Volume 2: Knocking on Heaven's Door Chapter 67 Returning to China
"I can't believe that my subordinates didn't come to the hotel to hold a farewell ceremony." Dennis packed his bags and said to Tommy beside him with some disappointment.
Outside the hotel, there were only a few scattered local black people looking at them, and some American tourists attracted by the TV program, who kept pressing the shutter button at these high school students who had appeared on TV before.
It was not until they arrived at the airport and were about to board the plane to bid farewell to the country that they saw a team of policemen in neat uniforms and marching in neat lines on both sides of the aisle. The simple aisle was also covered with a rare red carpet, a symbol of solemnity.
This country once went crazy with them, watching their willful governor, prime minister, interior minister, defense minister, police chief and other officials standing in front of the plane, wearing the most formal clothes they could wear, and looking seriously at these high school students who were preparing to return home.
The high school students looked at each other, and Governor Allen Lewis spoke slowly:
"Thank you, young leaders from the United States. I and our officials are here not to say goodbye to you hypocritically. We are here to tell you that 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 our own incompetence and cowardice, to ignore those hypocritical compliments, to have our dignity shattered again and again in the ridicule and humiliation, but to glue it together again and again until it becomes stronger and stronger. Saint Vincent and Grenada will not let you down for everything you have done for it. 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 spare time in the future to see it and witness its changes. At any time, you are the most distinguished guests of this country. Your names and this summer will be recorded in the history of St. Vincent. They are the best memories of us and you. We have decided to seal this memory. St. Vincent will no longer hold such activities in the future. We must strive like a real, vibrant and hardworking country, instead of continuing to sensationalize with absurdity and role-playing. I don’t think you want to see this country really become a clown.”
“Perhaps 20 million is just a small sum that is not worth mentioning to you young people who may be worth hundreds of millions in the future, but it is the most important nutrient for this country to usher in a new life. We will build hospitals, schools, and libraries and cherish this hard-earned money. Finally, Governor St. Vincent and all members of the new cabinet would like to thank all the former cabinet members for everything they have done for this country. Thank you all.” After the 70-year-old governor finished speaking, he and the officials around him bowed seriously to these high school students.
"Oops, I forgot to prepare a speech." David muttered softly, and then said to Tommy beside him: "Leave it to you, Tommy, let us, the leaders who have left office, not sound like clowns."
After hearing David's words and seeing that the other high school students had no intention of speaking but were looking at him, Tommy took a deep breath and took a step forward:
"For high school students like us, there seem to be many ways to grow up. Maybe a friend's comfort, a breakup, or just you and your friends finding a way to get a bottle of whiskey and get drunk like a fool, which can make you feel that you have grown up afterwards. But this summer camp is different, at least it is very different for me. It made me understand that real growth is self-knowledge and self-reflection. Every time I make a decision, I keep reminding myself that I am not a real leader, but a clown who comes here to gain honor. Time and time again, I use difficult and embarrassing self-reflection to strengthen my heart, so that I and my companions around me understand that maybe we are not the real leaders of a country. After returning home, we may continue to repeat boring and dull lives, but I, each of us, at least know one thing, that is, we will not become clowns of fate for the rest of our lives."
“I am very happy and honored to learn to grow up in St. Vincent. Please allow me and my companions to pay tribute to this country and everyone who accompanies us in playing with willfulness.”
One by one, high school students, carrying their bags, shook hands with Prime Minister Maduf and others, and then boarded the plane. Tommy was the last one in line. The Governor General shook Tommy's hand and said with a childish smile, "Give him my regards in person."
"Who?" Tommy asked puzzled.
The Governor-General blinked: "Someone who will be as grateful to you as I am."
…
Throughout the voyage, Tommy Hawke hadn't figured out who the Governor was talking about.
The schedule at Lincoln High School was much more boring than that at St. Vincent. The regular summer camp process, visits, trial classes, lectures by university professors and other arrangements quickly made the high school students realize the boring reality. Compared with the boring courses at this time, the previous life at St. Vincent was like a dream.
