The School Gymnasium During a School Council Meeting

"Order please, I give the podium to Courtney!" Shouted a tall and lanky dark haired man as he moved off the stage with a waving arm gesture to vacate the stages, and return to the seats positioned in the basketball court before the stage. Courtney glanced at the steel chairs and 2 dozen bodies that made up the student council of their school. When she reached the podium she looked comical to observers replacing the tall secretary. Her head barely peaking over the podium as she scattered a few papers into position and cleared her throat. It was like Wednesday Adams coming to the door when Lurch had answered. A cartoonish exchange of physical proportion, and political power. Courtney's sister was the only one who audibly laughed at the dark hair and pale face barely visible behind the podium. Most just gently smiled.

The general impression of the council was that they liked Courtney. She had largely been responsible for getting rid of a known pedophile from the coaching staff by rallying support and going above the administration. 2 years and a new administration later, it was no wonder that the largely non-social small woman was the president of the student council, and a fairly popular one at that. Even her sister Cassie didn't hate the girl. They competed, and Cassie was not going to miss an opportunity to give her sister a good ribbing whenever she got the chance, but their relationship was not at all hostile.

With all of this well known to the usually quiet girl, Courtney stood with a gentle smile, cleared her throat, and announced, "I now call into session the final congress of the student council of 20xx. I just want to start by saying it has been wonderful serving with you. The first Item on the docket is funding for the graduation. Cassie, how did the fundraising event with the cheerleaders go?"

In the crowd the bubbly redhead, still in her cheer outfit for friday pep rallies, jumped up with a bounce and responded,

"We raised the last of $325 needed for gowns for students who couldn't make graduation fees, and an extra.... lets see.." She raised a notepad in her left hand and thumbed some pages, "Ah, here it is, 175.33".

"Excellent work!" Courtney said trying to sound surprised, like this wasn't information she didn't know, as she had participated in collecting money with the cheerleaders, and regularly assisted her sister in her duties as treasurer. After a brief bout of applause, Courtney spoke once again.

"Ok, that brings the total budget remaining to $175.33, does anyone have a project on the books requiring additional funding?" Things had not been this smooth at the beginning of her 3 year stint as President. When she came in the student council was a joke, mostly arguing over petty nonsense like trying to get a soda machine, or just complaining about a strict teacher. Now it was an actual body with teeth. They got things done, with money raised by and for the student body, which allowed the new principal and administration to spend school money on teaching materials and equipment improvements instead of frivolous things like jerseys and tubas. In the last 3 years they had managed to earn nearly 15 thousand dollars to support student activities, paying off lunch debt, replacing uniforms, band, and sports equipment, and even had enough left over to buy some small trophies for teachers the student body observed as going above and beyond.

After about 20 minutes of deliberation, the extra money was put towards the band for destructible equipment like reeds, drum heads, and sticks.

"Before we get into final comments, is there any other business that would like to be brought before the council?" Courtney spoke loudly.