It wasn’t until sometime in the spring that I received a phone call that changed everything. My parents and I were in the middle of eating dinner when the phone rang. I was about to get up to answer it when Mom said, “Julia, just let the answering machine get it. We’re in the middle of dinner. If it’s important we’ll hear it.”
As the phone rang Dad continued to tell Mom about his day. I wasn’t really paying attention to their conversation. Instead I was waiting to hear who was about to leave a message. After the beep I heard Congressman Strum’s voice on the other end. Jumping up from my chair and knocking it backward, I flew across the room and picked up the phone.
“Hello, Congressman, this is Julia,” I said even before he could say hello.
“Good evening, Julia, I hope I didn’t disturb you,” he said.
“Nope, I just finished eating dinner.”
“Oh, okay then. I have some news. Are you sitting down?” he asked.
My heart was beating so fast that it felt like it was about to explode out from my chest. I wasn’t sure when he asked if I was sitting if it was going to be good news or bad news. It had been close to a year now since my bill was sent to congress, so I’ve had plenty of time to prepare for whatever news he was about to tell me or so I thought.
“No, I’m standing, but I’ll sit.”
“Okay, here is what has happened to your bill. Members of congress voted and passed your bill. It has gone back and forth from the House to the Senate where both parties finally agreed to the conference report.”
Before he could continue, I interrupted him. “I’m not sure what this all means, but if both parties agreed where is it going now?” I asked barely containing my excitement.
“Where are your parents, Julia?” I found it odd that he even asked.
“They’re a couple of feet away from me? Why?”
“If you can put the phone on speaker and call your parents over that would be great.”
Mom and Dad didn’t know what was going on, but had a curious look on their faces. Dad asked, “What’s going on, Julia?”
I explained to them both that Congressman Strum wanted me to put the phone on speaker and ask them to come over so they could hear what he was about to say. Neither of them said anything. They both just came over to where I was standing.
“All right, I have you on speaker. Mom and Dad are standing with me,” I said.
“Okay, the bill was placed on the president’s desk as of seven this morning. Now, before you start jumping up and down and celebrating, you need to know that it can still go either way. If he does in fact sign it, then it will become a law. I’ll be able to call you within the next ten days. That’s how long the president has to make a decision whether to pass it or veto it.”
“So, if he veto’s the bill then what?” I asked not trying to get my hopes up just yet.
Throughout the phone conversation both my parents were smiling from ear to ear. Dad was about to pop open a bottle and start celebrating, but I waved my hand not to. I didn’t want to jinx anything. I’ve always been very superstitious. I truly believe what is said about a black cat, a broken mirror having seven years bad luck, walking under a ladder, opening an umbrella in the house, and celebrating before it’s time.
“If the president vetoes a bill, Congress may attempt to 'override the veto.' In both the House and Senate, overriding a veto requires a 2/3 majority of those present and voting. If the House and Senate each vote to override a veto, the bill becomes law. I don’t see it going to that point. I know I shouldn’t say this, but my gut is saying the president will sign it,” he said, sounding confidant.
After talking with Congressman Strum, I ran into my room and grabbed my cell phone. There was no way I was waiting until school to tell Alex the news. This was big. No, this was huge. Alex was just as shocked as I was when he heard the news.
“So, when will you know if the president signed it?” Alex asked.
“Give me a second, I’m trying to remember. I’m pretty sure Congressman Strum said within ten days.”
“Wow, that’s crazy. Okay, let’s try to forget about it for the next week. I know it’s going to be hard, but if we don’t we’ll drive ourselves crazy,” Alex suggested, which was smart.
The following day, I went to school trying everything in my power not to think about it, but I couldn’t get it out of my mind. I had such a hard time going to sleep because I kept thinking about it. I was imagining what it would feel like to know that I was a voice for others. To know that with the help of Alex, we were making a difference. Everything was going so well in my life. There was even a boy at school who apparently liked me.
Over the next few days I focused on my studies. Alex and I had a report that was due on Friday and it counted for half our grade. This was great I thought. I now had something that would keep my mind off of waiting for that one important phone call from Congressman Strum. All week after school Alex and I headed to the local library.
We spend two hours a day studying about Ancient Egypt. Although I thought it was going to be completely boring, I ended up finding it quite fascinating. Egyptians dated back to BC times. I wrote down things about their daily life, what they ate, and their religious beliefs. I read that most Egyptians ate bread and lots of vegetables. I did find it odd that it stated they drank beer. I always thought that someone in the US came up with the first beer.
Friday came and Alex and I turned in our report with full confidence. I researched the crap out of the Egyptians so there was no way I could get a bad grade. During lunch we didn’t say much. I knew exactly what Alex was thinking because I was thinking the same thing. Growing up, I was always impatient. A couple of days before my birthday rolled around I would beg my parents to give me my present, but they never did. They always made me wait, so I would follow them around the house guessing.
Dad came by to pick Alex and me up from school. We made plans to veg on the couch, eat popcorn, and watch the Bourne Trilogy staring Matt Damon. Alex’s mom rented them for us to watch. I had never seen any of them, but Alex had and thought they were the best thing since sliced bread. Even though I’d rather be watching a movie with Reece Witherspoon or Sandra Bullock in it, I went along with Alex to make him happy.
