"So how did it go?" Daria asked

"Well..." Joey started

Right after you hung up, there was a knock at the door. It was Christine and Laura, my college mentors I had met a couple of months ago. I had sent them an email asking their advice, and the next thing I knew, they were knocking on my front door.

"How far is it between Boston and Capeside?" Daria asked

"Just over an hour, anyway..."

They were pretty excited and we hugged and it was all really uplifting. But then we got down to business. Once I was done explaining it to them, there was another knock at the door. It was Dawson. He wanted me to come down to Leery's Fresh Fish and bring my new friends.

"Sounds ominous"

"Actually, it was good news"

Pacey, Andie, Jen, Will and Jack were there waiting for me. They said that we couldn't let Greene get railroaded and it was up to us, to me, to do something about it. They wanted me to direct them.

"So, did you?"

Well, eventually. I got Jack, who has design skills, to create a flyers, posters, etc. I sent Pacey to have them printed at a local copy shop. He managed to get them done for free (I still don't know how). I asked Dawson to document everything for posterity. I asked Andie to draw up a petition and start collecting signatures. I asked Jen to use her role as head cheerleader to get the cheerleading squad on board. I asked Will to start making phone calls. I asked Christine and Laura if I was missing anything and they said no and they were really impressed with me.

"What happened next?" Daria was once again hanging of Joey's every word

At school next day, there were duelling protests, for and against Greene (our side had the cheerleaders, theirs had mostly angry parents). Doug had to separate them. I asked our side to disperse and move to the superintendent's office. This was pretty lucky as the superintendent asked to see me.

"How did that go?" Daria asked

Well, he was pretty annoyed, but he wasn't backing down. So, I bluffed. I told him this was just the beginning. There would be a public meeting on Thursday night (the deadline was Friday) and if he was so sure of his position, he should come and explain himself to them. He was unimpressed, but said he'd think about it.

On the way out, I saw Dawson and his mom. They grilled him, but he didn't budge.

But there was a problem. There was no meeting. So we had two days to pull out all the stops. When I got home, it was basically a command centre. It was full, and I mean full, of people, all committed to our cause. Everyone was doing their bit. It was all really moving. But Bessie wasn't feeling it. Possibly because she'd just received a threatening phone call.

"That'll do it" Daria observed

So Bodie reminded her (and me) that this would probably be a non-issue if Principal Greene were white. That seemed to shut her up.

"Good ol' Bodie" Daria interjected

"So, the meeting..."

"How did it go?" Daria asked

Before that, I should mention that Dawson and his mom interviewed a reluctant Greene and his daughter then persuaded him to show up to the meeting being held to defend him. Up until now, he'd been quiet.

"Understandable. I imagine he was feeling pretty annoyed at the whole situation" Daria observed

"Anyway, the meeting..."

The assembly hall was packed. I mean packed. And they were all there to listen to me. To say I was nervous would be an understatement. Before I hit the stage, I finally got around to telling Andie something I'd been meaning to tell her for a while. If she didn't tell Pacey her secret, I would. Jen overheard the whole thing.

"I don't care about that part" Daria interjected

"I didn't think you would. But I'm just setting the scene"

So I gave the best speech I could. I tried to be uplifting, but realistic. Then I opened up the floor and discovered something surprising. Everyone there had a story extolling Principal Greene. His daughter Nikki even said a few words. It was actually really moving. Then the superintendent showed up. He put his case and it went down about as well as could be expected.

"I take it this was now your sides turn to take up the pitchforks" Daria was joking, but also somewhat serious

Actually, it was Laura that started it. She's normally so sedate. But once the superintendent's speech was over, and asked if anyone had any questions, she jumped up and yelled "this is bullshit!" at the top of her lungs. Everyone pretty much followed suit. I didn't like him, but I didn't want to see him get hurt, so I was about to rush the superintendent off the stage, when a hushed silence fell over the room.

"What happened?" Daria asked

It was Principal Greene. He walked up to the lectern. He said that he wasn't backing down and neither was the superintendent, but that didn't mean that what we were doing wasn't worthwhile. He added that he was proud of all of us.

"Well, that's depressing" Daria remarked

"Why?" Joey was slightly annoyed

"Because you lost" Daria said matter-of-factually

"I'm not finished yet"

At the end of the following school day, Principal Green exited his office and we all lined the halls and gave him a rousing send off. Him and Nikki.

"So, you lost" Daria said

"Yes, we lost. But we gave it our best shot. And I know he appreciates our efforts"

"Do you know what happened to the two of them?" Daria asked

"I think Dawson is still in touch with Nikki. They still bounce ideas of each other"

"Well, that's something. That was a heck of a tale Joey. You should write it all down sometime. You know, just to get it all out there"

"It's funny you should say that, because Dawson and his mother documented the whole thing for the news. They got a lot of footage. But the station didn't run the story and fired her over it"

"Why?" Daria asked

"Apparently, they thought the story was biased" Joey explained

"But does that mean that they destroyed the footage?"

"No, I think the footage still exists. Why?"

"I mean, if someone could edit it together, they could make a, what's the word…?"

"Documentary?"

"I was going to say movie. Do you know anyone who might be interested in making one of those?" Daria asked

Joey smiled.