is totally ruined for me.

     I had no chance at surviving at that school for three more years, so, I transfered to another school. I just couldn't take it any more at Harrison High so I switched to Washington Academy.  I had a talk with the principal at Washington Academy and he said that I was ‘famous’ and that I would really like it here.  He said that I would make new friends quickly. There isn’t a track team but Mr. Brookover (the principal) assured me that with me attending here that one would probably start up. On my first day, in homeroom, my new teacher, Miss Rooney, told me that every morning they usually begin by singing the national anthem. She asked me if I wanted to lead, and I just started crying, because truthfully, I don’t even know the words.

pp:195-end

I Hate School

I hate going to school. Everyone is giving me a hard time. Even Mr. Lunser! During home room he interrupted the morning announcements to ask if I wanted to sing. That's so embarrassing! And everyone in the halls was throwing digs at me. I just want everyone to back off. I've been so many telegrams from people I don't know. And I honestly don't even care about them. They're all saying the same thing; Narwin should be fired and I should be proud. When I can tell neither are happening.
I asked Ms.Narwin for some extra credit to get my grade up and she totally just like ignored me and shooed me out of her room. But apparently I switched out of her English class, which I guess is a good thing. But now I'm never gonna get my grade up! Why does everyone have to be so irritating.

Pages 180-195

Back to School

 
     Today was a really wierd. I got a ton of telegrams from people that I don't know and from places I've never heard of. My parents are pretty happy that I stood up for myself and that there are other people on my side of this but I still wasn’t happy. I'm going back to school tomorrow. I'm glad to be in Mr. Lunser's homeroom again. I guess things will pretty much be back to normal for the most part. I'm still going to have Miss Narwin for english but I guess that's okay. I can ask for extra work to bring my grade up so I can be on the track team. I'm a little nervous...
     During breakfast my parents said that I had nothing to be worried about, but I still wasn't so sure. I was more worried about what the other students and my friends would say rather than Narwin. Anyways, down on the way to the school bus, I met up with Ken Barchet. He told me that I should still try out for track. I forgot that I hadn't told anyone why I actually wasn't allowed to be on the team yet. I finally told him that I wasn't allowed to participate in track becuase of my English grade. Then, Ken said that Narwin probably won't let me  do extra work either becuase of what has happened but I'm still going to keep my hopes up.
     One of the first people to talk to me this morning when I got to school was Allison. I was pretty happy to see her until I found out she was really mad at me. All she wanted to do was to tell me that she thought what I did to Miss Narwin was really mean. She said that all of the kids think that she's one of the best teahcers and that she’s fair. I was infuriated. I don't want any of my other friends to turn against me like Allison did.      

pp:165-180

People Please..

Apparently Dr. Doane is actually calling kids from my class to talk about what happened. She should already know what happened I mean it's in the papers and on the news and everywhere. And plus! I got a letter in the mail from the Society For The Preservation Of Free Speech saying stuff like how they "applaud me for my freedom of speech" and to call them for "active support". I also heard Ms. Narwin and Dr. Doane got something too, but it wasn't like mine.
My parents are pretty excited so many people are on my side and that I'm famous. I'm just nervous to go back. I feel like I'm going to be some kind of outcast. And my parents want me to actually sing again during homeroom! I don't even know what to do anymore.


Pages 150-165

Making Headlines

     My suspension has spread across the country. "Kicked out of School for Patriotism" was the headlines of news articles  and the topic on talk shows. On the Jake Barlow talk show, mostly everyone is saying how Narwin is a terrible teacher and how she was the one who made the wrong choice to suspend me, which I totally agree with. One lady from the talk show even said that she would take her kids out of school  and that she wouldn't let them go back until the teacher was removed. People are saying how Narwin had no right to do what she did, and I'm happy that some people are siding with me instead of Narwin. Now she know's what it's like to have people telling her that she's wrong and not me.
     I guess that the teachers and the principals are getting worried about the whole suspension thing too. Ken Barchet called me and told me that Dr. Doane asked him a few questions about the incident. He told me that he didn't really tell her anything and that he didn't get why they were making a huge fuss over it. But, I guess that's the way the school acts when voting for a new school budget and a new school board this spring. 

pp:135-150

News

          So apparently, I'm in the news? Ken told me I'm in the newspaper because of the whole suspension thing. Jeez, why can't people just drop it. I know I got suspended I don't have to keep being reminded of it, it's hard enough taking it in. All because I wanted to speak my mind.

