Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Darlene
Joyce “DJ” Schwenk is a cow. At least that’s what Brian Nelson,
quarterback from the rival high school football team, just called her. It’s not
because of her looks… although she is built like rest of the Schwenk kids; big
and strong. It’s not because she’s lazy… just the opposite, she been running
the Schwenk dairy farm by herself since her father had to have hip surgery. And
it’s not because she’s dumb; although she’s nearly flunking out of English
because of all the work, she certainly knows about dairy farming and, of
course, football. Everybody in Red Bend, Wisconsin basically breathes football.
Her father even names the cows after football players. And of course growing up
with two older brothers, Bill and Wes, who are practically football legends for
Red Bend doesn't hurt either. No, Brian just called DJ a cow because she does
what she’s told and doesn't speak up for herself. OK, Brian’s got her on that
one. No one in the Schwenk family speaks up for themselves. Heck, younger
brother Curtis hardly speaks at all. Her older brothers, Bill and Wes, haven’t
called since they took off to college after the fight with their dad; that was
seven months ago. DJ hardly sees her mom since she became teacher and acting
principal of Red Bend High school. As Brian says, “When you don’t talk, there’s
a lot of stuff that ends up not getting said.” DJ has given up playing sports
to run the farm and she’s exhausted plus she’s just been asked to be the
personal trainer for whiny, spoiled, rich Hawley football quarterback Brian
Nelson for the summer. But does she say anything about it? Nope. She just does
what she’s told, just like the cows.
DJ soon finds out that she likes training
for football with Brian, she likes talking with Brian… she likes talking (and
she likes Brian too). DJ finds her voice and figures out what will may her
happy; playing football for the Red Bend High School football team! What will
the football team say
about that? What
will her family say? What
will
Brian say?
She’s certainly not
acting like a cow now! Read Dairy Queen; an amazing, empowering and utterly enjoyable story about
finding your passions and learning to find your voice.
