Chapter 119

How did I get into doing so much public speaking?

Yes, the program to use Alpha students to help Beta and Omega families was my idea, but if I couldn’t speak clearly to my audience, I wouldn’t do any good.

I was terrified I would freeze up on the stage in front of the entire school and be laughed at and mocked like I was that day in werewolf history class.

“Read it to Jennifer and me,” Victor requested as we sat together in the mansion's drawing room. Jennifer was honored when we asked her to help me practice.

I stood before them and began reading the speech I had written to deliver at an assembly in front of the entire school.

“Hello, most of you know me, but in case you don’t, my name is Daisy Wilson.”

So far so good.

“I’m on this stage today to talk to you about the urgent needs of families in our community. There are city blocks full of families who don’t have the things we take for granted every day.”

They don’t have the money to buy food, clothing, or to pay their rent. Many cannot afford to go to a doctor when they are ill. Whole families, including children, the disabled, and the elderly, suffer from hunger, cold, and illnesses.”

“They are trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty, without the means for a good education that would help them get higher paying jobs.”

I looked up and saw amazement on my audience’s faces, and Jennifer gave me a thumbs up.

When I delivered the speech in the school auditorium, I would remember this moment and pretend I was in this room now.

I cleared my throat and continued. Jennifer and Victor applauded when I was finished.

“I think you nailed it,” Victor said.

“It was excellent, Miss,” Jennifer added. “It’s nice to know there are wonderful and caring people like you in the world.”

After reading the speech aloud one more time, I decided I was as ready as I would be, and Jennifer and I went upstairs to pick out what I would wear.

“We need something that will give you extra confidence,” Jennifer declared. “Everyone should hear that speech.”

“Thanks,” I said. “I’m glad you liked it. I hope it makes the kids at my school understand how much their help is needed.

It took me a little longer to get to sleep that night, but I woke up the next morning ready to take on the day.

I had breakfast with Alex before kissing him goodbye and letting Joe drive me to school.

Principal Jones had agreed to let me give my speech first thing after homeroom. I didn’t want to sit around in my classes while I got increasingly more nervous.

Before I knew it, I was walking across the stage in front of every student and teacher in my school.

When they saw me coming from the wings, everyone went silent, and my footsteps echoed throughout the enormous auditorium.

There was a podium set up for me with a microphone. I put my tablet in front of me on the podium and made the mistake of looking out over my audience.

The sea of faces staring at me made my heartbeat erratic, and my hands and legs shake.

I had been afraid this was going to happen. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t give the speech.

But all the faces continue to stare while waiting for me to begin.

With my whole body shivering, I opened the speech on my tablet and moved closer to the microphone.

Pretending I was in the sitting room with Jennifer and Victor, I began to read the words on my tablet’s screen.

“Hello, most of you know me, but in case you don’t, my name is Daisy Wilson.”

Okay, I can do this.

And then a voice called out from the audience, “Come on, Daisy, sing us a song or something.”

The troublemaker was told to be silent by Principle Jones, but it was too late. I started to shake again as I tried to continue reading my speech.

“I…I’m on this …this stage to …today to tah …talk to you ah …about the …the urgent nah …nah …needs of ….”

“Somebody get her off the stage,” a boy yelled.

“I’m missing a math test for this?” another shouted.

My face flamed bright red as tears stung my eyes. I had to get out of here. I would change schools and never come back to this one again.

Maybe I could be homeschooled.

But my legs were shaking so badly I couldn’t move.

I had to do something. It was either leave or try to finish the speech.

I began doing the breathing exercises my speech therapist taught me, but I wasn’t sure if it would work. This situation was like a nightmare.

Two tears started rolling down my cheeks when I heard Amy’s voice from the front row.

“Daisy, look at me,” she said. “Just talk to me. You can do it.”

Looking at my best friend, I took a few more slow, deep breaths. But my tears made my speech blurry, so I decided to wing it. It would be better than standing here shaking.

“I’m sure you’ve heard I was raised as a Beta.”

There were murmurs of agreement throughout the room.

“So I know what it’s like not to have enough money to eat or buy clothes or medicine or just to buy the things you need.”

“And I’m sure most of you remember the baggy, worn clothing I used to wear and my frizzy hair and cheap, ugly glasses. Well, I didn’t wear them because I enjoyed being bullied. I wore them because I had no choice.”

“From a young age, I worked to buy these things for myself because, even though both of my foster parents worked, there was no money left over for me.”

“Now that it’s been discovered I was born to wealthy Alphas, I can have the best clothes, food, expensive haircuts, contact lenses… anything I want.”

“What I’m trying to tell you is money may not be able to buy happiness, but you are a heck of a lot happier when you’re warm, clothed, and fed. You are happier when you have hope that your life can get better.”

Amy smiled at me.

“I’m on this stage today to talk to you about the other families in our community that have been forgotten. Did you know there are city blocks full of families who don’t have the simplest things we take for granted?”

I was speaking from my heart, but my speech came back to me without reading it because I meant every word.

“Whole families, including children, the sick, and the elderly, suffer from hunger, cold, and illnesses while we attend parties and balls.”

“They are trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty, without the means for a good education that would help them get better paying jobs.”

“Our laws are stacked against them, and we are taught they are less than us. I’m here to tell you that they are not. They work hard to survive while we dance and shop.”

“The most unfair thing about all this is the Alphas who make the laws that keep these people in poverty live like kings.”

“You can help me ease some of their suffering. And maybe together, we can change the future for all of us. A Luna said to me recently, ‘Our youth is our future.’ and she was talking about us.”

“We can change the future and make it better.”

“I’m here to ask you to help me make the lives of people who suffer better. Maybe you can help clean or repair a home. Maybe you wouldn’t mind helping feed and spending a little time with sick or elderly Betas and Omegas.”

“Or maybe you want to help me raise money for the Wilson Foundation, a charitable organization that helps thousands of people each year to live better lives.”

“I’m standing here today asking you to help me, help them. You are more needed than you know. Thank you for your time.”

The auditorium erupted in applause. I got chills when everybody stood up, and the applause grew deafening.

I even heard several of my classmates shouting my name.

Even though I started out stuttering, I had done it. Maybe it would be the beginning of something great.

After flashing Amy a smile, I left the stage, relieved it was over and curious to see what would happen next.

Would my words make a difference?