McCluneM1213

clock blue green watch computer homework chemistry encyclopedia dictionary words assignemnts desk phone timer sharpie highlighters markers pencils breezeway class friends homecoming dresses dance competitions duos trips bahamas __**cruise**__ band flute teacher music pointe hours colors backpacks hair tie tie dye rubberbands agendas books reading starbucks pumpkins halloween trick or treaters candy

(Katie) wants (to go on the band cruise) because (it is only available once every four years), but (she can't convince her parents to let her go).

Katie Adams is your typical high school student. Average grades, an unusual sense of humor, and problems at home. You see, Katie is a part of the symphonic band and is required to attend the annual trip, wherever it may be. Normally this wouldn’t be a problem, but this year the band is going on a cruise to the Bahamas. Katie’s parents are filing for divorce and cannot afford for Katie to attend. When she went and told her instructor of her situation, he simply shrugged and dismissed her back to class. He was obviously going to be no help. Katie then decided that she would have to find some alternative way to pay for the trip. As she was walking to her next class, it hit her. She would get a part time job at the café near her house. She knew the manager and he owed her a favor.

After school that day, she stopped by to pick up an application. As she was leaving, she ran into her friend the manager. After sharing her intentions with him, he hired her right on the spot. The only problem was that her shift started the same time as her last class at school. There was no way she could do both. That’s when the idea came to her. She would walk to the café and wait on a few customers before returning to class. After spending the majority of the time in class, she would ask to use the restroom, and then never come back. Her teacher, you see, was aging and as a result, had a terrible memory. The year was already half over and he still had not mastered her name. Surely he wouldn’t find a pattern in her behavior. Just to be sure, she crept into the janitor’s closet and swiped all of the tardy passes within reach. She then forged her teacher’s signature so that all she had to do was to make up an excuse as to where her destination was.

Her plan was genius, so she thought. After no time at all, she was well on her way to paying for her trip. Day after day she worked, and day after day she came up with a new excuse for her teacher, even if one was not necessary. But over time, her teacher grew suspicious. One afternoon he decided to send a student to follow Katie wherever she went. At first Katie suspected nothing it never occurred to her that someone could have deciphered her actions. It was only after the student had confronted her that she realized how serious her situation was.

The next day she was called into a meeting that included both of her parents as well as her guidance counselor, the attendance administrator, and the principal. Apparently her tardiness had not gone unnoticed and was a serious matter. As it turned out, every third tardy turned into an absence, and if you exceeded a certain number of tardies, you cannot pass the class. Katie eventually came clean and told everyone why she had been skipping. Her parents were appalled. To think that their daughter had to resort to skipping school just to be able to afford a school trip tore them apart. They were determined to pay for the trip no matter what they had to do. What they didn’t already know was that Katie had already made enough money to pay for more than half of the trip.

To make up for her numerous absences, Katie had to stay after school to complete all the work she had missed. Her parents covered the remaining amount. When she told her band teacher of this, he was thrilled. When she first came to him he knew she would find a way to resolve her conflict.

The trip was everything she had expected. She got to hang out with all of her friends and even make some new ones. She was glad her parents had interviened or else she wouldn't have had this opportunity.