"CURRENT EVENTS. Somebody tell me what's going on in the world?" Mr. Matthews asked.

"Stuff happened in some country, some team won a game, and it's cold somewhere with a chance of I don't care." Maya said, "Am I all caught up?"

"Yeah. Your education's complete." Mr. Matthews said, "Anybody who's gonna turn out well got something to say? Lucas."

"All the news is about the elections."

"So are all of the commercials." Thomas said.

"Why should we care about the elections when we don't get to vote?" Riley asked.

"Who else feels that way?" Mr. Matthews asked.

The whole class raised their hands.

"Well, that's a shame, guys, because this worlds gonna belong to you soon." Mr. Matthews said.

"The one you messed up?" Sophia asked.

"Yeah, thanks anyway." Lucas said.

"Oh, so you got problems with this planet you're inheriting?"

"When I read the news, it makes me feel like this isn't even a world I'd want to rule." Farkle said.

Sophia turned to face him, "Wow, Farkle."

"I've never heard you say anything like that before." Riley said.

"I'm a visionary, Riley. I look ahead. You. Me. Mars. Let's do this thing." Farkle said.

"Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
You guys are supposed to be optimistic. Future leaders. You don't get cynical until high school." Mr. Matthews said.

"Why don't you elect people who care enough to make things better?" Lucas asked.

"I like to think I do every time I vote. But the truth is I'm not responsible for the quality of people running for office."

"How are these people even chosen?" Sophia asked.

"Well, the parties choose the best candidates they can come up with." Mr. Matthews said.

Eric came rushing in and out of breath.

"I am running senator of the grape state of New York. And I need your votes."

"Kids don't vote." Riley said.

He panted, "Then uh-oh!"

"Everybody close your books.
It's the end of the world." Mr. Matthews said.

"I'm really dizzy. I've done this in every classroom." Eric said.

After a while he fell on the floor.

Topanga's

"So they plucked me off the street and they hustled me into a limousine like I was fancy." Eric said.

"Who was in the limousine?" Sophia asked.

"The bow tie man with the big glasses. He was a whisperer, right? He was one of these whisperers."

He stood behind Mr. Matthews and Topanga.

"He came up to me he was like, "Eric, you are the only one that has a chance to defeat senator Jefferson Davis Graham in the primary!"" He shouted.

"That's not a whisper, Eric." Mr. Matthews told him.

"I also don't know what a primary is!" Eric shouted.

"The primary is the first election where the voters select each party's candidate." Lucas said.

"Oh, that's wrong." Eric said.

"Then the winners of the primary run against each other in the general election to see who goes to Washington." Farkle said.

"Are you a robot?" Eric asked.

Farkle's voice cracked, "I'm a real boy."

"Birth certificate?" Mr. Matthews asked.

"Still looking."

"Eric, Davis Graham is a six-term senator." Mr. Matthews said.

"Eric, you don't have enough money to run against him." Topanga said.

Eric spoke in third person, "Eric, the bow-tie man said he would help me with all of that."

"Eric, you can't beat this guy." Mr. Matthews told him.

"He's done bad things. People who do bad things shouldn't be in power. I want to beat him." Eric said.

Mr. Matthews faces his wife, "I don't know how he does it, but tell me you're not on his side."

"Not, Eric, you don't even have a campaign team. Who's your team?" She asked.

"Well, that's why I'm here. I want Riley and her friends to run my campaign." Eric said.

"I mean, tell me you're not on his side now." Mr. Matthews said.

"Not. Yet. Eric, they're kids.
Do you really think this is a good idea?" Topanga asked.

A man faced them, "It's a great idea. The senator took money from schools and gave it to his rich friends."

"Why would he do that? Who are you?" Eric asked.

"Because his rich friends are the ones that got him elected. I'm TJ.
TJ Murphy." TJ said.

"So he chose his own future over ours?" Riley asked.

"Beat the bad bad man, Eric." Maya said.

"I'm gonna do my best, Moesha." Eric said.

"How do you know so much about this?" Thomas asked TJ.

"I'm the one that caught him. I have a website called "Thorn in your side." I'm the Thorn." TJ said.

"So letting the kids run Eric's campaign would show that Eric would rather build schools." Topanga said.

