Alfredo, Bernardo, Ernesto and Pedro have been friends for eternity: that is, as far as \u2018eternity\u2019 can actually apply to ten-year-olds.
\n\u201cBut kindergarten is ancient history!\u201d Pedro sighed, kicking a sizeable stone that lay in front of him, \u201cand since then, the four of us have always been together, same group, same class… I hate it that you want to leave school!\u201d
\nAlfredo grabbed the sleeve of Pedro’s jacket and looked him in the eye seriously.
\n\u201cYou know how much better eight-grade high schools are. That’s why my mum and dad have been sending me to preschool for the past two years! I can’t say I’m not applying!\u201d
\nBernardo joined in:
\n\u201cI have no desire to switch to high school, believe me! But my parents would be very disappointed if I didn\u2019t. And there is a physics and chemistry lab, which we don\u2019t have here at our school.\u201d
\nPedro cast a questioning look at Ernesto, but he remained silent.
\n\u201cErnesto? Do you also really want to leave next year?\u201d
\nNo reply. Pedro started getting upset.
\n\u201cDid you hear what I asked? Are you leaving too?\u201d” “\u201cWell, I guess that’s it then!\u201d Alfredo exclaimed, \u201cthen you’d better come with us. Then we could stay together!\u201d
\n\u201cBut my mum can’t afford it,\u201d said Pedro.
\n\u201cThere is a scholarship! If you study hard enough, you can get a scholarship and your mum won’t have to pay. You have to try and apply!\u201d
\nErnesto suddenly found his voice:
\n\u201cIt would be very sad if we were no longer in the same class. If you want, my mum will call your mum and ask her to let you switch to the other school with us. You must come with us, too!\u201d
\nPedro hesitated. I mean, he’s fine with this school… He doesn’t want to be a lawyer or a physicist. The schoolyard has always been a good place to play some ball at breaks \u2013 then again, it would obviously be the same at the other school. So, what\u2019s the deal then? What should he do?\u201d
\n\u201cOkay, I\u2019ll take the admission test. And your mum should call my mum! But I’m only going for you guys, you should all know that!\u201d
\n\u201cNow you\u2019re talking,\u201d Bernardo raised his fist in delight. \u201cThe team stays together!\u201d” “An eight-grade high school! His Mum almost fell off her chair when Pedro mentioned the idea.
\n\u201cBut Alfredo and the others are going there too, and Bernardo’s mum will call you to explain everything.\u201d
\n\u201cIs that really what you want, sweetie? You would have to get up earlier every morning because it’s further away from us, are you sure about it?\u201d
\n\u201cI am certain.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd you promise to study really hard and get a scholarship?\u201d
\n\u201cI promise, Mum.\u201d
\n\u201cWell, then… why not give it a try.\u201d
\n\u201cThanks, mum!\u201d Pedro gave his mum a big hug, but he was faking more joy than he really felt inside. In fact, he was petrified about the new school. And even more about the admissions. The boys said there would be an interview as well. An excellent report card would not be enough.
\nFor the rest of the year, he hardly saw his peers, he was constantly studying for the spring admission test.
\nAs the day of the interview approached, he regretted his decision more and more.
\n\u201cYou can’t change your mind anymore!\u201d Said his mum, after Pedro burst into tears from all the fear and worry. Pedro rarely cried, but when he did, he cried big time.” “In fact, there was nothing to fear from the admissions. All four boys were easily accepted: Alfredo was selected for advanced history, Bernardo for maths and physics, and Ernesto, who was good at the violin, enrolled for a music class.
\n\u201cWhich class were you admitted to?\u201d Alfredo asked excitedly after they had received their papers.
\n\u201cWell…,\u201d Pedro looked at the letter, \u201clooks like it\u2019s class D. A non-specialized class. In other words, no specialty.\u201d
\n\u201cWe will spend all our breaks together!\u201d – Bernardo laughed.
\n\u201cAnd we walk home together!\u201d – Ernesto added with a smile.
\nHowever, all Pedro could think about was the lack of specialty. He didn’t know what kind of field he really wanted to get into… He didn’t play an instrument, he was good at maths but not really interested in it, and he was downright freaked out by history: he hated all that memorizing.
\n\u201cEverything\u2019s alright after all,\u201d he thought, and looked at his companions calmly: at least they could stay together, and that was all that mattered.” “The first year at the new school went by very quickly.
\n\u201cI’ve never had a rougher school year!\u201d Alfredo sighed, as the boys enjoyed the sunshine on their walk home from the new school after the first report card ceremony.
\n\u201cMe neither,\u201d Bernardo replied, \u201cmaybe we should have stayed at the other school! All I have done all year is memorize stupid formulas…\u201d
\n\u201cBut I won the local violin competition!\u201d Ernesto exclaimed proudly.
\n\u201cYeah, but we hadn’t seen you for two months because you’d been practising so much,\u201d Pedro replied, and then continued. \u201cMy year was pretty normal. Well, I had to study, of course, but it wasn’t too bad. And I still got all A-s! Mum will be happy; and I will continue to receive the scholarship.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd what’s your class teacher like?\u201d Alfredo asked.
\n\u201cGarcia? Awesome. He is always telling me that I should go to his extra class, but it would make me late home on Mondays, so I’ve never been.\u201d
\n\u201cOh, the literature club? Well, that must be boring. I can see why you don\u2019t go!\u201d Bernardo pouted. \u201cWho cares about poetry?\u201d
\n\u201cYeah, exactly.\u201d
\nThey left it at that.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1032,"template":"","class_list":["post-1034","story","type-story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n