Consolations and questions resumed. For over 30 minutes, they petted Justin. All the while, he sobbed. Occasionally, he would shake his head. E would look at the ceiling and at the faces before him, as though he had just returned from a dreamy wonderland. Then he would plunge further I'm tears. The VP's phone, meanwhile, had been ringing. Information had already reached some parent's. They were anxious to know what had happened to the beloved principal. One parent 'learnt' he was weeping uncontrollably and rolling on the floor. Another parent 'heard' that he kept muttering, 'save me lord'! Save me, O God! At this point, Mrs Sara realised the best; she could do was to call the Managing Director, Mrs Evelyn Claire, popularly called MD, who - but for a function she had to attend that morning - ought to have been in school.
But the morning assembly ha not begun on tearful note. Since the management of Springdale schools came up with a shrewd incentive of lowering it's boarding fees, the headache it used to have trying to tame lateness, had reduced greatly. From €5,000 per session, the fee climbed down to €3,500.
The result was instant: more than 80% of the parents moved their children to the boarding house which was a haven of modest comfort enjoyed by elite students. Almost all the students began to turn up at 7:45am for the assembly.
That was far from the case before the policy change. Many of the learners came from different parts of Los Angeles, where the fear of heavy traffic was the beginning of wisdom. Interestingly, not many parents complained when the school, almost immediately, raised the fee for 'Excursion and other items' by €1,500. Some staff gossiped about this, especially Mr Clinton, the fine arts teacher, who was a bunch of biting humour. He cleared his throat, pushed a finger into his mouth, drew it out, and pointed skywards: "In matter's of economics," he equipped, "I swear, the MD is 'a witch' and wizard rolled into one!" Clinton and his naughty grammar!
The assembly had commenced early. The A-List school, located in the posh heart of Los Angeles, as usual began the ritual with a short prayer, in the form of a recitation of the second stanza of the school anthem. Springdale did this on Tuesday's and Thursday's, while normal Christian prayers were said on Mondays, Wednesday's and Fridays, alongside the National anthem (first stanza).
Angel announced it was time for pep talk. The principal had introduced This, seven years earlier. It involved the presentation of a speech by a student. It was spontaneous, at times. At other times, topics were given ahead. Today's talk was, however, different the way it, sometimes, happened. David Shaksire, an SSS1 student, mounted the podium to narrate his experience. He was part of a group of Springdale students that had just returned from an excursion to Universal Studios Hollywood.
"I saw Los Angeles in its acrobatic beauty," he began, awakening cheers and applause. "My fellow students, if you have not been to Hollywood..." David paused and browsed their excited faces, as though he wanted to be sure they were really ready for the discoveries he was about to log into. He continued: "You might have been to London, you might have been to New York. But if you have not been to Hollywood, you MUST be in that brilliantly beautiful city in YOUR lifetime!" Yells and an applause greeted the narrative.
"One of the most memorable attributes of Hollywood is its movie magic," David said. It's So chilly in Hollywood that I felt like sleeping every second of the two days we spent there. I can also not forget its acrobatic landscape. Not in any negative sense, but with rocks that sit in artistic layers and, at times, in dramatic postures. You could see a rock carrying three other rocks on its head. You could find a small rock confidently backing another, big enough to give birth to it."
Another round of ovation. The narrator paused. He continued: "Dearest Stars of Springdale, some of our hosts said Hollywood used to be more beautiful than what we saw, and that some violent crises had affected it. Notwithstanding, I can still confidently say it remains the leading tourism theme park and studio in this country.
David named some of the places the group visited, such as The Springfield: Home Of The Simpsons, The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter, The Jurassic park - The Ride, Transformers: The Ride-3D." A mixed, yet fun-filled round of clapping and hollering filled everywhere as David returned and joined his classmates on the line.
The chapel prefect then called for decorum and orderliness, inviting the principal for his address and announcement. Although David was a science student, he was, equally, a respected poet. His mum, a broadcaster, was an award-winning poet too. Following the young boy's captivating account, many students and staff expected a great comment from the principal, who had been an inspiring pillar at Springdale for 24 years. His impact had been so remarkable that his employers, parents and other stakeholders regarded him as a school builder. He gave the students his all, with an ever-burning passion to see them grow in all ramifications.