          And dad? Just had to tell Ms. Stewart about everything and now it's gone public. Everyone keeps telling me about and at first I thought they were just kidding but then my parents called me down and addressed me about it so it must be true. I wonder if Ms. Narwin saw it yet. She'll probably freak out. Well I guess she kinda deserves it. Everyone can see how horrible she is to me. I just wish everyone would get off my back, though. Maybe the news will go down.

Pages 120-135

In the Paper

      I got a letter in the mail today saying that I was moved back to Mr. Lunser's homeroom. Sadly, I didn't get changed out of Narwin's English class. Other than that, I delivered the paper today. Boring. I've also been thinking about how I could get myself back onto the track team. I'm actually thinking about what Coach said and asking for extra work but I still don't know.
     On Sunday, April 1st, there was an article about me in the paper in the community section. It was written by Ms. Stewart, the news reporter who interviewed me. It said, "...tenth grader Philip Malloy of Harrison High School was suspended  for singing 'The Star Spangled Banner'...Every time Philip lifted his voice to sing she threw him out of the class, insisting a disturbance was being created...What will young Malloy- who has his own delivery route for the Manchester Record-do during his suspension from school? Philip, who still hopes to make the school track team this spring, said, 'Try to keep up with my work, and work out with classmates after school.'" It's crazy that this is even in the paper. I'm starting to think that this is geting a out of hand.

pp:105-120

Why Don't People Just Mind Their Own Business??

         Seriously. You guys heard it. I was kicked out of class. And since I don't wanna apologize, I got suspended. And even worse! People were laughing! I really hope Allison wasn't! So embarrassing!
Obviously my parents don't understand anything I say. Well at least they're on my side for this whole thing. And we just HAD to tell Mr. Griffen? Thanks dad! Do you feel better for telling Ms. Stewart too? I don't even know what's gonna happen. This whole thing is just so stupid. But everyone thinks I'm right. Which I am! But I just hope this doesn't go too far...

Pages 90-105

Suspended

    
     Today, I hummed along with "The Star Spangled Banner" and I got yelled at... again. And then I was sent to the assistant principals office...again. Mr. Palleni told me that what I did was wrong and kept saying how I broke a rule. He can't be mad at me for being patriotic, I mean he just can't. After, he talked to Narwin after he suggested I apologize to her. She said that she was willing to let bygones be bygones if I apologized and if I never did it again. I can't believe she wants to to say sorry for doing absolutely nothing! When Mr. Palleni asked me again if I wanted to apologize, I said no. There is no way I ever would. My mom was called at work and she was told that I had to be picked  up because I just earned myself a 2 day suspension! I was so infuriated!
    When my mom came to the school and tried to talk to Mr. Palleni, he didn't even let her talk, he sort of just like told her I was suspended and to take me home a leave,  and he didn't even really tell her why I was suspended! When my mom and I were talking in the car, she was really mad at me. I tried to tell my mom that I was only standing up for my rights like dad had told me last night, and I tried to explain that it was all Ms. Narwin's fault too but I don't think she really believed it. I knew that my dad was going to be mad when he found out about this. Everything is a mess.

pp. 75-90

Again and Again

           Is being patriotic such a bad thing? If I want to hum the "The Star Spangled Banner" I should be able to! But no! The school thinks otherwise. Getting sent to the office once, no big deal. I don't care. I have a right to sing. But apparently that's an issue not being silent during the announcements. Obviously everyone sides with Ms. Narwin and it's not fair. I did NOTHING wrong!!! All I want is a new homeroom where I can hum the song and a new English class where I don't have to deal with boring Ms. Narwin.

