A Cowgirl's Story

1

Hello, dusty.

Oh, here she is.

Hi.

Welcome to Jefferson high.

Thank you.

Let me show you around.

This way.

So homeroom starts

promptly at 7:
30.

You get two 10-minute breaks

at 11 and 1:
45.

And here is your locker.

And this is the combination

for the lock.

Nice boots.

Not.

It's a friendly bunch.

Just give them some time.

It's a good school.

Come on.

Samuel Langhorne Clemens?

Well, maybe you've heard

of mark twain.

I'm sure you've heard of him.

Hi, Mr. Murphy.

This is our new student, dusty.

Howdy, sir.

Um, class?

This is dusty.

Hi.

All right, why don't you take

a seat in this row right here?

Yeah.

Yeehaw!

Ride 'em, cowgirl!

Whoever said that,

try to act your age

and not your IQ.

Okay, back to

the adventures of tom Sawyer.

Sugar?

Sugar.

Here you are, sugar.

Thank you.

How about a plate?

In this cupboard right here.

And don't worry,

you'll get the hang of it.

Thank you.

And thank you for letting

me and dad stay here.

Are you kidding me?

It's a dream come true

having you stationed here

in my home base.

You want some?

Well, we're indebted

to you, dad. You know that.

Oh, will you be quiet?

We've always been there

for each other,

and we always will be.

Honey, are you gonna be

comfortable in that room?

Oh, yeah. It's perfect.

Thank you.

Now, you can decorate it

any way you want.

I've got your dad's old bug

and spider collection.

We can put it on the wall

if you like.

I'm good.

Yeah. Thank you, though.

Okay.

Okay, don't take it all.

Hey, incoming.

Hey, cowgirl!

Where's your horse?

Maybe she doesn't have a horse.

Oh, she has a horse.

Yes, sir.

That's right, sir.

My team is ready.

When you give me the word,

I can travel in one hour.

Yes, sir.

Who was that?

Lieutenant Bryant.

What'd he want?

Just for me to be ready.

Why do both of my parents

have to be in the army?

That's how we met.

No army, no dusty.

I was at an officers' dance

with my buddies,

and I looked up

this long staircase.

And there you saw the most

beautiful woman at the dance

with the most beautiful legs

this side

of the Mississippi river.

Have I told you

this story before?

Once or twice.

She was beautiful,

but I could tell

that she was also tough.

And we just have to remember

that while she's deployed

that she is one tough lady

who can take care of herself.

I know that.

But, dad, I just...

I can't stop feeling

so helpless, you know?

Like there's nothing

that I can do.

Maybe there is something

you can do.

Would you like to donate?

Support our troops?

No, thanks.

This a great idea.

Thanks so much for doing this.

Thank you.

You are going to be

our first donation of the day.

Excellent.

Good luck.

Thanks.

Would you guys like

to support our troops?

Um, what are you doing?

Raising money to buy things

for our troops overseas.

Why?

Because it means a lot

to a soldier

to receive a package...

Books, cookies,

anything to remind them

that they aren't alone.

Seems to me like

a lot of people don't even know

there's a war going on

right now.

Yeah.

My father,

he used to be a ranger.

Wait, really?

My dad, he's a ranger too.

Really?

Yeah, my mom,

she's an army helicopter pilot.

She's in Afghanistan right now.

I'm dusty Rhodes.

Dusty Rhodes?

My parents have a very

questionable sense of humor.

I like it.

I'm Savanah Stocker.

I like that too.

Thanks.

I... my friends

are waiting for me.

Yeah.

Hey.

Rangers lead the way?

All the way.

See ya.

Bye, Savanah.

We were walking

across the grass,

and it was just lying there.

So we picked it up

and we brought it in school,

and that's when you found us.

You expect me to believe

this bottle doesn't

belong to you?

This is the third time, Savanah,

and you know suspension

is the next step.

I've tried to go easy on you

because of the loss

of your father.

I-I just can't ignore

your behavior anymore.

You are so smart and so pretty,

and you're just

throwing it all away.

It's mine.

I asked Savanah

to hold it for me.

Yours?

Yes, ma'am.

Yeah. Ahem.

It's hers.

I was going to tell you.

Well, Ms. Rhodes,

I don't know

about where you come from,

but here,

it is illegal

for a minor to drink alcohol,

and it certainly

doesn't belong on campus.

I was just...

Feeling the pressure

of being new to school.

And, um...

It won't happen again.

Because you're new

and because

your mother is overseas,

I will give you

a one-time pass.

Thank you.

Why'd you do that?

Savanah, I'm...

I'm really sorry about your dad.

I don't need you or anyone else

feeling sorry for me.

Got it?

This is not my day.

You need some help?

Uh... no.

Yes.

Heh, heh.

Thank you.

You know, you didn't have to do

what you did for Savanah.

Oh, yeah, no, I don't know

what I was thinking.

I must have had a brain freeze.

I'm Trevor.

Oh, dusty.

So, uh, how are you liking

Jefferson high so far?

Well...

It is definitely better

than being eaten by cannibals.

Everything's relative, right?

I reckon so.

Well, um,

I will see you in class.

Yes, you will.

Thanks for the help.

Yeah.

Guys, this report

is a big deal, okay?

This is 20 percent

of your grade.

I don't have...

I don't know who you guys

are gonna choose yet.

Do you know

who you're gonna choose?

Do you know

who you're gonna choose?

My pen's not working.

You have two weeks left.

Here.

All right? I don't even know

what's going on here.

What about you?

Take it.

On the road by Kerouac.

There's many books you can do.

Thank you.

All right? Just choose one.

Oh, hey, dusty Rhodes,

why don't you sit with us?

Thanks.

Guys, this is dusty Rhodes.

Meryl, Cinda, Dale,

and that's Trevor.

Hello again.

Hi.

Like your costume.

I like your costume.

It's not a costume.

It's my... it's my shirt.

Mine too.

Don't mind Dale.

His mom dropped him on his head

when he was a baby.

Multiple times.

It's not funny.

Okay.

Look, we're all pretty nice

once you get to know us.

Not that that's going to happen.

Wouldn't expect it to.

Why are you here?

Savanah just invited me

to sit here.

No. Like, why are you here

at Jefferson high?

My father was reassigned.

Well, a little advice?

Please.

If you want to fit in

around here,

you might want to lose

the whole... Cowgirl thing.

Oh. Well, thank you

for that advice, Meryl,

but, you see,

I actually like the way I am.

And I definitely don't want

to fit in if fitting in

means being a sniveling,

insecure sheep, so...

Baa! Would you like

some ice with that burn?

I like him.

I guess I'll take this to go.

Thank you.

Later, cowgirl.

Trevor.

Is she saying that I'm

a sniveling, insecure sheep?

No. No, really...

Yeah, I didn't get that.

At all.

Okay.

Okay.

Spill the secret.

Is there any city Wi-Fi?

No, no, no.

Around here, we still do it

the old-fashioned way.

Our communication?

Face-to-face.

Goody.

You still worried

about your mom?

I always am.

Honey, she's gonna be okay.

God is watching over Helen.

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