“Only one day at public school and the bitches already made your locker rain?" she laughs. "Impressive.”
“I'm Breckin," he says. "I'm in an alliance to overtake the public school system and all its minions with your daughter.”
“My locker seems to have become the hub for sticky notes and nasty letters, none of which I ever see actually being placed on or in my locker. I really don’t get what people gain out of doing things like this if they don’t even own up to it.Like the note that was stuck to my locker this morning. All it said was, “Whore.”Really? Where’s the creativity in that? They couldn’t back it up with an interesting story? Maybe a few details of my indiscretion? If I have to read this shit every day, the least they could do is make it interesting. If I was going to stoop so low as to leave an unfounded note on someone’s locker,I’d at least have the courtesy of entertaining whoever reads it in the process. I’d write something interesting like, “I saw you in bed with my boyfriend last night. I really don’t appreciate you getting massage oil on my cucumbers. Whore.” I laugh and it feels odd, laughing out loud at my own thoughts. I look around and no one is left in the hallway but me. Rather than rip the sticky notes off of my locker like I probably should, I take out my pen and make them a little more creative. You’re welcome, passersby.”
“Laugh a lot. Never go a day without laughing at least once.”
“His dream is to one day be a famous Broadway star, but he says he lacks the ability to sing or act, so he’s scaling down his dream and applying to business school, instead.”
“What was it like the first time you saw me?" she asks. "What was it about me that made you want to ask me out? And tell me everything, even the bad thoughts."I laugh. "There weren't any bad thoughts. Naughty thoughts, maybe. But not bad."She grins. "Well then tell me those, too.”
“Butterfly.What a beautiful wordWhat a delicate creature.Delicate like the cruel words that flow right out of your mouths and the food that flies right out of your hands…Does it make you feel better?Does it make you feel good ?Does picking on a girl make you more of a man?Well, I’m standing up for myselfLike I should have done beforeI’m not putting up with your Butterfly anymore."(Kiersten slides the sack off her wrist and opens it, pulling out a handful of hand-made butterflies. She takes the microphone out of the stand and begins walking down the stairs as she continues speaking.)“I’d like to extend to others what others have extended to me.”(She walks up to Mrs. Brill first and holds out a butterfly)“Butterfly you, Mrs. Brill.”(Mrs. Brill smiles at her and takes the butterfly out of her hands. Lake laughs out loud and I have to nudge her to get her to be quiet. Kiersten walks around the room, passing out butterflies to several of the students, including the three from the lunchroom.)“Butterfly you, Mark.Butterfly you, Brendan.Butterfly you, Colby.”(When she finishes passing out the butterflies, she walks back onto the stage and places the microphone back into the stand.)“I have one thing to say to youAnd I’m not referring to the bulliesOr the ones they pursue.I’m referring to those of you that just stand byThe ones who don’t take up for those of us that cryThose of you who just…turn a blind eye.After all it’s not you it’s happening toYou aren’t the one being bulliedAnd you aren’t the one being rudeIt isn’t your hand that’s throwing the foodBut…it is your mouth not speaking upIt is your feet not taking a standIt is your arm not lending a handIt is your heartNot giving a damn.So take up for yourselfTake up for your friendsI challenge you to be someoneWho doesn’t give in.Don’t give in.Don’t let them win.”