The week of the Student Days passed like a dream for Pedro. The class also worked hard over the weekend: they decorated their classroom, Patrick even painted some cool graffiti on a giant piece of paper, of course, which they then pinned to the wall.
\nEverywhere was smothered with campaign flyers: Pedro\u2019s class wrote short two- and four-liners and handed out the little pieces of paper to everyone who passed by in their corridor.
\nPedro had been talking to everyone in rap chunks for days, and once he even answered Garcia in verse when he asked him where the class T-shirts were.
\n\u201cGino’s class will definitely win!\u201d Patrick gave Pedro a shove. \u201cDid you see the queue for the rodeo bull?\u201d
\nHis words could barely be heard over the commotion: there was a drama performance in the next class, and in the corridor perpendicular to them, Alfredo and his friends were rocking the speakers with music that went with the bull. The Scientists were not too loud: in their room, an astronaut was telling the curious about his adventures on the moon.
\n\u201cYeah, I saw it. I wish I knew what’s so fascinating about that stupid ride…\u201d” “\u201cFlex the lyrics, they feel so good, vote for Pedro, fresh from the hood!\u201d The kids chanted in the corridor, handing out biscuits to passers-by.
\nPedro was sitting alone in the classroom. He was terribly tired.
\n\u201cWell, Pedro, the big day has come. This afternoon, you have to give your speech in front of the whole school in the gym. Ready?\u201d Garcia patted Pedro’s shoulder kindly and took a bite from a biscuit. \u201cThis is delicious!\u201d
\n\u201cThank you… my mum baked it.\u201d Pedro moaned. \u201cTeacher, I can’t give a speech!\u201d
\n\u201cWhy not?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause I don\u2019t have it.\u201d
\n\u201cHow come?\u201d Garcia looked stunned.
\n\u201cI haven\u2019t written it.\u201d
\n\u201cBut you’ve been working on it since last Monday! This was your next assignment, along with the poem about friendship, which you’re not done with yet either!\u201d Garcia rarely got upset, but when he did, it was clear he wasn’t joking.
\n\u201cYou’ll give a speech in the gym today at 4PM and that’s all there is to it!\u201d He announced grumpily, brushing the biscuit crumbs from his beard.” “Pedro ran across to the Wild West room to find Alfredo.
\n\u201cCome with me, I\u2019m in trouble! Let’s pick up Bernardo and Ernesto from the other classes! I need your help!\u201d
\nThe boys soon gathered in the changing room next to the gym.
\n\u201cWhat kind of campaign speech will you have?\u201d Pedro asked the other three.
\n\u201cDon’t even go there. Three of us sat down this morning and wrote it for Gino. Turned out he hasn’t even started yet\u201d Alfredo said. Ernesto continued:
\n\u201cIn our case, Zita finished it on time. She’s been practicing all week; I think she’s memorized it.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat we did,\u201d Bernardo turned to Pedro, \u201cwas that we each wrote a sentence, and Aiden would even say something in Japanese. Why do you ask?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause mine is not ready yet, and I have no idea what to say. And Garcia is furious. Quite rightly.\u201d
\n\u201cIt’s noon now,\u201d Alfredo looked at his watch. \u201cThere’s still time before 4PM!\u201d
\n\u201cWe’ll fix it, Pedro, relax!\u201d Bernardo consoled him.
\n\u201cShould I bring my violin?\u201d Ernesto asked.
\n\u201cNo, not that one!\u201d the others shouted in chorus.” “By 4PM, the whole school had already assembled in the gym, but Pedro was still nowhere to be seen. Garcia wasn’t worried yet: Class D would be last in line, as always, so Pedro would surely be working on the text until the last second. That would be how he was trying to buy time.
\nHowever, the third campaign speech was already underway on the podium at the gym, but there was still no sign of Pedro.
\nGarcia was afraid that he had disappeared completely.
\n\u201cProfessor, could you please move over, because I can’t get on stage!\u201d A very familiar voice piped up behind him. As Pedro stepped up to the stage, he looked anxious, but started talking anyway.
\nHe told the audience everything: how he hadn’t believed in himself at first, how he had been lazy when he didn’t write his lyrics, and of course he confessed that he asked his friends for help. And they helped, even though they are supposed to be opponents.
\nHis frank and honest speech was a huge success. A wave of applause swept through the gym.
\n\u201cWow!\u201d Garcia hugged Pedro as he came down from the stage. \u201cAnd you had the courage to tell everyone about all that? I am very proud of you!\u201d” “Everyone cast their vote in their classroom on a piece of paper: these were quickly tallied by the older students in the teachers’ room.
\nThe students waited in the gym for the announcement of the results. Pedro alternated between biting his nails and sitting on his hands.
\nWhen the principal finally stood up in front of the microphone to announce the results, Pedro and the class held their breath in expectation. Would Pedro’s bold move work?
\n\u201cSo, this year…\u201d the principal tried to talk over the sudden outburst of shouting, \u201cthis year, the candidate who won the student council elections and will serve as Student President of our school for one year… is… Pedro Olivares!\u201d
\nThe announcement was met with a huge cheer. Pedro could hardly believe he was hearing his own name, but there was no other Pedro Olivares at the school.
\n\u201cThat’s it, Pedro! You won it for us!\u201d said Patrick, giving him a high-five.\u201d
\n\u201cNot for you! With you!\u201d Said Pedro, looking Garcia, who stood proudly next, straight in the eye.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1044,"template":"","class_list":["post-1046","story","type-story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n