You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours

“You want to speak at the assembly, you’ve told me. If you back Anissa in this, I’ll make certain Anissa backs you when you push your own appeal.”

“I want to talk to the girls about Sexual Health. There’s no way Anissa De Gaulle is going to support that.”

“I’ll persuade her.”

“How?”

“I’ll persuade her. I can be very persuasive, especially if I point out that you backed her. She very much believes that the school is a community and the community needs to stick together.”

“And do you know what this priest will talk about? Probably abortion is evil. Contraceptives are evil. Condoms are evil. Only abstinence works. Abstinence doesn’t work. Never worked. You can’t expect it to work.”

“And if he says then our position is stronger. We tell Dr Stricture we have to give a counter argument. I’m sure Dr Stricture doesn’t want one pregnant student, let alone dozens. You’ll not just get me and Anissa supporting you, I guarantee we’ll get half the staff supporting you.”

You can see the doubt in Karlee’s eyes. She’s not convinced. But she can see the logic. And it’s not like any of her other tactics are working.

Reluctantly she signs it.