Page 46 of You've Got a Place Here, Too
“Why are you being so hardheaded?” he asks.
I sidestep him. “I’m not. I told you I want this extravaganza to be more elegant.”
“You can have your ‘elegant’ ”—he makes air quotes—“extravaganza while still respecting the city’s customs. Save the string quartet and rose gold bullshit for another time. This is Mardi Gras!”
I sigh, making sure it is overly dramatic because that’s what he deserves.
“Fine,” I say. “I may be willing to compromise on the colors—there are ways to incorporate the traditional purple, gold, and green and still be elegant. But I’m drawing the line at the Indians. It’s disrespectful to the Indigenous people of Louisiana.”
“Oh, so you’ve discussed this with the Indigenous people of Louisiana, and they told you that they find it disrespectful? Good to know.”
I roll my eyes. Again.
“Be serious,” I tell him.
“No,yoube serious. What about this do you not understand, Jordyn? The Indians are important to New Orleans. It’s not just a bunch of people playing dress-up. There is history behind it.”
“It’s not happening, Kendrick. Deal with it.”
He stares at me with frustration in his eyes. Sometimes our banter can get a little heated, but this is the first time that I’ve felt true disgust from him. It causes a sinking sensation in my stomach.
But then I remind myself that Kendrick Stewart’s feelings toward me are secondary when it comes to my ultimate goal.
“I’m stepping away from this committee,” Kendrick says. “You know so much about Mardi Gras, you handle this on your own.”
This time, he’s the one to turn and walk away.
Excitement simmers in my veins as I wait for Professor Cornwall to finish her call. I’d sent her my ideas for the extravaganza this morning, and the swiftness with which she’d replied, asking for a meeting, was all the indication I needed to know that I was on the right track.
She sets her office phone back on the hook and turns her attention to me.
“We don’t have time for me to beat around the bush, Jordyn, so I will just come right out and say it. I’m a bit disappointed in this.”
My head jerks back.
“Disappointed?”
“Yes.” Dr. Cornwall nods. “The original committee left a solid foundation. All your committee had to do was build upon it, not completely obliterate it.”
“But I didn’t—we didn’t,” I correct. “I’ve included most of what the original committee suggested.”
“Yes, but point out one thing in your plans that screams Mardi Gras. When alumni return to New Orleans for the extravaganza, they want a true carnival experience. The proposal you all have put forth has all the makings of a refined, tasteful evening, but it’s…well…dry. This sounds like a party that can take place in any city in the country, and that is not what the Mardi Gras Extravaganza is about. It’s unique to New Orleans, just as Xavier is unique to it. The event should reflect that.”
I cannot believe what I’m hearing. There is no way I’ve gotten thisthiswrong.
“We don’t have a lot of time, Jordyn. Your committee has the weekend to come up with another slate of more suitable ideas. I already have others in mind for committee chair if this is something you can’t handle.”
My heart sinks to the pit of my stomach, which feels as if it has just been kicked. To have the chairship yanked from me would be a death knell to my hopes of being SGA president. I cannot let that happen.
“I have a department meeting to get to,” Dr. Cornwall says. She pushes away from her desk and stands. “I’ll see you on Monday. Same time.”
I follow her out of the office and stop short at the sight of Kendrick waiting a few doors down. His piercing brown eyes stare directly at me.
“No,” I say when he takes a step forward. “I am not dealing with you right now.”
I pivot and start marching in the opposite direction.
“Jordyn! Jordyn, wait a minute!”