For example, Gavin Rad, a professor at the School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, delivered a keynote speech on "Innovation for Successful Societies" at the summer summit. If it weren't for the fact that their parents needed to add an extra line to their resumes, the high school students in the audience would have been instigated by Dennis to study how to watch porn movies for free on the school TV.
Even though Gavin Rudd had been as straightforward as possible, even citing their experience at St. Vincent to explain issues such as public sector reform, urban management, and decentralization, it was obvious that these topics were too obscure for high school students. When they were in office, they had never considered the issues that Professor Gavin Rudd mentioned. The main reason they were willing to do those things was entirely out of the enthusiasm and passion of high school students.
The summer camp, which only had four days left at Lincoln High School, finally ended. The ten members of the CSLS committee saw off the other summer campers and then looked at each other.
"CSLS is about to welcome a new group of asshole committee members to take over, right?" Kevin was the first to speak and said to Tommy with a smile: "It's like you found us from the first period, and were suddenly selected."
Tommy held a cigarette in his mouth and looked at the bus that was getting farther and farther away. "I have already applied to the school. The school will arrange for other people to take over the second phase and other subsequent summer camp activities. I have already got what I wanted. I have other social activities scheduled in the future. CSLS will still exist in the future, but the student committee will probably not appear again, just like the simulated life at St. Vincent. It will not reappear."
"It's a pity that those high school students can't experience the most exciting summer camp activities." Although Catherine said regretfully, her face was full of smiles.
Tommy looked at Catherine. "Your regret doesn't seem to be obvious, Your Majesty."
"If everyone can experience it, how can I show off my uniqueness?" Catherine said proudly, "I have participated in it, and they can only envy it for the rest of their lives, which makes me feel even happier."
"Man, if you and Stephen apply for film and television majors now, I guarantee that no prestigious school will reject you. Being the co-producer of the most popular show on Nickelodeon is a real qualification." David Schaeffer let out a depressed sigh. "When I think about going back to Georgia and continuing to live a poor life, I can't help but want to go back to St. Vincent. Casinos, offshore banks, hemp... There are countless opportunities to make money in that country, but in the end I can only continue to ask black classmates to help me steal books from the library."
Stephen lit a cigarette. "It's a pleasure to spend this pleasant summer with you all, even though I was like a fool most of the time, acting as Frank's personal nanny."
Several people laughed when they heard his words. Although Frank was an excellent wrestler, he had very poor self-care ability, which was completely opposite to Steve, who had lived in a boarding school since he was a child. During this period, it was Steve who taught Frank how to take care of himself in life.
"I think some of us will become writers in the future, some will engage in film art, and then record and film this summer in its entirety." Tommy Hawke looked at a few people and said:
"Before that day comes, all of us have to live happily, fall in love, get married, have children, and then when they reach our age, let them replace us and recreate this summer on the screen, and we will sit down with popcorn, watch their performance and laugh out loud."
Several people laughed, and Chris nodded: "That's a good suggestion. It would be even better if the premiere was moved to St. Vincent."
"I have a question." Dennis raised his hand, attracting everyone's attention. "What if Catherine marries me? It feels weird for our two children to play us in the emotional drama."
Katherine turned her head away and said with disdain: "Do you think I could possibly marry you? I would rather marry Pam Marvel than you. At least Pam knows how to help connect the wires when the power goes out."
"Katherine, I have Carly, and she will come to Lincoln High School next year." Pam looked at Katherine and said seriously, "I understand your desire to date an outstanding boy, but I don't have much time to give you."
Catherine made a vomiting motion and everyone laughed.
"How about we do one last bad thing?" After laughing, Zoe looked at the others and said, "Let's get a small tattoo, a unique pattern for the ten of us, to commemorate the unique CSLS and the unique summer."
The ten high school students looked at each other and walked out of Lincoln High School in the summer sunshine.
