Someone complained.
Someone else worried about money.
A retired teacher asked about youth ticket prices.
Mr. Alvarez asked about union staffing.
Mara asked whether local artists would still receive discounted rehearsal access.
I listened.
Then Harlan looked at me.
“The stewardship trustee has final approval on community-use provisions.”
Everyone turned.
A week earlier, that would have terrified me.
People with titles.
People with money.
People who knew what EBITDA meant without secretly searching it on their phone.
Then I thought of my mother.
Twenty-two.
Working two jobs.
Writing an angry letter because theater tickets cost too much.
Maybe courage was not knowing everything.
Maybe it was knowing which questions you refused to stop asking.
“I have four conditions,” I said.
Harlan nodded.
“Go ahead.”
“Community programming gets guaranteed hours every month. Not ‘when available.’ Guaranteed.”
Someone began writing.
“Second, youth ticket pricing is protected for at least five years.”
Another note.