"Would show that he cares about our future as much as his." Lucas said.

"What's your deal, man with the ideas?" Eric asked.

"I believe in you. I'd like to help." TJ said.

He walked towards Eric.

"Hmm. I need to have a secret meeting with my team behind closed doors." Eric said.

Eric ran out the door and shut it, "What do you think?"

Sophia sighed, "Clearly, we need all the help we can get."

Eric opened the door and came back inside.

"Welcome abroad, PK." Eric said.

History: Mr. Matthews

"As you are about to see, we've had our share of election surprises." Mr. Matthews said, "But America loves an underdog."

"Matthews, you mind if I stick around for this class?" Harley asked.

"Of course, Harley. You're interested in politics?" Mr. Matthews asked.

"I'm interested in why school budgets are being cut. I'm interested in why they take away art and music." Harley said.

"You like music?" Mr. Matthews asked.

"Without music, I'd do something."

"I know, Harley. I know you would."

Eric walked in.

"Hey, you guys. We don't need to be afraid. We can win this thing.
We just need to remember the wise words of president F. Doctor Oosevelt, who said, "the only thing we have to fear is fear-""

He looked back at Harley.

"Wow! Ha ha! This looks just like Harley Keiner. Oh, Harley Keiner.
Harley Keiner. If I could do my whole life over again, I would give that guy such a what-for. You do.
You look a lot like Harley Keiner.
You got like the whole Harley Keiner head. The Harley Keiner face. It says Harley on your shirt. Oh, this is terrible." Eric said.

"Uncle Eric is running for senator.
Can we count on your vote?" Riley asked.

"I don't know. What are you gonna do for the little guy?" Harley asked.

"I never really thought of you as a little guy, Harley. You know something? I'm sure this school is really well taken care of." Eric said.

He leaned over and kissed Harley on the cheek.

"What are you doing?" Harley asked.

"I'm supposed to." Eric said.

"Babies. You kiss babies, you maroon." Mr. Matthews said.

"Okay, Matthews. You kiss nice. You got my vote."

"All right, well, hey, there's one.
Now how many do we need, robot?" Eric asked Farkle.

"Three million."

"And how many do we have, robot?"

"One."

"Now burn me with your laser eyes."

Farkle sat up in his seat.

"No, don't. Okay, do it. Do it." Eric said.

Farkle sat up some more.

"Let's not. Let's not, let's not.
Okay. Okay, phew. You know, we get along really well, don't we, robot?"

"Yes, because with you around I feel really good about myself. Ha!" Farkle said.

The two of them high-fived.

"Okay, everybody, up here, please.
In the nineteen sixty presidential elections, a young senator from Massachusetts was not expected to beat Richard Nixon, the current vice president. But then they held the very first televised debate.
And John Kennedy, the underdog, became the thirty-fifth president of the United States.
That's how powerful the media is." Mr. Matthews explained.

By the end, Eric had popcorn everywhere.

Topanga's

"Senator Graham." Topanga greeted.

"Topanga Matthews, isn't it? I never forget a face." Senator said, "Especially one that came out against me."

"My law firm opposed the senator's plan to charge admission to parks and recreational areas that were previously free." Topanga said, "A dollar for kids to run around and play, wasn't it, senator?"

"It's all about making money for the state." He said.

"At the expense of our children?"

"Well, we don't have enough money and there are so many children."

"That's enough." A taller man said.

"Okay."

"Eric, is this bow tie, big glasses, whisper man?" Mr. Matthews asked.

"Um, Could you say something?" Eric asked.

"I believe we're here to discuss the finer points of the campaign." The man said.

"This is him." Eric said.

"He works for Graham." Mr. Matthews told him.

"No. He likes me." Eric said.

"Oh, I do like you." The man said, "Who's running your campaign?"

"The children." Eric said.

Senator laughed, "The children. Ha! Interesting."

"Yes, interesting." The man said.

"I thought you'd like that." TJ said.

"Murphy."

"Wolff."

"I'm sorry. You guys know each other?" Eric said.

"Another face that came out against me. This guy's a little instigator who just won't go away." Senator said.

"Three debates." TJ said.

"As many as you want." Senator said.

"One debate." Wolff said.

"One debate."

