ONE-SHOT
"But Mommmmmmm!" exclaimed Cammie Morgan.
"But Camieeeeee!" mocked her mother, the headmistress of Gallagher Academy.
"You have to agree with me on some level, here, Mom, right? I mean, really, I'm not complaining about the whole uniform thing, I understand that this is a private school, and it's kind of like protocol, but can't we make them more practical?"
"Cammie, you're being ab-"
"Mom, really, when was the last time you performed a mission in a plaid pleated skirt, knee highs, a button-down under a sweater, and the most unrealistic spy-shoes ever?"
"Did you ever stop to think that maybe we do this to prepare you?"
"No. Do you?"
"No, but that's not the point. We make you wear uniforms so you feel like a team- so that you work together."
"I'm not asking you to lift the uniform rule, Mom- just make a few changes."
"Like what?"
"Well, first off, get rid of the flats, Mom. Let's get some real shoes, maybe some high-tech, hot-off-the-shoemaker, government-issued, spy sneakers or something."
Her mother contemplated this for a minute, looking like she seriously was thinking about it. "We'll see, Cammie. I don't know what I can get my hands on for you girls, but I'll try. Oh- and you would never be able to wear these out, on field trips and outings. There's too big a risk of getting caught."
Yes! Cammie cheered inwardly. "Now for the skirts. I understand that pleated plaid skirts a must for keeping our cover as a normal private school, but what about something a tad bit more practical for emergency-purposes? Did you ever hear of a skort?"
"Like a tennis skirt?"
"No."
"Then what?"
"Like a skirt, identical to the ones we have now, except with shorts attached to the inside."
"Well, for the purposes of emergencies, of course, I guess we could invest in adding shorts as part of the uniform, right? For under the skirts, just not attached?"
"That'd work too, I guess."
Two down, three to go, she thought, crossing her fingers.
"How about gym uniforms then, too?"
"Why? That seems like an unneeded expense."
"But, remember in my first year, when one of the older girls was made fun of all year when she was flipped in PE and everyone saw her day-of-the-week undies?"
"So what kind of gym uniforms did you have in mind?"
"Just gym shorts and a solid tee shirt. Of course, we could all just go to like Wal-Mart and grab some, Mom."
"And I assume you'd like the rule to be the same. Colors by year?"
"Why not?"
"Anything else?"
"Two things, really."
"One, tights and socks- I know, I know, are important also- but can we ditch them in the summer? Or at least wear lower socks?"
"We can resume that rule, yes. It was in action when I went to school here."
"And the tops, mom. Button downs and sweater vests?
"The sweater vests have the Gallagher insignia on them."
"The button downs could too- at least in spring and summer, Mom, pleeeeease?"
"I'll get back to you on all of this. I'm not making any promises that the school board will go with it, but I'll make an attempt."
Cammie just nodded and left.
She doesn't know how long I've been waiting for her to ask me that. I can finally change the uniforms!