The scoreboard said we were down by one goal, but no one cared. Finally, after several long and uncomfortable moments, the Shirtless M broke the silence.

‘What did he mean by that?’ he said, watching the Toothless Beast body-slam a rival player into the boards. ‘He hopes that’s cool with everyone? We’re cool with that.’

All the shirtless letters nodded in agreement, and the Hairy Exclamation Mark spoke up in indignation. ‘I mean, what does he think we are?’ he said. ‘A bunch of homophobes?’

And, rubbing his big, underage beer belly, he let out a loud, wet belch.

That revolting burp was the most cheerful thing I’d heard in a long time. As I made my way down the bleachers, a great big cheer went up through the crowd. Dominic LeClair had scored a goal, tying the game. ‘TOOTH-LESS BEAST!’ everyone chanted. ‘TOOTH-LESS BEAST!’

I felt warm all over in that chilly arena. Maybe, despite everything Mary Kate had said, and everything I had always believed, this school wasn’t one hundred percent closed-minded and terrible after all. I think my heart grew three sizes that day.

I hurried to catch up to Mary Kate at the open doorway of the hockey arena, where bright daylight was streaming inside, and where two loving figures were embracing, green pea coat to green pea coat, framed in the blinding-white winter sunshine. It was the Long Huggers.

Seeing them, Mary Kate did not slow down. She did not step aside. Powering ahead, she went straight up to them and cleared her throat loudly. Then, when they didn’t move, she said loudly, ‘Ex-CUSE me!’

The Long Huggers looked up, startled, then pulled apart – each of them stumbling backwards a step, dazed at their sudden separation. Mary Kate plowed forward between them and left the hockey arena without looking back.

Okay. So maybe my heart grew four sizes that day.

22

It was the last St Mary’s Feminist Club meeting of the semester.

Finals were over. We had survived. I had even survived my last and worst exam, physics, and when it was done I burst out of the doors, tore up my lab notes, flung them into the frosty air and shouted, ‘I’M DONE, MOTHERFUCKERS!’ Then I jogged across Academic Quad, where overjoyed seniors in brand-new college sweatshirts were waving acceptance letters in the air, where the big Christmas tree sparkled with tinsel. Mary Kate was waiting for me on the south hill with two trays from the dining hall, and, using them as sleds, we raced down the snowy hill towards the frozen lake, shrieking and laughing.

Now this club meeting was my last responsibility of the semester. But meetings are never that productive right before a break. It’s usually some kind of party and the club president brings snacks. Luckily, Katie Casey had taken care of that for me – showing up with her ever-present smile and a tray of brownies.