"We have held this office for three decades. We will dictate all terms." Wolff said.

"I'm sorry. You work for him?" Eric asked.

Wolff smiled, "Sure. Let's go with that."

"But you picked me to run against him. You said I was the only one that had a chance." Eric said.

"That's correct. You are the only one who has a chance to make the senator look good again in the eyes of the public." Wolff said.

The senator walked by, "See you at the debate, kids."

They both left.

"They played me. I'm just supposed to lose." Eric said.

"Supposed to." Sophia said.

Eric walked over.

"Like Kennedy was." Riley said.

"To Nixon." Maya added.

"Yeah, but those guys weren't real! I'm done. I'm going home.
I'm gonna miss you, Scarecrow, Lion, Dorothy, Glinda, Tin Man." Eric said, "Robot. I think I'm gonna miss you most of all."

History: Mr. Matthews

"Current events. Somebody tell me what's going on." Mr. Matthews said.

"We need to stand by each other." Sophia said.

"We should always have parks to play in." Riley said.

"We should always lookout for the little guy." Maya said.

"We should lower the voting age." Lucas said.

"We need to treat this planet better." Thomas said.

"I don't want to go to Mars. I want to rule an earth that has good air and good water. A good earth for our children." Farkle said.

The girls looked over at him.

"Our children?"

"I want eleven. Split 'em up however you want."

"How do you want-" Riley asked.

Maya cut her off, "You get ten and you get two."

"That's twelve." Sophia said.

"So suddenly you guys are involved in your world." Mr. Matthews said.

"It's the only one we've got, isn't it?" Lucas asked.

"That's true."

"So what can do we to make it better?"

"You have the vote." Sophia said.

"Why don't they let us vote?" Thomas asked.

"They don't trust us?" Lucas asked.

"I would vote to make sure everybody takes care of each other. Everybody should have food and shelter and a warm coat for the winter." Riley said.

"I approve that message." Maya said.

"Well, I agree with you girls. And, Lucas, you wanna lower the voting age?" Mr. Matthews asked, "Show us you can be trusted. Find your issue. Find your passion. Because we don't have enough. In the last election, the voter turnout was the lowest in our history. Change that. Teach us to care."

"Well, how do we do that if we can't vote?" Lucas asked.

"Find somebody you know who can." Mr. Matthews said.

"Our parents?" Thomas asked.

"Yeah, your parents. And we'll listen to you. You know why?" Mr. Matthews asked.

"You love us." Riley said.

"Yeah, we do. You guys live in an age where you can send your message with just one click. The media is even more powerful now. So have a message." Mr. Matthews said.

Matthews Residents

Maya was pouring cereal into a bowl while Riley and Sophia had chocolate syrup and milk in their hands.

The three walked over to Eric.

"Uncle Eric, it's Riley. You've been sleeping here all day."

"I'm sad."

"Eric, it's Moesha. We need you." Maya said.

"So sad."

Sophia bent down, "Did the big bad political men scare you?"

"They made me sad."

"Well, get up. We need a voice!" Maya shouted.

"No, not getting up. And there is nothing you could do that's gonna make me possibly get oh! Oh."

He opened his eyes to see the bowl of cereal.

"That's just a big chocolatey bowl of goodness, isn't it?" He asked.

"Get back in the race you can put this in your face." Maya sang.

"No. I will not be bought by you're catchy jingle."

"Get back in the race you can put this in your face." Riley and Sophia sang.

He sat up, "Oh, now it's gonna be stuck in my head all day your mind witches. Gimme that."

Sophia and Riley hand him the chocolate syrup and the milk.

He swished the two in his mouth, "Oh, that's the stuff."

"So you're in?" Sophia asked.

"Hold."

"Hold."

"Hand."

Maya passed him the spoon, "I won't be needing that."

He dunked his whole head inside the bowl.

"You know, they set us up to lose, Sophia." Eric said

"You know my name?" Sophia asked.

"Of course I know your name. I like you very much." He said.

"Then help me grow up in a better world." Sophia said.

"How?" He asked.

"Win." Riley said.

"You think we can?"

"Yeah, I do." Riley said.

"Why?"

"Because we completely believe in the impossible." Maya said.

"We believe that we can change the world." Sophia said.

"Why?"

