It’s In Your Imagination

Penny reached into her desk and pulled out a gum ball. Sugar helps her to think and she would need it for Melinda Martin, or as Penny likes to think of her- Melinda fartin. The way she talks down to Penny makes her blood boil. She starkly remembers the time Melinda said “If you drop a penny it’s not worth bending down to pick it up” in front of Mr. Archer.

“Then call me Penelope if that makes it worth your time.” She responded.

Melinda got under Penny’s skin without trying to win the attention of Mr. Archer, she was a smarty pants regardless of being the rival of Penelope’s infatuation.

Their not so friendly competition found them volunteering for the garden committee on their days off to “Spruce up the grounds and for bragging rights” as Mr. Archer said.

That is how Penelope and Melinda found themselves in a perennial war. The garden initiative is part of the local business community project to encourage healthy food options and to beautify the community.

Penny’s done her best to match Melinda’s viscous glares when getting her hands dirty, but Melinda is the reigning queen of intimidation tactics. She flung soil that always managed to land in Penelope’s hair. When she pointed it out to Mr. Archer, he said, “It’s in your imagination, she’s just excited about the initiative.”

Competing for the affection of Mr. Julius Archer is exactly as it sounds. He’s respected and admired and she wasn’t going to let Melinda’s brute force tactics scare her. She wanted to be head of the garden committee just as much and Melinda’s tried and true rules of battle were not going to deter her. For over three months Penny has been growing her radishes while Melinda’s been growing zinnias which have just started budding. Penny’s radishes on the other hand are plump enough to dice in a salad, which was precisely what she was going to do for her presentation.

To be in the running for head of the garden committee you had to show promise and Penny had a green thumb, a skill unbeknownst to her. She was extraordinary in the makeshift greenhouse formerly a defunct staff lounge, and in the garden outdoors where the brush used to be.

Chewing her gum nervously she looks at Melinda who has a sly grin in return. “Penelope you’re up first.” She goes to the board and places her materials on the table set up in front of it. She looks at her peers nervously before Mr. Archer scolds her, “Is that gum you’re chewing?” Penelope nods her head.

The class laughs as Mr. Archer brings her the wastebasket where she disposes of her gum. But, she is determined and shows her 2nd grade class just how to toss up a salad. Melinda Fartin never stood a chance with her barely there zinnias. Penny took home the title of President of the Garden committee, and Melinda took home Wafer the hamster for the weekend.