The Panel

On January thirtieth, one day before the deadline, the class carried the petition into City Hall in two cardboard boxes that had once held frozen French fries.

One thousand and eighty-six signatures. Every address in the ward. Grace had checked each one twice, at night, with a highlighter and a map.

The clerk, a young man with a very tidy desk, looked at the boxes, then at the six of them, then at Dolores, who had come in her work apron because she had come straight from work.

"This is the goat petition," he said. It was not a question.

"Yes," said Grace.

"My kids watched that video about forty times." He took the boxes. "We'll go over the addresses this week. The valid ones go into the report for the public hearing on February eighteenth. You'll get an email."

The email came four days later. Petition received: 1,071 valid signatures. Included in the report to council. Public hearing: February 18, 6 p.m., Council Chamber. Residents wishing to speak must register by February 9.