Page 34 - American Girl (September - October 2018)

Fiction

Code
Code

Breakers
Breakers

by Kathy Passero

When Gwen’s school introduced
strict new rules about what not

to wear, no one expected a

wardrobe war to break out.

I “A jacket?” I said. “It’s blazing in here!”

blame the weather. If it had been cooler,

the code-breaking craze might never have
“You’re breaking the dress code,” she informed
started. But this was the warmest fall on
Maybe you can call your parents to ask if they
record—in the high 80s even though it was me. “I’m sorry, but I can’t let you stay in class.
September—and school felt like an oven. can bring you a change of clothes.”
My twin brother, Glenn, bet me five dollars I thought she was kidding until she sent me to
that he could fry an egg on the blacktop. the assistant principal’s office. When I got there,
He lost, by the way. It wasn’t quite that hot. I found a crowd of sweaty, irritated girls who’d

But it was way too warm for my new fall clothes, been sent to see Ms. Chavez for the same reason
so I dug my Camp Mohawk tank top and a pair I had. It was total chaos. The office was sweltering
of running shorts out of a box on the attic stairs and everybody was talking at once.
that Mom had labeled “Gwen: Summer.” I caught sight of my friend Addie across the
I was walking to first period fanning myself room. It’s hard to miss her because of her crazy,
with my fractions workbook when my math curly hair, which usually has streaks of hair chalk

teacher pulled me aside. in it to match whatever she’s wearing. Right
“Do you have a jacket, Gwen?” Ms. Martin now her hair was wilder than ever and she was
asked. shouting to make herself heard over the racket.

32 americangirlmagazine.com