Week 4: Storytelling - The Cheer Captain

There were some that said that Jenna Clare was the best cheer captain that had ever come through the University. Since she had become captain as a sophomore, the team had won back-to-back championships at UGA Nationals. She worked her team hard, but she was right there with them running suicides, lifting in the weight room, and conditioning. She didn't ask of them anything she wasn't prepared to do herself. When they ran, she was always at the front of the pack - that is, until she saw someone lagging behind the group (usually Carrie) then she would circle back and run with the girl, encouraging her to the finish. Jenna had a strict "no drama" policy: all problems were to be left at the door and your teammates were to be as your sisters. It was she who'd advocated for bi-monthly team bonding nights in which the team got to know and care for each other in a non-practice environment. For this reason, the team was strong, stronger than any team that had ever existed at the University. The girls worked well together because they genuinely cared for one another, and no one loved a group of girls more than Jenna loved her team. In return, the girls worshipped the ground on which Jenna walked.

 

(Image source: CheerleadingLT)

 



 

 It was Jenna's senior year and the fall semester had just begun. The team had picked up a few new recruits from the spring tryouts and it looked liked this year, they'd be stronger than ever.  Some of the new freshmen were pretty green, but they had a lot of raw talent. One girl in particular stood out among the rookies. Eliza executed her tumbling and stunting with a precision that couldn't really be taught. Her straight-legged scorpions and over-extended heel-stretches nearly rivaled those of the reigning captain. Some of her teammates even began to jokingly refer to her as the "mini-Jenna," and much like Jenna, she began to gather her own set of worshippers among the rookie set. But Eliza wasn't content being mini-Jenna. Back home, she had been the best of the best - she was not used to coming in second place, and she always seemed to be runner-up whenever Jenna was in the room. Well, thought Eliza, its high time Madame Jenna be knocked down a few pegs. She and her minions devised a plan to do just that.

 

It just so happened that Jenna and Eliza had a class together - one of those gen-ed courses that students save for their senior year to lighten the load of Capstones and 4000-level classes. Jenna made it a point to sit with her teammates whenever they happened to shared a class, especially if that teammate was a  young, frightened freshmen, so the girls were accustomed to sitting next to one another. On exam day, the two sat together as usual, the exams were passed out and time was started. Eliza, who was deviously inclined, wrote a little note at the top of her scantron in light pencil. She nudged Jenna with her elbow and gestured to her paper. The note was simply an inquiry about the exact time for practice later that afternoon. As Jenna looked intently at Eliza's message, Eliza suddenly erased it and shot her hand into the air. The TA happened to pass by just in time to see Jenna apparently studying Eliza's scantron rather intently. Before Jenna even knew what was happening, the TA snatched up Jenna's exam and signaled to the professor. The entire class watched as a very confused Jenna Clare was escorted out of the room.

(Image source: WikiSpaces)

 

 

There was, of course, no for Jenna way to prove to the University Integrity Council that she had been reading a note written by her teammate and not attempting to copy her work especially when Eliza denied profusely ever having written any note. Several of Eliza's minions came forward as well to attest to the good character of their new queen. There was nothing Jenna could do when they cited her for academic misconduct and suspended her for the semester.

 

 The team was devastated by the loss of their beloved captain. The coach was forced to appoint a new captain and despite her lack of seniority, it seemed that Eliza was the best suited for the position. But the team wasn't the same after Jenna's fall from grace. The fact that Eliza and her cohorts had betrayed a teammate created animosity within the group. It seemed there was always a tension in the air and the team's performance began to suffer. In fact, that year, the team placed 6th at UGA Nationals. It was the lowest the team had placed in over a decade.

 

Author's Note: This is a retelling of the story The Death of Osiris from the Ancient Egypt unit. In the original telling, the god Osiris brings about peace, prosperity, and order to a world of chaos during his reign as king, but his throne is usurped by jealous Set. Set and his followers actually kill Osiris in order to gain the throne and after Set ascends to power, the world descends into evil and destruction. I changed the literal death of the leader to a metaphorical death for the purposes of this retelling - getting suspended for academic misconduct would be pretty damaging to one's academic career - so as to not make the story excessively morbid. I used college aged cheerleaders as counterparts to the story of Osiris because the actions taken by Set reminded me of those of jealous, catty women.

 

Bibliography: "The Death of Osiris." Egyptian Myth and Legend. Donald Mackenzie. 1907