What if?

Chapter 31: First day of School

Michael

We are now in front of the school's gate. We just got out of the car and Janice still had not closed the door of the car. "Janice, close the door please." The driver said. "Sorry. Thank you, drive safely." Janice said to the driver. The driver then gave back a nod and started the car. "Wow! He is really fast." Janice said. "He is fast when he drives but you still feel so safe whenever he is the driver." Nick said to Janice while looking up. 

Basically, Janice is taller than us so it is really necessary for us to look up to Janice. "Let's go inside." I said to Nick and Janice. "Wait, let me check the time." Nick said to me and checked his watch. "It is still 7:15 am but I think yeah, let us just go inside so we can still roam the school." Nick said to me. "Okay then." I said to Nick.

We went inside the school. "I will excuse myself here because I can't go inside." Janice said to the both of us. "Okay." Michael said and grabbed my hand. I just smiled at Janice and she waved her hand. "That was the place that Janice stays whenever you have your classes?" Nick asked while looking at me. I stopped walking for a minute and let go of his hand. "Yes. Why are you sad?" I asked Nick to tease him. "No. I just asked." Nick replied to my question. "Kidding! Come I will show you where the canteen is." I said to Nick. "Okay." Nick replied to me. 

We walked and finally reached the canteen. "Wow! This place is so good." Nick said after seeing the canteen. "I think so too. This school serves healthy foods and drinks and is also very clean." I said to Nick. "Actually this school is really big for a primary school. This school has 6 buildings with 6 floors, a total of 4 canteens on each side of the school so students can just visit any canteen they are near but still offers the same menus, a football field, a court and also some rooms for different sports. There is also a stage at the back with a field for students to gather and do ceremonies." I added so Nick will be enlightened. "Wow! My school in the past was only a quarter of this school.

I wonder if there are many students who go here." Nick asked me as we left the canteen and continued to walk. "Yeah. Last school year, there were a total of five thousand students. But I don't know this school year since there were some students who graduated and also students who applied." I said to Nick. "So many students. I think that the tuition fee that our parents are paying is a lot." Nick said. "HAHAHA." I laughed after hearing what Nick just said. "What?!" Nick exclaimed. We stopped walking and I turned to face him. "Our parents don't pay for tuition fees or what. But they give money, the school calls it donations.

There are many organizations and people who donate to this school. Such as the government, my parents, other rich students' parents and from people who have businesses." I said to Nick. I hope that he will understand what I just said. "Oh, now I get it. That is why when I got my examination, there were so many people who went to get the exam too." Nick said. 

"This is where I go whenever I want to have a fun time." I said to Nick as we got in the mushroom seat. "Wow! This is cool." Nick said as he roamed the mushroom. "It is called mushroom because the umbrella that covers and protects you from rain and sunlight looks like a mushroom and it is surrounded by walls and only a small entrance to go inside to sit and do whatever you want." I added Nick. "I want to see the inside." Nick said. "Here, this is where the entrance is." I pointed to the entrance of Nick. 

Nick went in my direction and without any hesitation he went inside and I followed him. "See? It is dark here." Nick said. I moved on the right to turn on the light. "Actually there is a light in the middle, you need to go here on the right and turn it on." I said as I finally turned on the light. "Cool." Nick said. I like this place, but isn't it hot here?" Nick asked me as he sat on the seat. "No, look at your side, there is a fan there." I said to Nick. He then looked at his side. "Oh, how do you turn it on?" Nick asked. "You clicked that button next to the fan." I said to Nick.

The fan is inside the wall. There are grills that cover the fan and you can just turn it on and all the fans inside the mushroom will be on. There are 4 fans inside the mushroom so it is enough for people inside to stay comfortable. "This is awesome." Nick said to me. "Yeah, but we need to go already." I said to Nick as I heard the bell rang. That was the first bell, it means that the flag will be in 3 minutes. "Yeah, sorry I forgot the time." Nick said as he turned off the fan and the light and eventually went out of the mushroom. 

"Where is the place for the flag ceremony?" Nick asked me. "Just follow me." I said to Nick. "Michael, by the way, I did not see any electricity wires for the fan and light for the mushroom to work." Nick asked. "Oh yeah, there are some places in this school that use solar panels for electricity such as us for the mushrooms." I explained to Nick. There are 10 mushrooms in this school. "I see. That is why then." Nick said. 

