It was the 2,070th time I said it. Those words I knew by rote. I had said them every weekday of my childhood. It was compulsory, I had never thought twice about that and why should today, my last first day of a new semester be any different.

My hand was laxly resting over my heart as the words stumbled out. It was right at “indivisible, with liberty…” that I heard Mrs. Strong clear here throat and questioned, “Ms. Parker, Do we have a problem?”

The room fell silent as we all turned to see the “new girl” standing resolute with her hands clamped to her sides and her mouth clenched shut. “Ms. Parker!” Mrs. Strong demanded.

“With all due respect, Ma’am, I maintain the right to refuse to pledge my worship to anyone other than God himself.”

“Excuse me.” Mrs. Strong looked like she was about to burst a vein in her head, “Pledging Allegiance is not an option, young lady.”

“I’m sorry, but I won’t.”

“Well then explain that to the authorities,” my usually nonchalant teacher threatened as she picked up her phone.