“My mom has had to swallow a lot on account of Nanci Lee,” I tell her. “Even a Christian won’t pass up a chance to kick Nanci Lee in the teeth. I think she will back us up.”

“How?” Angel asks.

“It’s worth a try,” says Grimshaw. “What does that mean we should do?”

Rack and Angel are watching us. “Whatever you do, it’s gotta happen fast,” says Rack.

“Like, today,” says Angel. “She already wants your sweaters back.”

The plan we come up with is to take the legal approach: since we didn’t know about any policy, and since we already joined the squad, we should qualify as cheerleaders already and therefore have immunity from obscure regulations that Nanci Lee digs up out of the back pages of the school handbook.

Grimshaw snaps her fingers. “We should go in in our cheerleading sweaters.”

Rack looks at her watch. “I don’t think we have time.”

“Wear mine,” says Angel. “I’ve got two.”

In town, we stop by the bridal shop to get Angel’s two sweaters and put them on. Once we get to school, Grimshaw and I go directly to Mrs. Pentz’s office. Grimshaw stops and looks through the window. Nanci Lee is already there.

“Shit,” she says. “She beat us here.”

“Looks like you have to get up early to get ahead of Nanci Lee.”

My mother sees us and waves us in.

“Don’t say anything when we get in there,” Grimshaw says to me. “Don’t argue. Let’s just see how it plays out.”

“Good morning, girls!” the principal says when we go in. “Thanks for coming in.” She’s holding a copy of the handbook. Grimshaw and I both say good morning, but Nanci Lee ignores us. The loudest thing in the room is my mother reading.

“First of all,” she says, “I really want to thank Nanci Lee for bringing this policy to my attention.” Another silence opens up. My mother frowns down at the policy.

“You’re welcome,” says Nanci Lee.

After another minute of careful study, Mrs. Pentz takes her glasses off, and with a look of deep concern on her face, clasps her hands in front of her. She starts talking about second chances and the importance of learning from one’s mistakes. I honestly don’t know which way this one is headed. But Grimshaw told me to keep my mouth shut. So I keep my mouth shut. “So,” my mother concludes, “I think this one is really up to Mr. C.”

“Excuse me?” Nanci Lee stands up. “What’s he got to do with it?”

“I’m thinking that if the girls can get a signature of approval from the teacher whose class they failed—”

“I’m sorry,” says Nanci Lee. “Can you show me in the handbook where it says anything about that, at all?”