"Here we are." I said to Nick. He did not reply so I turned to look at him. He was in awe and I could see that in his face. "Hey." I said as I shook him. "So many students." Nick said. "Yeah, and we need to go." I said to Nick. I held his hand and went to the place where 4th grade students lined up. Since, this is the first day we are allowed to mix together without sections but only by grade. "John!" I shouted as soon as I saw him standing on the 4th grade students line. "Hey. Good morning. How long have you been here?" John asked. "Quite some time. By the way, Nick is my brother. I think you remember him." I said to John as I presented Nick to him. "Yeah, of course. How can I not be?" John said. "Hi." Nick said to John. "Welcome to our school." John said while patting Nick's back. "Thank you." Nick replied to John. 

*Ting *Ting *Ting

The bell rang the second time. "It is the second time, it means that we only have 1 minute to gather." I said to Nick. "I see, thank you." Nick replied to me. "Are you ready? The school's principal will reveal your section after the flag ceremony." I said to Nick. "What?" Nick replied. "I'm kidding. It will be on the announcement board, and we will go there after the flag ceremony." I said to Nick. I just teased him to see how he would react. "Why didn't we come there a while ago?" Nick asked. I think he is confused. 

"The thing is they always put announcements after the flag ceremony, so is the new students section." I explained to Nick. "How about your section?" Nick asked again. "He doesn't need to check it, he is always on top and besides the whole school knows that he is the smartest student here, smarter than the 6th graders." John said to Nick. "Well, that really makes sense." Nick replied to John. "How about you?" I asked John. "Well, I don't check mine too because I am next to Nick as the smartest... only in the classroom." John replied. "HAHAHA. I think you are smarter than the other higher grades too." Nick said to John. "Don't flatter him, he will be boastful." I said to Nick. "Hey, Nick is telling the truth." John said. 

Actually, John is truthfully second, not just in my class but also in the whole school. He is considered as the second smartest student here. Sometimes I wonder if John feels jealous about this, since we are friends. But I think he doesn't because he doesn't like to be applauded or what. For him, the important thing is that he is beside me and we are friends. He once told me that he is genuinely honored to be compared with him. That is why having John as my friend is just so amazing. 

*Ting *Ting *Ting

The bell rang the third time. "Hey, prepare yourself. You should stand firm too." I said to Nick who was shocked to hear the bell because it was so loud. "Hey, are you okay?" John asked Nick. "I'm okay. Where do I line?" Nick asked. "Oh, I will be in the first, you will be the second and John will be in the last so you will not feel shy." I answered Nick's question. "Okay, thank you." Nick replied. I saw John who was scratching his head. "Are you okay?" I asked John. "What else can I do?" John mouthed without any voice. I think he is afraid that Nick might hear what he is saying. That's why. "Good." I replied as I did a thumbs up to annoy him more. 

The teachers and staff went on the stage and stood as if they were soldiers. They are all in sync with each other. So amazing! One teacher came in the front. "Let us all put our hearts in singing our national anthem." The teacher said and put her hand on her chest. After she did, the other teachers on the stage did so and so did the students. 

The singing of the national anthem started as soon as the teacher sang the first line. After the teacher sang it the teachers and students started to sing it all together with no minus one. All the teachers, staff and students are singing in acapella which makes the national anthem full of emotions and meaning. I heard Nick singing with all his heart too. He didn't tell me that he has a really good voice. How could he miss something important to me? 

The singing of the national anthem ended. After that, the principal got on the stage and tested the microphone to see if it was working. "Mic test, mic test. Okay this is great." The principal said. "Good day boys and girls of this school. Today is the first day of our school year and I am hoping for a synchronous teamwork to all of you, regarding your grade, section, age, ethnicity, gender and field." The principal added. 

Honestly, she is a wonderful principal and I can prove how good she is for my years of existence here in this school. She is also a very outstanding person that is why she is the principal of this school. 

"Wow! I like her presence on the stage." Nick said out of nowhere. I turned to look at him. His eyes are full of admiration. "Indeed she is Nick." I replied to Nick. After Nick heard what I said, he looked at me. He did not say anything but I can see in his eyes the happiness that he has right now. I can't judge Nick because he is really right. The principal's aura gives off a good environment too. Sometimes, you would just be yourself. "How can she be so perfect?" 

Nick turned his looks to the principal and I did too. "Congratulations to our new students!" The principal ended her speech. Now the students are starting to part ways and go to their respective classrooms. Those students who still didn't know their class section went to see the announcement board. 

"How can you all be so organized?" Nick asked as we walked towards the direction of the announcement board. "Easy, students here think about others." I answered Nick's question. I believe that my answer was enough for Nick to understand.