CHAPTER 8
FAREWELL ASSEMBLY
Puss, Shrek, Donkey and the rest of the gang were piled inside a large assembly room filled with chattering teenagers, strict and wise teachers, and a few nervous people. Those nervous people involved the gang, but nobody was more anxious at not wanting this to happen than Alejandro. His palms were sweaty and he was shaking all around. This didn't really give the group the first impression they were expecting from him. They were hoping that the teenage boy was a kind and brave soul. It turns out that he's nothing but a wimp who gets picked on pretty much all the time. None of those kids even cared about Alejandro. They were just happy to get out of class. They wouldn't even care if he was leaving school. They would just forget about it and move on with their daily lives. Like usual.
Alejandro was trying to talk some sense into Headmaster Pablo. "Headmaster Pablo, can we please reconsider this assembly? I do not even plan to go with those people and become a king. That's not what I plan to do in life."
"Nonsense, Alejandro," Headmaster Pablo said, "Becoming a king could become the greatest thing that has ever happened to you. You finally have a chance to take over a kingdom of your very own. After all, when you're a king, you get to do whatever you want, whenever you want to. Plus, you might get to become the scientist that you've always wanted to be. Doesn't that sound terrific?"
"It does, but it's a lot of weight on my shoulders. There's just so much responsibility."
"There may be a lot to do, but I know that you can do it. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't because you can."
Alejandro sighed. He didn't want to leave what he had now behind, but if this is what was expected of him, then that's what he'll do. He looked at the group, walking up to Puss. "Is there a reason why you can't rule? I'm only wondering. Why should I rule instead of you?"
"I was not made to be a king," Puss said, "You are, though. That's why we came all this way. To find you and place you where you belong. On the throne."
Alejandro stood there, looking at the crowd. He didn't want to leave considering that the school was pretty much the only home he had, but he realized that none of those other teenagers would ever come close to being his friends. He only had one choice.
Headmaster Pablo walked up to the stage, clearing his throat. "May I have your attention, please? I suppose you're all wondering why we are all gathered here. I was just given news about one of our most prestigious student Alejandro." Only a cough sound could be heard. "And now, without further ado, I present to you Alejandro. He shall be taking a different path after today."
Taking a deep breath, the young boy walked up to the stage and placed himself in front of the entire school. Looking them straight in the eye, he began his speech. "Um,...hello. It's good to see you all here. As you know, I'm Alejandro, and yes, I am the biggest dork in this school." The entire crowd began laughing, seeing that the boy finally convinced himself to be a dork. He smiled and said, "After today, I won't have that title here anymore." The room went silent as he said this. "That's right. I won't have to put up with you all picking on me, calling me names, blowing spitwads and paper balls at me or anything else. After this assembly's over, I'm packing my bags and returning to my old hometown where I will become the next king. That's right. I have a feeling that all of you will bow down before me and will learn a really big lesson. We should've given Alejandro more respect. So as I stand before you today, I hope that you all do something great once you leave here, but until then, have a good life. Mine will be better." Putting the microphone down, Alejandro walked off the stage.
But not before everyone cheered him on.
Alejandro smiled, seeing as though his fellow students did care about him. Becoming a king must've been cool in their books. He knew that one day they would all be working for him. Even if it wasn't in his kingdom.
Before he walked off the stage, he heard some people snickering and laughing. Others were actually stating how great it was that he was finally leaving. He placed himself back up to the microphone and asked, "Why are you all laughing and saying that you're glad I'm going? I thought you would be happy for me and sad to see me go."
"Really?" A girl in the audience said, "You actually thought that?"
"We're just glad that you're finally leaving this school," a guy said in the back.
"Let somebody else have some academic achievements for once," another guy in the crowd said.
This caused Alejandro to become angry. "Looks as though none of you care about anything or anyone else but yourselves. You're all nothing but a bunch of spoiled, no good selfish losers. You'll all become butler's and maids one of these days if you don't clean up your act. I can guarantee it. Each and every single one of you will be working for me. I can already tell that none of you are gonna graduate from this boarding school."
