Chapter Twenty-Eight: Returning Home
"I can't believe that my subordinates didn't come to the hotel for a farewell ceremony." Dennis packed his bags and said to Tommy next to him with some loss.
Outside the hotel, there were only a few scattered black local people watching them, and then a few American tourists attracted by the TV show, constantly pressing the shutter at the high school students who had appeared on the television.
It wasn't until they arrived at the airport and were about to board the plane to say goodbye to the country that they saw a team of uniformed and well-drilled police officers lined up on both sides of the passage early, and the humble passage was also covered with a rare red carpet symbolizing grandeur.
This country has accompanied them to go crazy, watching their wayward governor, prime minister, home secretary, defense secretary, police chief, and so on, standing in front of the plane, wearing the most solemn clothes they can wear, and looking at these high school students who are preparing to return home with serious expressions.
The high school students looked at each other, and Governor Alan Lewis spoke slowly:
"Thank you, young leaders from the United States, me and the officials of my country, for appearing here at this moment, not to say a simple goodbye to you hypocritically, but to be here to tell you very seriously, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts, because you have given this country a chance to grow again, yes, growth, the so-called growth is to face up to your own incompetence and cowardice, to ignore those hypocritical praises, to be crushed in ridicule and humiliation again and again. But glue it together again and again until it gets harder and harder each time, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines will live up to all that you have done for it, and we will use this growth to regain our life. ”
"At the same time, we also hope that all former cabinet officials will come to this country in their leisure time in the future to see it again and witness its changes, at all times, you will be the most honored guests of this country, your name and this summer will be recorded in the history of St. Vincent, it is our best memory and that we have decided to seal this memory, St. Vincent will not open this kind of activity in the future, we will fight like a real, full of life and continuous efforts, Rather than using absurdity and role-playing to continue to sensationalize, I don't think you want to see this country really become a clown. ”
"Maybe 20 million is a small amount for all of you, perhaps the billions of young people in the future, but it is the most important nourishment for the rebirth of this country, we will build hospitals, schools, libraries, cherish this hard-won funding, and finally, the Governor of St. Vincent and all the members of the new Cabinet, thank you for all that the former Cabinet has done for this country, thank you." After the seventy-year-old governor finished speaking, he took the officials around him and bowed to these high school students seriously.
"Oops, I forgot to prepare my speech." David muttered something under his breath, and then said to Tommy beside him, "Leave it to you, Tommy, so that our departing leaders don't sound like clowns." ”
Hearing David's words, and seeing that the other high school students had no intention of opening their mouths, but looked at themselves, Tommy took a deep breath and stepped forward slightly:
"For us high school students, there seem to be many ways to grow up, maybe a comfort from a friend, maybe a broken love, or just you and your peers trying to get a bottle of whiskey and get drunk and become a fool, all of which can make you feel grown afterwards, but this summer camp is different, at least very different for me, it makes me understand that real growth is self-knowledge and introspection, and every time I make a certain decision, I keep reminding myself that I'm not a real leader, but a clown who came here to get honor, Again and again, I used difficult and embarrassing self-examination again and again to strengthen my heart, so that I and these companions around me understood that maybe we are not the leaders of a country in the true sense, and we may continue to repeat the boring and dull life after we return home, but I, each of us, know at least one thing, that is, we will not become clowns of fate for the rest of our lives. ”
"It is a pleasure and an honour to be able to truly grow at St. Vincent's Academy, and allow me and my companions to pay tribute to this country and to all of you who accompany us in our wayward play."
One after another, high school students shook hands with Prime Minister Marduff and others with their bags on their backs, and then boarded the plane, Tommy was the last in line, and the Governor General held Tommy's hand, and smiled in a childish low voice: "Say hello to him in person for me." ”
"Who?" Tommy asked, puzzled.
Lord Doge blinked: "Someone who will be as grateful to you as I am." ”
……
During the entire voyage, Tommy Hawke did not figure out who the Governor was talking about.