As soon as we were home, Alex threw down his backpack in the living room and plopped himself on the couch. I tossed my bag on my bed and walked back into the living room. Looking at Alex I said, “Really? Are you not going to help me get the drinks and popcorn?”
“Oh, sorry, Julia, I didn’t realize it took two people to carry a bag of popcorn and two cokes,” Alex said, being wise while laughing.
“Never mind, I got it. You just sit there. I wouldn’t want you to strain yourself,” I shot back.
“No, you got it all wrong. I’m in charge of putting the movie on,” he said in a mock defense.
“Fine, just start the movie. I’ll be there in a minute.”
Throughout the movie I noticed Alex fidgeting in his seat. He was like a kid seeing the movie for the first time. I found it quite amusing. The time flew by pretty fast and we were already on the second movie. Mom came in from work just after six and started making dinner. Once the second movie ended I told Alex I needed to get up and move around before starting the last one. I was never really good at sitting for a long period of time.
Just as we were about to start the last movie, Dad came out of the other room handing me the phone while saying, “Julia, its Congressman Strum.”
“Very funny, Dad, I never even heard the phone ring. Stop messing around,” I told him.
“No, Julia, I’m serious,” he said while his hand was over the mouth piece.
I froze. I didn’t take the phone. I couldn’t. I’d been waiting for this very phone call this whole time and now I couldn’t bear to hear what the verdict was. “Come on, Julia, take it! Don’t leave Congressman Strum waiting,” Dad commanded firmly.
Chapter Twenty Four
The moment of truth had come. While Dad had the phone to his ear listening to whatever was being said to him, I looked over toward my mom. She was just standing in the kitchen in front of the stove. Looking the other way, I saw that Alex was still sitting in the same spot as before. He didn’t look so good. I wasn’t sure if it was all the popcorn and soda we had or if it was waiting for my dad to tell us the news. I did however smell smoke that was coming from the oven and yelled, “Mom, something in the oven is burning!” I hurried across the living room to the kitchen to help her out.
The smoke detectors started making a horrific screeching noise. I didn’t know what to do. I did see Dad waving his arm up toward the wall. Once he knew I saw the smoke detector, he hurried out of the room and into his bedroom so he could hear on the phone. Quickly, I turned toward Alex who was still sitting in the same spot and yelled, “Make it stop!”
Hurrying over to the dining room table, Alex grabbed a chair. He pushed it against the wall directly underneath the smoke detector. Then he popped the cover off and pulled out the battery. Finally, the sound stopped. Mom looked like she had seen a ghost. I think she was in shock that she burned part of dinner. Never had she done that before. Until today, I never even knew what a smoke detector sounded like. Holy crap, did it scare me.
“Come on, Mom, sit down over here,” I said while walking her to the couch. I felt bad for her. She didn’t say anything. She just patted my hand and smiled.
Alex and I opened the windows to air out the house. Not only was it still hazy from the smoke, but it smelled really awful too. When we were done, we sat with Mom while we waited for Dad to come out of his room. “Are you okay, Mom?” I asked.
“Yes, I’m okay. I am sorry though. I didn’t mean to scare you kids. I’ve never burned dinner before.”
Taking her hand I said, “Mom, its fine. Alex had it under control, right Alex?”
“Sure, it’s fine. I’m used to it. My mom burns dinner at least once a month. She has this habit of watching TV and trying to cook at the same time. I would’ve thought she’d learn by now, but she hasn’t,” he said while laughing to make my mom feel better.
We all stopped talking when we heard Dad open the door and walk into the living room. None of us asked him what was said. We all just waited for him to tell us. I think it had to do with not wanting to hear bad news. Dad took a seat across from us, and I took a deep breath to prepare myself.
While Dad looked at Alex and me, he said, “Okay, before I tell you what Congressman Strum said I want to tell you both that I’m very proud of you guys. It took a lot of courage and determination to see this thing through.”
Ugh, my dad was driving me crazy with his speech. I felt like saying,
“Yes, we know you’re proud, but just get on with it.”
This was killing me. I looked at Alex and rolled my eyes. Alex chuckled a little without Dad catching him.
“Your mom and I always knew you’d do something great in your life someday, but this... this is it. The moment where you’ll be able to look back and say, “I, Julia, and of course you too, Alex, have changed the world for children everywhere.”
“Wait,” I said, interrupting Dad’s speech. “Are you saying what I think you’re trying to say, but haven’t said yet?” I just couldn’t bear to wait any longer.
“Yes, that’s what I’m saying, Julia,” Dad replied while jumping off his chair. “You guys did it!”
Mom screamed, “What? You mean the president signed Julia’s bill?”
“Yes, that’s what I’m saying, honey. Julia’s bill will be a law!”
Alex jumped off the couch and wrapped his arms around me, while lifting me off the floor, yelling, “You did it, Julia, you did it!” Tears began to run down my face. Usually, I’d care if Alex saw me cry, but on this day, I didn’t care who saw me. I couldn’t hold the tears in even if I tried.