The principal and a few quest speakers began to drone on at first. Most of the people in the bleachers had shown up only to hear and see Finny's speech. Everyone was curious as to what he was going to say, what stunts would he pull in front of the principal? How courageous could Finny be?

We would have to suffer through the rest of the boring speeches until they got to him. It was well worth the wait in my eyes.

Another thing I began to realize, as I sat uncomfortably in the bleachers, was that everyone knew Finny. Every student and faculty member who had ever been present at our school knew who he was. And out of all those people, he had few enemies, and chose me to be his best friend. He could have picked anyone. There were dozens of people who would jump at the chance to be his best friend, and he picked me. Maybe he was simply unaware of how many people adored and worshipped him. He could pick practically any girl to be his girlfriend. I knew girls who would actually die to be with him, but Finny remained blissfully unaware of all of this. Maybe he chose to disbelieve and ignore it all. Maybe it just didn't suit his character.

I began to squirm around on the bench when Principal Baxley began to preach about joining the Environment Club and saving the world. I always got a funny feeling when he talked about it. Maybe it was because I felt guilty and probably needed to join. I simply didn't have enough free time for it, though.

The principal finally finished his boring ramblings, and Finny stood up and, bearing a huge grin, walked towards the microphone. Every one of the students began to cheer and clap as he made his way to the center of the stage. It was where he was born to stand. There in the center of the room, with all eyes fixed upon him. He gave a quick glance to the principal, who was, indeed, staring at his pink shirt. Finny shrugged at him and unbuttoned it slightly. It was a bit toasty in the assembly hall at that hour.

It was only then that I realized that he was wearing something much worse than the pink Tommy girl shirt. Underneath it, he was wearing the school flag around his waist like a belt. He could get expelled for wearing that.

"Good fourth block to you all!" Finny greeted the assembly. He was unafraid, and stage-frightless. "I have been asked to speak on the behalf of the FBLA, seeing as I'm the president and all. I don't know WHY I'm the president, but things don't always go quite the way you want." A few people laughed. "On a more serious note-" At this point, Principal Baxley stepped in and stopped him.

"Young man," he said, in a very serious tone, "what are you wearing? Did you get dressed in the dark?"

"He's gonna get it now," a boy whispered to another in front of me. I admit, I was kind of hopeful for this, too. I didn't want him to get in trouble, really, but to see how he would handle it would be worth a scare from Finny.

"No, Sir, Mr. Baxley," Finny responded, proudly, and completely at ease.

"Are you aware that you are defiling our Alma Mater by wearing that around your waist as if it's a belt?" the principal demanded. "Not to mention wearing a girl's shirt?"

Finny gave a little shrug. "Well, what with the war and all," he began, in a raised tone so he could make sure that everyone heard him, "I feel that we all need to be a little more liberated than usual. We need to cut loose and be who we are, not who we're made to be in school. And the school flag? What better way to show pride for my school than to proudly wear its flag? Don't you think Iraqis have pride in THEIR country? We should be just as proud of our school, Principal Baxley! Where's your school spirit?"

The principal glared at him for a good minute or so. Then, he began to laugh heartily. "Well said, son!" he declared. "I have no idea how any of that could be considered a rational thought, but you've convinced me! Go on with your speech."

"I already finished it," Phineas replied, walking off-stage. The principal didn't see it, but everyone else could see that Finny's grin had grown ten- fold.

Everyone clapped and cheered and stomped their feet as Finny exited through the side door and into the hallway. Soon, we were dismissed and left also.