In the coming debate competitions, The House Of Representatives of Hamerton and their guests agreed to host the competitions in Berlin, Germany. Each school had to provide ten students to represent them. The winning school would get computers while the participating students earned laptops and one year sponsorship of their education.

Natalie was excited to join the competitions. She needed the sponsorship especially because her mom called her and requested her to go for the holidays with all her belongings. Natalie knew that there was something wrong. Her weekly allowance from her mom had degraded largely. Perhaps, her parents could no longer afford her education in Hamerton. When madam Sue recommended her name in the Parliament, she almost cried with joy. It was her chance to help herself and her family. At that point helping Hamerton was in the least of her priorities.

Everyone believed in her. In the few months that she served Class D as their monitor, Natalie further raised their position in Academic levels by earning an A+ average grade and one point higher than Steven. She started her own ‘tidy up’ campaign in class D that was adopted by all other classes of Hamerton. It kept the students busy during the Saturday mornings contributing a part to keep their environment clean.

Her biggest match in the debate competitions as everyone knew was Paulina Lois. She was a St. Ann Marie student; intelligent, eloquent and affluent. She represented her school in France which was among the participating countries.

Natalie looked at herself on the mirror thinking about the girl. Ingrid had just informed her about Paulina after one Parliamentary gathering. “Hah. A St. Ann Marie girl… we shall see.” She said to herself.

“Are you jealous?” Ingrid appeared behind her on the mirror and said.

“No.” Natalie denied spanning around to face her.

“Yes you are.”

Natalie remained silent.

“Okay...” Ingrid chuckled “Cummon, let’s go to the Parliament.”

“Another session?”

“Yeah.”

“You know, the cameras and the continual interviews we take from the school press… they slightly freak me out.”

“Madam Sue thinks that you’re the Face of Hamerton.”

“I hope that ‘face’ started with a capital.”

Ingrid laughed. She initiated movement and Natalie followed, walking beside her. “Natalie? I thought that you loved publicity.”

“I do. I can’t deny.” She laughed too. “I should start getting used to it right?”

“One day it’s Hamerton media, the next day, it would be CNN or, VOA.”

“Or BBC.”

Ingrid sighed. “I miss home. I can’t wait for August to come and me, fly away. When we reopen, I think that we’ll have elections or, if it’s not this year the next. I will not run for anything, I just want to be free.”

Natalie smiled with awe. She had already begun appreciating the governance. It did not seem too bloody after all. “When was the last time that you were in New York, Ingrid?”

“Since I shifted from Brimstone. Like most boarding students here, this is our first vacation after years.”

Natalie furrowed her eyebrows. “Why?”

They finished the hallway and started stairs up to the Parliament floor.

“Parents. I guess, it’s like a law for them to forget their children here after enrolling them. Anyway, this place is like a mini world and we get almost everything.”

Natalie nodded in agreement. She remembered something, “I was once chatting with Trevor.”

“Yeah. What’s up with you guys? Are you dating or what?”

Natalie laughed. She once had a crash on him. Now, it was something different. “No. He’s my friend.” She replied quickly. “Anyway… he told me something-”

“A friend? Don’t you feel anything for him? You’re single, he’s,” she paused as they reached the swing doors of The Parliament. Ingrid pushed the doors opened and they both walked in. “Okay. Later!” Ingrid bid walking briskly to her seat.

Natalie shrugged. She could tell Ingrid any other day what Trevor had mentioned.

Sitting Ingrid thought, ‘Natalie’s single… he’s -.’ She swallowed at the very thought.

stay tuned...