           My parents don't even care no matter what happens. I try to tell them and they just don't care! At least my dad thinks I shouldn't let people push me around. And stand up for myself? That's exactly what I did. But again! I get in trouble even more! Of course I'm not gonna apologize! That's crazy! I'm being patriotic! There's nothing to apologize for. People just don't understand my side of the story.

Pages 60-75

Turning in the Wrong Direction

     I can't belive I can't even try out for track, I mean seriously? Everyone keeps asking me why I'm not on the team, but I can't tell them the truth. It's too embarrasing. That Narwin is ruining everything! I can't even hum along to the national anthem in her homeroom class. She yelled at me for it! Unbelivable. Even her english class is unbarable. She yelled at me again when I gave her an answer that she thought was stupid. She really hates me.
     My parents are really getting on my case about trying out for the track team, too. I haven't told them yet either. I tried telling them at dinner about the whole singing the national anthem thing and they didn't even listen! They just kept asking me stupid questions so I finally just left. Later on that night, my dad talked to me and I told him about Narwin but I not about track. He stood up for me and told me that he was on my side and I felt a little better, until the next morning...
     In homeroom, I sang along to the national anthem again, and Narwin yelled at me! To make things even worse, she sent me to the principal's office! I can't believe it! I mean, what does she really have against me?

pp: 45-60

Worst Comes To Worst

Why don't people just leave me alone? I know I didn't pass English! But it's just because of Ms. Narwin and her boring Shakespeare. The Call of the Wild isn't something us 14 year olds care about. Seriously. And because of the C- on my exam, I get a D for the quarter! Now I can't do track, one of the things I do best! Now everyone keeps wondering why I can't do it anymore! I know it's hard to believe I just don't want to do track anymore but that stupid rule just had to be brought to me now? Why does school have to be so annoying?

Pages 30-45

Track is Ruined

     Today, I got my grades back for my winter exams. They were all pretty good, A's, B's, and C's.  But then in English I got a D! I can't believe it! Ms. Narwin even wrote a comment to me on my winter exam saying how one of my answers was unacceptable. She said that I was lazy and that I was required to to give my respectful, thoughtful attention to the book The Call of the Wild. So basically she said my answer was unacceptable because it's not the answer she would have written down. I mean seriously, I didn't even read that book. On top of that, I got moved to Ms. Narwin for homeroom too. Great.
      I have been pretty excited about track lately... until I had a talk with Coach Jamison. I told him how I've been working really hard everyday for the tryouts and I told him that I got class shoes. Then, he told me that he had my winter term grades. He said that I needed a passing grade in every subject or I can't try out for the track team! I had never heard of that rule before in my life! I didn't know that! He said that because I have a D in English, I can't try out. I even tried telling him that it's just Narwin and that she doesn't like me but he just said to do extra work. So, as it turns out, I'm not allowed to do track this year. I'm really angry about this...

pp 15-30

Track! I Can't Wait!

I think I have a really good chance of making the track team!!! Coach Jamison even said so! My dad was so excited when he found out! But I NEED new shoes. My newspaper job won't buy all of it. I can see it now. Me in the Olympics, I'm going to be there! My parents always tell me about the money they're putting aside for college for me. But it's worth every one of my parents' pennies!
We have to read The Call of the Wild  for English! BORING!!!!!!! At least in homeroom I got to do some stuff to pass my exam, but not enough thanks to Mr. Lunser. I hate Winter midterms so much! But I'm not wasting my time on some English stuff. Not much to say about a dog? But Allison was looking good today. Dad says that girls dig guys that do sports. But that's about all me and Dad talk about; sports. But whatever.
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