"Because we're kids." Maya said.

"Isn't that why you wanted our help?" Riley asked.

Eric handed Riley the bowl of cereal.

"Okay." She said dunking her head into the bowl.

"That's my niche." Eric said.

John Quincy Adams Middle School Debate

"Okay. First question to Senator Graham. Please identify yourself." Mr. Matthews said.

"Thank you." Harley said getting up, "Harley Keiner, head custodian. I'm proud of my school and the environment I help create for my kids."

They clapped for him.

"Aw, really? Thank you, my kids." He said, "My question is, what are you gonna do for the little guy?"

"I have never believed there are little guys. I've always believed that all voters are equal in stature." Senator said.

"I already don't believe you." Harley said.

"What about non-voters?" Lucas asked.

"This election isn't about them. They'll have elections of their own soon enough." Senator said.

"Lucas, you're not allowed to interrupt. The senator has one minute." Matthews said.

"Thank you."

Mr. Matthews hit the button, "Time."

"Mayor Matthews, your response?" Mr. Matthews asked.

"Of course this election is about them. Every election is about them. We have children and we make our whole lives about them." Eric said.

"I'm sorry. Hold on a minute.
Did you just say you had children? Because you don't actually have any children of your own, do you, Matthews?" Senator asked.

"No, I don't. I have a niche and her brother who's my cousin Auggie!" Eric shouted.

"I have come here to this fine school to stand in front of you children, even though you do not vote, because you're too young to understand what's important in this world." Senator said.

"Well, we understand that we want our chance to get to live in it." Farkle said.

He stood up, Lucas followed after.

"And that's what should be enough to lower the voting age so we can get a chance to vote against people like you."

"To vote for whom? Him? This man-child who doesn't even have experience in his biggest issue? He has not raised children.
Convince me you have a right to lead them, and I will concede the future to you and to them." Senator said.

"You're right. I don't have the experience that you have, but you've been doing this for a very long time, senator, and we don't see anything getting any better.
And, no, I don't have kids yet, but I care about them very much." Eric said.

"But you can't prove it."

"But I can." TJ said.

"Excuse me?" Senator asked.

"My name is TJ Murphy.
Thomas Jonathan Murphy.
Eric Matthews knew me once as-" TJ said.

"Tommy?" Eric asked.

"Hi, Eric. The best thing Eric ever did for me was one of the hardest decisions he had to make.
He gave me up to a wonderful family that raised me, but I've never forgotten what I learned from Eric, either. Kindness, honesty, and more respect for human beings than I've ever known anyone else to have.
Eric Matthews sacrificed himself for the future of a child. You sacrificed the future of children for yourself, senator."

Everyone had their phones out recording.

Except for Farkle, who had multiple devices.

TJ stood up, "Is there really any choice here?"

"Man. Look at you. You grew up to be a really good person." Eric said.

"Yeah, I learned from some really good people." He said.

The two of them hugged.

"And now you may applaud."

Everyone applauded.

"Well, maybe we don't have a vote, Lucas, and Thomas." Sophia said.

"Did you just call me Thomas?" He asked.

"I've always known your name.
I like us all very much." Sophia said.

"Maybe we do have a voice." Farkle said.

"So, what do you want to say, robot?" Riley asked.

"You. Me. Earth. Let's do this thing." Farkle said.

Matthews Residents

"Eric, what's the first thing you're going to do if you win?" Lucas asked.

"I'm going to adopt Tommy." He said.

"Can't. But you can hire me. I'd like to keep being part of the campaign if it's okay with you?" Tommy asked.

"I was hoping you'd say that." Eric said.

Mr. Matthews and Topanga walk into the room with suitcases.

Riley stood up, "Guys, did you hear? Uncle Eric could win. He could be one of our country's leaders."

"Yeah, we know." Mr. Matthews said.

"So where you going?" Riley asked.

"Far."

"Far far away."

"As far as we can go."

"Good luck to you."

"Bye."

And they ran out the door. O'clock

Word Count:3068

Updated on: November 6th, 2018

Hey so here's the thing it takes me longer to type chapters because one I'm doing on my phone and two I have to type more than a 1000+ words when I can't find the script for the episode

Anyway have a goodnight/morning and I'll see ya later