Aragon, GA - Nuts, nuts, nuts. One small, four letter word that has taken over the quiet town of Aragon. Located just a little over an hour outside Atlanta, the folks of Aragon typically get along quite well. With a population barely reaching the millennium mark, the simple folks of this rural Georgia town find ways to get along. That is until now.
A young white female, by the name of Emily Stone, 4th grade, has begun to turn heads in this predominately black town. It was just last week when little Emily did the unimaginable, used crunchy peanut butter on her peanut butter and jelly sandwich. “Emily usually sits at the table behind me. She usually sits by herself because she uses strawberry jelly and we all use grape. It always kind of annoyed us, but wasn’t that big of a deal. But last week when she took out her sandwich I knew something was wrong.” Proclaimed Lashawnda, one of Emily’s peers. It appeared that the use of an unauthorized peanut butter had been used by Emily.
According the AESG (Aragon Elementary School Guidelines) it clearly states in article 7 section 110 that “the use of unapproved peanut butter, i.e. crunchy, will not be acceptable and punishable by expulsion.” This guideline has been in place for the town of Aragon every since the great peanut butter disaster of 1934. Since that day there haven’t been any problems. But now, almost 70 years later, Emily’s mother, Terry, wants change. “I think my daughter deserves to have whatever type of peanut butter she wants. She likes that Flyin’ Peter boys crunchy, so I bought her that Flyin’ Peter boys crunchy.” She said, in reference to the Peter Pan brand of peanut butter.
Protest have been going on all week to make sure Emily doesn’t come back to school with crunchy peanut butter. Mercedes, mother of Lashawnda, is the head mother in charge of having Emily banned from school. “I just can not believe what that little white girl did. I mean, who uses crunchy peanut butter? Everyone knows creamy is the right kind to use. Damn whole family is crazy.” Mercedes promises she will rest at nothing to make sure her daughter can eat lunch in a crunchy free environment.
The school PTO board has been debating non stop after initially having Emily immediately sent home from school, and suspended, following the incident last Thursday right before recess. The family and few friends of Emily think that she should not be discriminated against because of the type of peanut butter she uses. Team Emily, as it is now being called, says that the AESG has to be changed and that the rule is simply out of date.
As for now the debate continues. The school board hasn’t changed the AESG for over two decades and it is not looking good for Emily. “Emily is a fool if she thinks the board will change the guidelines just for her, a big fool.” Lashawnda added. A hearing, entitled Crunchy vs. Creamy, has been scheduled that will ultimately decide the fate of little Emily Stone and her peanut butter sandwich. The hearing is scheduled for April 1st, 2011. Needless to say this April 1st, Emily won’t want to be that fool.
-Brett Miller
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