Free Kristy Power! by Ann M. Martin

this community, and any students who wish to speak." I felt my heart race when I heard that. I did "wish to speak," but the size of the crowd in the auditorium was intimidating. Would I really be able to stand up for what I believed in, in front of all those people?
    Fortunately, I didn't have to do it right away. Mr. Taylor invited Ted to speak first. "I believe that Mr. Morley has a right to explain and defend his actions," he said, waving Ted up to the podium.
    Ted stood for a moment, looking out at the crowd. Then he took a deep breath. "Thank you all for coming," he said. "It's good to see so many people in this community taking an active role in the education of their children." The crowd murmured. I had a feeling the protesters hadn't expected Ted to be so diplomatic.
    "I'd like to apologize, first of all," said Ted, "for not submitting my reading list for the approval of the English department. I honestly did not know this was required. At my last teaching post, which was at a private school, teachers made assignments at their own discretion. My introduction to SMS was rushed, and if I was told of this requirement I forgot about it. I do apologize for this." He paused, cleared his throat, closed his eyes for a second, and began to speak again. "I do not, however, apologize for the content of that list." There was a stirring in the auditorium, and several people began to speak at once. "Save our children!" called out one woman.
    Mr. Taylor stood up and joined Ted at the podium. "Everyone will have a chance to speak," he said, leaning closer to the microphone. "I must ask that you hold your comments until you are called on." He waited for a moment until the buzz had died down. Then he nodded to Ted and took his seat again.
    "I don't have a lot more to say," Ted continued. "Just that I stand behind every book on the list I handed out. I would also like to remind everyone that not one of the books on that list was mandatory reading. Students had complete freedom of choice in terms of what they decided to read, including choosing a book not on the list." "It's still a choice between smut and filth!" yelled out a man in the third row.
    "It's time to let us speak!" shouted the woman sitting next to him.
    Mr. Taylor stood up again as Ted took his seat. "As I said before, everyone will have a chance to speak. But the next person we'll hear from is Ms. Breer, head of the English department. Please give her your attention and respect." Ms. Breer stood up, looking a little nervous. "I just want to go on record as saying that the department values Mr. Morley's classroom expertise," she began.
    A loud hiss came from somewhere near the back of the auditorium. Mr. Taylor rose halfway to his feet and glared out from the stage, and the noise stopped.
    Ms, Breer gave him a grateful glance and continued. "It's true that Mr. Morley may not have understood the protocol we follow regarding reading lists. Mrs. Simon's early departure was a surprise to all of us, and we may not have been able to brief Mr. Morley as thoroughly as usual." She looked down at the notes she was holding, bit her lip, and went on. "I would also add that if Mr. Morley had presented his list to me, I would have approved it." Some of the protesters jumped to their feet and started yelling. Other people, Ted's supporters, began to applaud.
    Ms. Breer stepped back from the podium. Then she walked quickly to her seat. Mr. Taylor stood again and held up his hands. "Please, please," he said. "Can everyone please quiet down? Let's continue in a civilized manner." He peered out into the auditorium. "I call now on Mrs. Bertha Dow, who will represent her group, Parents for Decency." Merrie was sitting two seats away from me, on the other side of Jeremy. I could almost feel her cringing, and I shot her a sympathetic look. Jeremy gave her a little shoulder hug.
    Mrs. Dow climbed the steps to the stage and took her