Fabulous Five 012 - Katie's Dating Tips by Betsy Haynes Page A

the cooks would prepare samples of the dishes they serve
and let a panel of students taste them and rate them, then they could find out
what kids really like."
    Mr. Bell leaned forward, looking interested. "You mean
a sort of taste test?" he asked.
    "That's right," Tony said. Excitement rose in his
voice. "The cooks could try out new things, too. And maybe the kids could
make suggestions ahead of time for things they'd like to taste, also. There are
tons of things that could be done."
    Katie felt pride swelling as all around the room kids were
nodding and murmuring agreement with Tony's idea. Even Willie and Mr.
Dracovitch looked impressed.
    Mr. Bell stroked his chin. "A panel of students, eh?"
    "Yes, sir." Tony chuckled softly. "It would
be great if everyone could have the chance to take part, but it would get a
little expensive."
    A smile flickered in Mr. Bell's eyes. "And am I correct
in assuming that the rest of you think Tony's idea is a good one?"
    A chorus of yeses filled the air.
    Slowly Mr. Bell sat back down behind his desk. The room got
quiet enough to hear the dust settle as everyone waited for his reply. Katie
touched Tony's arm and gave him a reassuring smile, even though she was sure that
down deep she was as nervous as he was.
    Finally Mr. Bell cleared his throat and said, "Your
idea certainly has merit. We do live in a democratic society, and I am not
opposed to listening to students' concerns. However"—he paused and Katie's
heart fell into her shoes—"this is not a decision that I can make either
instantly or completely on my own."
    Katie heard a soft groan behind her and wondered if Mr. Bell
had heard it, too. If he did, he didn't let on. Katie held her breath as he
went on speaking.
    "I'd like the time to consult with the cafeteria
personnel and with several other teachers before I make a final decision on
this matter," he said. "It's fair to warn you that there may be valid
objections, or problems may arise that we haven't thought of here. But I know
you're all anxious, so I promise that you'll have my decision before school's
out this afternoon."
    "Thank you, Mr. Bell. Thank you," came from all
around the room as the students filed out of the principal's office and grouped
again in the hall.
    "What do you think will happen?" asked Dekeisha
Adams.
    "I think he went for it," said Garrett Boldt.
    "At least he didn't throw us out," offered Richie
Corrierro with a grin.
    Katie exchanged glances with Tony, and she had the feeling
that they were both thinking the same thing.
    "There's one thing we should remember," Katie
cautioned. "The earring petition. We had tons of signatures on the
petitions to allow boys to wear earrings at Wakeman Junior High, and a few of
the teachers were even in favor of it, but the idea got defeated."
    "Right," said Tony. "We'd better not get our
hopes up too high."
    Willie and Mr. Dracovitch had come up behind them.
    "Well, at least we don't have long to wait," said
the science teacher. Then, with a big smile, he raised his hand and slapped
high-fives with each of them for luck.
    Just then the first bell rang, and Katie headed for her
homeroom thinking about how her opinion of Mr. Dracovitch had changed. She had
been embarrassed for her mother to be seen in the halls with him before, but
now she thought he was a real hero. He had actually gone to bat for the kids
and had led them in their stand for better food in the cafeteria. How many
teachers would do a thing like that? Without him, she thought, we would
probably still be back where we started. And no matter what Mr. Bell decided,
she would never call Mr. Dracovitch weird again.
    Although the school buzzed with the news that a taste test
in the cafeteria was being considered, Katie couldn't remember a longer day.
Her classes seemed endless, and the hands on the classroom clocks seemed mired
in molasses. Twice between classes she saw Mr. Bell hurrying through the halls
and wondered if he was on his way to another conference on