"Hi!" The girl held her bag, pushed through the crowd, and walked towards a boy who was about to say goodbye to junior high school, "Jackson!"
After the principal's lengthy graduation speech, everyone dispersed quickly. After a while, the two people at the front of the ceremony venue were revealed through the opening of the crowd.
"It's finally over!" The girl smiled, as if she was running out of things to say.
"Yeah." Jackson (Bishop's son) glanced at the other party.
He gave the graduation speech, so he still had to sort it out and prepare for the final photos. Not because his surname is Bishop. As an outstanding student, his family can make donations. As for himself, the only thing he can leave to this school in the end is this face.
"Then..." the girl smiled inkly, "I guess, after the summer is over, you will go to Raiput."
Jackson looked at the other party again and nodded, "Probably." Jackson looked at the decoration on the podium at the venue. As a symbol of good intentions for the future, well, or for some other reason, the school invited former outstanding students. Platform, of course, because Jackson is Bishop and one of the true owners of the West End, so the people who come are also representatives of those in the West End, and regular communication is still going on at this time.
Laura and Kepler? No kidding, if Kyle was still here, it could be him. Now, the person chatting with the school leaders above is Blake Stone.
Jackson watched Blake chat happily with the school leaders, and felt irritated. He looked at the girl and took the initiative, "You know people like us, it's traditional." Jackson's face showed self-mockery, "Since childhood, until now. , stay around and watch, and then it’s almost done. Throw it to the North District." Jackson looked at the other party, "What about you?"
The girl smiled. She always smiled, but she felt a little happier because Jackson took the initiative to talk more. "Ah~" the girl tilted her head. He casually brushed the hair that fell on his chest behind his ears. Because of the hardware caused by his age, don't think too much about it. There is no adult intention, it's just a shy little girl.
"I'm not your kind of person." She shrugged and smiled, "I should just stay in the West District and finish high school and get my diploma so I can find a job."
Jackson doesn't quite understand this kind of life arrangement. He doesn't think that graduating from high school has anything to do with working in the future. It should be said like this. Jackson knows that he is different from the other person, but his mind is not yet mature enough to understand that this difference is the difference between the top and the base of the pyramid.
"It's good." Jackson could only say what he could understand. "It's closer to home." He twitched the corner of his mouth, "I heard that the high school cafeteria is disgusting, only hamburgers and fried chicken."
The girl laughed again, her shoulders shaking as she laughed, "Jack (for short), if there weren't people like you, our school would also only have these!"
Jackson raised his eyebrows, as if it was a matter of course.
The class divisions of the West End have been explained many times. I won’t repeat it. All we need to know is that because of this default sense of class, the West End is the only place where these rich kids can enjoy preferential treatment, or where they will be treated differently. When they arrived in the North District, no one cared that they were the third generation of rich people, everyone was the same.
"Well—" the girl drawled. "Then, wait a minute, do you have any plans?" She bent her eyes, "I have graduated, are there any celebrations?"
Jackson looked at Blake in front of him who was still being approached for conversation. Shaking his head, "Probably not." Graduating from junior high school is really not something worth celebrating, in Jackson's opinion.
Here comes the key point, "We will have a party later, do you want to come?" The girl sent out the invitation.
"Party? Where?" Jackson became a little interested. His life was quite boring. In comparison, the lives of these classmates were much more interesting.
"Do you know the old funeral home in the southwest?" The girl lowered her voice and came closer to Jackson, "Grand, that's probably the name."
Jackson raised his eyebrows and shrugged, "I know." He knew it was Grande in the South District, but it didn't make any difference. They all belonged to Grande anyway. He thought for a moment, "I remember it wasn't going to be demolished there. ?"
"Yes." The girl nodded, "But not yet. I heard it will be demolished in the fall. No one cares about that place now." The girl curled her lips, "We should make good use of it~"
"What's there to use?" Jackson was a little confused. What could be done with an abandoned house next to a cemetery
"Jack, think about it." The girl's voice became softer and she got closer, as if she was creating an atmosphere, "Cemetery, empty house, morgue, some 'gadgets'..."
Jackson frowned, party? Now it sounds more like a 'haunted house adventure' created by a bunch of bored kids.
"How is it?" The girl raised an eyebrow, "Are you coming? Or are you scared?" The girl tapped Jackson's chest with her finger.
"Okay." Jackson smiled and shook his head, "When? Do I need to bring anything?"