The itinerary of Lincoln High School is much more boring than that of St. Vincent, and the regular summer camp process, visits, trial classes, lectures by university professors, etc., quickly make high school students realize the boring reality, compared with the boring classes at this time, the life in St. Vincent before was simply like a dream.
For example, Gavin Ladd, a professor at Princeton University's School of Public and International Affairs, delivered a keynote speech on "Innovation in a Successful Society" on the summer summit on stage.
Even though Gavin Ladd has been as straightforward as possible, even citing their experience in St. Vincent to explain public sector reform, city management, decentralization, etc., it is clear that these topics are too obscure for high school students, who do not consider the problems of Professor Gavin Ladd at all, and the main reason they are willing to do those things is purely due to the enthusiasm and passion of high school students.
With only four days of summer camp at Lincoln High School finally over, the ten members of the CSLS committee sent off the other camp cadets and then looked at each other.
"CSLS is about to have a new group of asshole commissioners take over, right?" Kevin was the first to smile at Tommy and said, "It's like you found us in the first installment, and you were picked out out of the blue." ”
Tommy took a cigarette in his mouth and looked at the bus farther and farther away: "I have applied to the school, the second phase and other follow-up summer camp activities, the school will arrange for others to take over, what I want, I have already gotten it, I have other social activities arranged in the future, CSLS will exist in the future, but the committee composed of students should not appear again, just like St. Vincent's simulated life, it will not reappear." ”
"It's a shame that those high school students can't experience the best summer camp activities." Although Catherine said regret in her mouth, her face was like a flower.
Tommy looked at Catherine, "Your expression of regret doesn't look obvious, Queen. ”
"If everyone can experience it, how can I show off my difference?" Catherine said proudly: "I have participated, and they can only be envied for the rest of their lives, which makes me feel even more happy." ”
"Man, you and Stephen are now applying for film and television majors, and I guarantee that no prestigious school will refuse, co-producers of Nickelodeon's hottest shows, this is a real qualification." David Schaeffer exhaled depressedly: "As soon as I think of going back to Georgia and continuing to live the life of a poor ghost, I can't help but want to go back to St. Vincent, casinos, offshore banks, hemp grass...... There were countless opportunities to make money in that country, but in the end, I had to keep getting black classmates to help me steal books from the library. ”
Stephen lit a cigarette, "It's been a pleasure to spend this summer with all of you, although most of the time I'm acting like a fool and acting as Frank's personal babysitter." ”
Several people laughed when they heard his words, although Frank is excellent at wrestling, but his self-care ability is extremely poor, which is completely opposite to Steve, who has lived in boarding school since he was a child, and it was Steve who reminded Frank how to take care of himself in life during this time.
"I think there will be some of us who will become writers in the future, and some of us will engage in film art, and then record and shoot this summer in its entirety." Tommy Hawke looked at a few people and said:
"Until that day comes, we all have to live happily, fall in love, get married, have children, and then when they reach the age we are now, let them take our place and recreate this summer on the screen, and we'll sit down and watch them perform with popcorn in hand, and laugh out loud."
Several people laughed, and Chris nodded: "That's a good idea, it would be even better if the premiere was changed to St. Vincent"
"I have a question." Dennis raised his hand and caught everyone's eyes: "What if Catherine marries me, I mean?" It always feels weird that our two kids play us as emotional dramas. ”
Catherine turned her head and said disgustedly, "Do you think I might marry you?" I wouldn't marry you even if I married Pam Marwel, at least Pam knows how to help with the wiring when the power goes out. ”
"Katherine, I've got Carly, she's coming to Lincoln High School next year." Pam looked at Catherine and said seriously, "I understand how you want to be in a good relationship, but I don't have much time to give you. ”
Catherine made a vomiting motion, and everyone laughed.
"How about we do the last bad thing?" After laughing, Zoe looked at a few people: "Let's go and tattoo a small pattern, a pattern that belongs to the ten of us, to commemorate the unique CSLS, to commemorate the unique summer." ”
Ten high school students looked at each other and walked out of Lincoln High School in the summer sun.