Headmaster Pablo walked over to Puss and the others. "I think it is best if you take Alejandro up to get his things before his speech gets a little too out of hand."
"I was just thinking the same thing," Puss said, "Shrek, would you like to do the honors?"
"With pleasure," Shrek said, walking up towards the stage.
"He's not going to hurt him, is he?" Headmaster Pablo asked.
"Oh, no, Shrek is gentle with people," Puss said, but not before adding, "As long as you don't make him mad."
"Over the past years, I've had to deal with all of you treating me like dirt," Alejandro said, "Let me tell you this. I'm pretty sure you've all been bullied by somebody else, even though you're the one's that have picked on me most of the time because you think I don't have feelings. Well, guess what, I do. It's the rest of you idiots in here that don't have feelings."
"Okay, buddy, they've heard enough out of you," Shrek said, grabbing Alejandro by the waste.
"Hey, put me down!" Alexandria exclaimed with fear and anger.
Shrek went up to the microphone. "Okay, everyone, this guy's speech is over. You can all go back to class now."
Griping and groaning, the students headed back to class as Alejandro was placed on the floor backstage. "Why did you do that? I wasn't finished with my speech. I was just about to tell a bunch of people off."
"I believe it is best if you keep those thoughts to yourself," Puss said, "That's a good way for you to make a lot of enemies. Now, why don't you show us to your room and we'll help you pack up your things."
"No. I've changed my mind. I'm not going with you guys. I didn't even want to come with you from the start. The only reason Headmaster Pablo wants me to go is because he doesn't care about me. He's like the rest of these people here. Selfish and ungrateful."
"Why don't you want to leave? If you hate it here, why do you decide to stay?"
"Because I don't have anywhere else to go. My father is dead, I haven't heard from my mother in two years, and my older brother is who knows where."
"You have an older brother?" Peter Pan asked.
"Yeah," Alejandro said, "His name is William. He left home when I was six after my father had went off to war. He said he wouldn't be able to help support for the family if something we're to happen to my father and look what happened. My father, in the final battle of the war, died from the stab of an enemy." He sighed. "At least he died a hero and a good man. My brother was a coward, but who am I to say that? I'm one, too. I'm nothing but a weak, innocent boy who's easy to pick on."
"You know, it's sad to hear something like that coming from a good boy like you," Donkey said, "You don't deserve to get picked on."
"Wow," Shrek said, "Donkey actually makes a valid point."
"I'm sorry to hear that you had a rough childhood, Alejandro," Puss said, "All of that can change, though. You can really make a difference in your old homeland."
"How so?" Alejandro asked.
"By becoming the king of Mainland."
"Wait a second. If Alejandro has an older brother, doesn't that mean the oldest becomes the king?" Donkey asked
"Kitty's father requested Alejandro to become the king," Puss said.
"Why would my uncle want me?" Alejandro asked, "I'm nothing but a disappointment to the people around me. I'll just mess up like I usually do."
"Because everybody deserves a chance," Puss said.
"How can you say that? Especially to somebody like me."
"You have great potential inside of you, Alejandro. I know you can do this. Becoming a king is something you were born to do. Don't think somebody is choosing your path in life. You care about helping others who need it the most, don't you?"
"Of course I do."
"Well, what do you say?"
Nodding, Alejandro said, "I'll do it."
As the gang cheered him on, they all went to the boarding school rooms to help Alejandro pack up his things. He was leaving school for good.
WOW. THIS GUY HAS HAD A HARD LIFE, BUT THINGS MAY TURN OUT GREAT FOR HIM. IT'LL TAKE A LOT OF HARD WORK, BUT HOPEFULLY SOMETHING WILL TURN OUT GOOD IN THE END. NOBODY SAID IT WAS EASY.
WELL, I SHALL RETURN WITH THE NEXT CHAPTER SOON.
PLEASE REVIEW.
