A Picture’s Worth...
“Hey everybody,” announced Candy Jackson, as she hefted a large box to the tabletop, “The T-shirts are in!” The small crowd of volunteers quickly gathered around the box as Candy unpacked the shirts and handed them out. There were shirts of all sizes, and even a few kids’ sizes. Frank Sawyer had promised to bring his twins, and Candy’s own son, Rayquan, was joining the rally as part of his middle school research project.
“Should we wear the shirts on the bus, or put them on when we get there?” Billy Babcock was a recent hire, but he’d come from another union that apparently, hadn’t been very politically engaged.
“I’m putting mine on now!” shouted Lucius Manning.
“Ever the activist, AND a clothes horse!” teased Candy.
“I want Albany to see me coming from far, far away!” Lucius said. “Let's all put them on now.” He waved his hands over his heads, encouraging the others to put on their T-shirts before they boarded the bus. In a matter of a minute or two, the two dozen members were transformed from a mismatched and still yawning crowd into a brightly colored and energized team. Candy knew that when they reached Albany they would be joining thousands of others in similar attire.
Candy picked up her camera and signaled to the volunteers to gather by the side of the bus for a picture. After a few smiling grumbles, everybody had assembled, and Candy raised her camera.
“Wait, Candy. You can’t leave yourself out!” Lucius yelled.
“Yeah,” said Billy Babcock, laughing, “You got me into this, Candy. If there’s going to be photographic evidence, you’ve got to be a part of it.”
The bus driver was quickly recruited to take the picture, as Candy crowded in among the others. “OK, on three,” started the bus driver. “One! Two! Three! Say—“
“PEF!” shouted the members.
