onto the main road. It was a nice wide road without any potholes. I could see a makeshift stage ahead, positioned in front of a building that said MANGROVE TOWN HALL .
Just before the van stopped for good, Albert stood up and addressed us all. “Stay within the perimeter established by Security. Speak only to the kids within that perimeter.”
We parked behind a big oak tree. Mickie and her crew led the way out. They were followed by Mr. Patterson, the butlers, Mrs. Veck, the students, and the maids. The first thing I noticed was a large vidscreen, about four meters high, set up in front and to the left of the stage. The audience members would have close-up views of Mickie on that. Her rectangular red glasses would appear to be ten times their normal size; so would her mole.
Up on the stage, Mickie, Lena, Mr. Patterson, and the mayor of Mangrove had resumed an argument begun the previous year. It was like no time had elapsed. The mayor, a thin old man in a black suit, wanted to talk to Mr. Patterson on-air about starting new businesses in Mangrove. Mickie told him, “That’s dead airtime, Mr. Mayor. Nobody wants to listen to that.”
We students were supposed to mingle with kids from Mangrove in a loose circle in front of the stage. Our security guards and butlers flanked us on one side; several men with Town of Mangrove police uniforms flanked us on the other. Just as in the previous year, though, none of the kids really interacted, and that was too bad. I would have liked to.
Also as in the previous year, the Mangrove kids gravitated to Victoria like she was a movie star. I pointed that out to Patience: “Mickie never lets Victoria get near the camera because she’s so attractive. You know? She makes Mickie look like a monkey. No offense to monkeys.”
Patience smiled slightly, so I guess I was finally forgiven for mocking Hopewell. She joined me as we unloaded the bags of clothing and started passing them out to the Mangrove kids.
Kurt set up his camera to shoot the scene. Lena told the Highlands kids to “smile” and the Mangrove kids to
“sonreir.”
We had soon passed out all sixteen bags of clothes. Then Lena and Mrs. Veck distributed the books—dozens and dozens of them—all describing the bilingual adventures of Ramiro Fortunato.
After that, Kurt changed position to vid the locals presenting their gifts—the homemade
tornada
dolls—to the visitors. Some of us said
“Gracias”
to the Mangrove kids. Some of us (I don’t need to tell you who) laughed at them.
Maureen Dugan held her doll up and cried, “Gross! Its ears look like Hopewell’s.”
Pauline added, “It’d be even grosser if it looked like Sterling Johnston.”
I don’t think the Mangrove kids understood their comments, which was good for everyone involved.
Mrs. Veck herded us to the right side of the stage. The local kids, along with a few adults, congregated on the left side. Mickie then walked out carrying a wireless microphone. Lena pulled out a bilingual sign that read APPLAUSE/APLAUSOS and pumped it up and down until members of the audience, mostly from the Mangrove side, applauded.
Mickie gave the crowd a big smile that was almost frightening on the four-meter vidscreen. “Welcome! Welcome, all of you, to the third annual Kid-to-Kid Day. We are in the town of Mangrove, Florida. As always, I am joined by the mayor, the Honorable Samuel Ortiz. Welcome, Mr. Mayor.”
Samuel Ortiz walked out slowly and stood next to her. He leaned into the microphone. “Welcome to you, Mickie. This is actually
our
home, so I should be welcoming you.”
“Thank you. Did you see that scene earlier with all those kids giving to other kids?”
“Yes, I did.”
“It was very touching, and, of course, it is the essence of Kid-to-Kid Day. You have some really needy kids here, don’t you?”
“Some, sure. But most have what they need.”
“I think all of us can use a prayer now and again, Mr. Mayor. And my trips to Mangrove and other
Just before the van stopped for good, Albert stood up and addressed us all. “Stay within the perimeter established by Security. Speak only to the kids within that perimeter.”
We parked behind a big oak tree. Mickie and her crew led the way out. They were followed by Mr. Patterson, the butlers, Mrs. Veck, the students, and the maids. The first thing I noticed was a large vidscreen, about four meters high, set up in front and to the left of the stage. The audience members would have close-up views of Mickie on that. Her rectangular red glasses would appear to be ten times their normal size; so would her mole.
Up on the stage, Mickie, Lena, Mr. Patterson, and the mayor of Mangrove had resumed an argument begun the previous year. It was like no time had elapsed. The mayor, a thin old man in a black suit, wanted to talk to Mr. Patterson on-air about starting new businesses in Mangrove. Mickie told him, “That’s dead airtime, Mr. Mayor. Nobody wants to listen to that.”
We students were supposed to mingle with kids from Mangrove in a loose circle in front of the stage. Our security guards and butlers flanked us on one side; several men with Town of Mangrove police uniforms flanked us on the other. Just as in the previous year, though, none of the kids really interacted, and that was too bad. I would have liked to.
Also as in the previous year, the Mangrove kids gravitated to Victoria like she was a movie star. I pointed that out to Patience: “Mickie never lets Victoria get near the camera because she’s so attractive. You know? She makes Mickie look like a monkey. No offense to monkeys.”
Patience smiled slightly, so I guess I was finally forgiven for mocking Hopewell. She joined me as we unloaded the bags of clothing and started passing them out to the Mangrove kids.
Kurt set up his camera to shoot the scene. Lena told the Highlands kids to “smile” and the Mangrove kids to
“sonreir.”
We had soon passed out all sixteen bags of clothes. Then Lena and Mrs. Veck distributed the books—dozens and dozens of them—all describing the bilingual adventures of Ramiro Fortunato.
After that, Kurt changed position to vid the locals presenting their gifts—the homemade
tornada
dolls—to the visitors. Some of us said
“Gracias”
to the Mangrove kids. Some of us (I don’t need to tell you who) laughed at them.
Maureen Dugan held her doll up and cried, “Gross! Its ears look like Hopewell’s.”
Pauline added, “It’d be even grosser if it looked like Sterling Johnston.”
I don’t think the Mangrove kids understood their comments, which was good for everyone involved.
Mrs. Veck herded us to the right side of the stage. The local kids, along with a few adults, congregated on the left side. Mickie then walked out carrying a wireless microphone. Lena pulled out a bilingual sign that read APPLAUSE/APLAUSOS and pumped it up and down until members of the audience, mostly from the Mangrove side, applauded.
Mickie gave the crowd a big smile that was almost frightening on the four-meter vidscreen. “Welcome! Welcome, all of you, to the third annual Kid-to-Kid Day. We are in the town of Mangrove, Florida. As always, I am joined by the mayor, the Honorable Samuel Ortiz. Welcome, Mr. Mayor.”
Samuel Ortiz walked out slowly and stood next to her. He leaned into the microphone. “Welcome to you, Mickie. This is actually
our
home, so I should be welcoming you.”
“Thank you. Did you see that scene earlier with all those kids giving to other kids?”
“Yes, I did.”
“It was very touching, and, of course, it is the essence of Kid-to-Kid Day. You have some really needy kids here, don’t you?”
“Some, sure. But most have what they need.”
“I think all of us can use a prayer now and again, Mr. Mayor. And my trips to Mangrove and other
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