The Prodigal Daughter by Jeffrey Archer Page B

the
candidates had only ten days to gather votes.
    Many of
Florentyna’s friends dropped in at Rigg Street to assure her of their support.
Florentyna was surprised to find some support where she least expected it,
while other classmates who she had imagined were friends told Edward they would
never back her. Florentyna discussed this problem with Miss Tredgold, who
warned her that if you ever run for any office that might bring you privilege
or profit, it will always be your contemporaries who do not want to see you
succeed in your ambitions. You need have no fear of those who are older or
younger than yourself; they know you will never be their rival.
    All the
candidates had to write a mini-electiotf address setting out the reasons they
wanted to be on the Student Council. Florentyna’i was checked over by Abel, who
refused to add or subtract anything, and by Miss Tredgold, who only commented
on the grammar.
    Voting was all
day Friday at the end of the second week and the result was always announced by
the headmaster after assembly the following Monday morning. It was a terrible
weekend for Florentyna, and Miss Tredgold spent the entire time saying, “Settle
down, child.” Even Edward, who played tennis with her on Sunday afternoon,
hardly raised a sweat, winning 6-0, 6 -0.
    “It wouldn’t
take Jack Kramer to tell you that you’re not concentrating-’child. “‘
    “Oh, do be
quiet, Edward. I don’t care whether I’m elected to the Student Council or not.”
    Florent )na woke up at five o’clock on Monday morning and was
dressed and ready for breakfast by six. She read the paper through three times
and Miss Tredgold did not utter a word to her until it was time to leave for
school.
    “Remember, my
dear, that Lincoln lost more elections than he won but still became President.”
    “Yes, but I’d
like to start out with a win,” said Florentyna.
    The assembly
hall was packed by nine o’clock. Morning prayers and the headmaster’s
announcements seemed to take forever; Florentyna’s eyes stared down at the
floor.
    “And no” I shall
read the results of the Student Council election,” said the headmaster. “There
were fifteen candidates and six have been elected to the Council.
    1st Jason Morton 109; President
    2nd Cathy Long 87
    3rd Roger Dingle 85
    4th Al Reuben 81
    5th Michael
Pratt 79
    The headmaster
coughed and the room remained silent. “Sixth, Florentyna Rosnovski with seventy-six
votes. The runner-up was Pete Welling with seventy-five votes. The first
Council meeting will be in my office at ten-thirty this nominal Assembly
dismissed.”
    Florentyna was
overwhelmed and threw her arms around Edward.
    At
the first Council meeting that morning, Florentyna. as junior member, was appointed secretary.
    “That will teach
vou to come in last,” laughed the new president, Jason Morton.
    Back to writing
notes that nobody else reads, thought Florentyna. But at least this time I can
type them and perhaps next year I will be president.
    She looked up at
the boy whose thin, sensitive face and seemingly shy manner had won him so many
votes.
    “Now,
privileges,” said Jason briskly, unaware of her gaze. “The president is allowed
to drive a car to school, while on one day a week the girls can wear
pastel-colored shirts and the boys can wear loafers instead of oxfords. Council
members are allowed to sign out of study hall when involved in school
responsibilities and they can award demerits to any pupil who breaks a school
rule.”
    So that’s what I
foug ght so hard for, thought Florentyna, the chance to wear a pastel-colored
shirt and award demerits.
    When she
returned home that night, Florentyna told Miss Tredgold every detail of what
had happened and she glowed with pride as she repeated the full result along
with her new responsibilities.
    “Who is poor
Pete Welling,” inquired Miss Tredgold, “who failed to be elected by only one
vote?”
    “Serves him
right,” said Florentyna. “Do you know what I