"Seven o'clock in the evening!" The girl was happy to return to normal volume. "Bring your wallet!"
Jackson tilted his head, still looking matter-of-fact. Pretty much, this is his only use among this group of people.
The girl picked up her bag and said, "Then we'll see you tonight!"
"See you tonight." Jackson smiled and looked at his watch to make sure he had time.
"Oh!" The girl suddenly turned around and lowered her voice again, "Also, get rid of the people who are following you!"
"You mean my driver?" Jackson frowned. Do you want him to walk over in person? !
"Yes! Your driver!" the girl smiled, "This is our party, and we don't want a follower to spoil the fun!"
"Okay." Jackson shrugged, "I'll think of something."
The girl smiled at him one last time, turned and left.
Jackson looked at the preparations in front of him and saw that they were almost ready. He walked to the ceremony platform under the greeting. Blake already smiled and hugged his shoulders, "Smile, Jackson."
The corners of Jackson's twitching mouth curved smoothly, showing a perfect smile in front of the camera's flash.
Click!
This is the true end of junior high school.
"Jack!" Blake was very happy. He put his arm around Jackson's shoulders and walked out of the venue, "How about it? After graduation, you will become a high school student."
"How about what?" Jackson twisted his shoulders, trying to get rid of this shadow of life, but to no avail, he gave up, "Why are you so happy?"
Blake's face turned distressed, "I'm going to be unhappy soon."
Jackson glanced sideways at Blake and shook his head without sympathy, "Work? You shouldn't have stayed at Barton. You should have continued to go to graduate school."
Remember the reason why Blake came back to Barton? He came back to wait for the reply to the application. He didn't expect to stay in Barton like this. It was a miscalculation.
Blake smiled. He was very optimistic about Jackson. Other peers were either confused about the situation like Laura and Kepler, or they were too young to see anything. Naturally, Poch was ignored. .
"I can't keep running away." Blake looked at Jackson and suddenly became serious, "From now on, you have to enjoy it as much as possible."
"What do you enjoy?" Jackson looked at Blake with some confusion, "Graduating junior high school?"
"Yes." Blake nodded, looking serious, "From now until college, you will be the most free. After that, you will have nothing."
Jackson frowned, half understanding. Just like what he just said to the girl, before graduating from junior high school, people in the West Side will keep their children with them and take good care of them. Life is all in the West District, under the eyes of the elders. After high school, they will be thrown to the North District and no longer have to look after their lives.
The half that I can't understand is why this 'freedom' only ends in college.
Blake pursed his lips and thought about what to say. After holding it in for a long time, he only said, "Barton doesn't have a university." It was inexplicable.
Blake obviously ignored the community college on the south side of Back Bay, and it is understandable that he stood too high to see what was underneath.
Jackson seemed to have thought of something. He looked at Blake's obviously thoughtful eyes, thought for a while, and nodded.
This is truly the seniors imparting their experience to the younger generations.
There was no college in Patton, so after Reiput, these third-generation West Enders would disperse throughout the Commonwealth. That is not the freedom after leaving the control of the West District and being placed in the North District. It is the burden of being in the Federation and needing to represent the overall image of Barton's Central and Western District and their family.
Without the family's deep-rooted influence in Barton City, they, the third generation who left Barton City, no longer have names, and their identity is their surname. Freedom no longer exists.
Blake felt a little relieved. Sure enough, Jackson could understand. He patted Jackson on the shoulder and walked to his car. Blake was still worried about work in the mayor's office. Returning to the platform of his alma mater this time was a small relaxation. Now he has to go back and continue working hard for Anthony's career.
"Hey!" Jackson had already seen his driver opening the door and was waiting for him to get in, "Blake!"
"Huh?" Blake turned around, "What?"
"Do you have time tonight?" Jackson shrugged, "I need someone to send me to a party."
Blake glanced at the Bishop family's car parked in front and smiled helplessly. He had just said that he would let the other party enjoy freedom, but in the end he would become an 'accomplice'.
"Okay, when?" Blake agreed. Although he admired Jackson's understanding, after all, he was only a fourteen-year-old or fifteen-year-old kid, so what could happen.
"Six-thirty." Jackson thought for a moment, "Come pick me up, and when we get there..." He stopped talking and narrowed his eyes.
Looking at Jackson's expression, Blake smiled, "I know, I won't disturb your play."
Jackson nodded, it went smoothly. (..)