Bab 74: 74. Be Honest With Me Okay.
Aiden and the rest of the group were getting ready to
step out in front of the curtain to accept their award, but just then, a tall figure suddenly
appeared before them backstage. Mr. Wiles? Chrissy asked in surprise.
Seeing the famous Mr. Wiles standing directly in front of her, Chrissy had to take a
moment to catch her breath. The other performers gathered backstage were also a bit
shocked. Those who were still sitting quickly stood up.
Anyone who was wearing a hat promptly took it off and patted down their hair. A few
people readjusted their clothing. In front of a man like Mr. Wiles, everyone gets a little
nervous.
They all wanted to make a good impression. Aiden was more comfortable. He gave a
faint, familiar smile and said hello.
After all, the two already knew each other well. Quite well. There was no need for
formality between them.
Mr. Wiles was almost like an uncle to Aiden. He was a domineering and stubborn old
man, but he was kind at heart. He would sometimes call Aiden on the phone, and they would talk about math for hours.
Chrissy was confused by Aiden's calm and relaxed demeanor. He didn't seem to be
showing the degree of respect that the situation required. She tried to get his attention
and tell him to snap out of it, but then Mr. Wiles spoke.
Hello, young sir, he said to Aiden. Can this old man have a word with you? Chrissy butted
in before Aiden could respond. Mr. Wiles, what can we do for you? Mr. Wiles smiled
broadly and continued talking to Aiden.
You silly boy, he said. Aren't you curious to know why you didn't win the grand prize? A
few people cast side-long glances. They weren't sure how to interpret Mr. Wiles'
behavior.
He was always talked of as being cold, stern, and a bit aloof, but this didn't seem to be
his personality at all. He seemed quite amiable, actually, like a jolly grandfather. Could
this really be the legendary Mr. Wiles? But as Aiden took a step closer to Mr. Wiles and
chuckled, they began to understand.
Mr. Wiles wasn't talking in this familiar manner to all of them. He was talking to Aiden.
They regarded Aiden in shock.
Who was this guy? How did he know Mr. Wiles? Aiden raised his eyebrows. Why? he
asked. Do you know? Well, I'm not exactly sure, Mr. Wiles replied, but I'd bet you
anything that something shady is going on.
Aiden nodded his head, considering this. And I'm here to help you figure it out, Mr. Wiles
proclaimed. I owe you one, remember? If I help you sort this out, then my debt to you
will be paid.
My promise fulfilled. Aiden seemed to be considering this. If you agree, of course, Mr.
Wiles added.
All the other performers were dumbstruck. They had an image of Mr. Wiles in their mind
as an impossibly superior and distant figure, a marble statue in a museum. It was hard to
integrate this new side of him, an old jokester trying to help out a buddy of his.
It didn't make any sense. Even more surprising, Aiden seemed completely familiar with
this version of Mr. Wiles. The two seemed to be more than just passing acquaintances.
Mr. Wiles actually respected Aiden. And apparently, Mr. Wiles was somehow in debt to
him. What kind of debt could this possibly be? What kind of promise? Certainly, it
couldn't be a financial debt, could it? The whole situation was fascinating to them.
They looked at Aiden in a new light, trying to guess his secret identity. Chrissy, in
particular, was in total shock. What was going on? There seemed to be a lot of thing about Aiden that she didn't know.
Aiden grinned at Mr. Wiles. His eyes flashed. Mr. Wiles might be an old man, but he was
clever.
He was offering to make good on his promise at just the right moment, when he knew
Aiden wouldn't be able to refuse. Aiden looked at Chrissy, Chloe, and Jaden in turn, and
thought about how disappointed they'd been not to win the grand prize, and how much
effort they had put into practicing for this day. He had his answer.
Aiden said finally. I accept. Are you sure? Mr.
Wiles asked, serious now for a moment.
He hadn't expected Aiden to respond so decisively. Taking action in this situation could
end poorly for all involved. It wasn't a decision to be made lightly.
Aiden didn't really care that much about getting first place, but he did care about the
principle of the matter. He wasn't about to sit by and let his friends be treated unfairly
and hand the prize over to some undeserving cheat if there was anything he could do
about it. Aiden knew what he had to do.
There was no going back. I'm sure, he said. He was determined and unafraid.
Ding! Assertiveness, determination, plus one. Mr. Wiles took a long look at Aiden. There
seemed to be a change in him, a new glint in his eye.
It was as if he was witnessing a transformation, like Aiden was growing up right before
him. There was definitely something in his gaze and posture that he'd never seen before.
Yes, Mr. Wiles thought to himself.
He's ready for this. He was convinced more than ever that Aiden was something special,
destined for greatness. Mr. Wiles nodded at Aiden and walked back through the curtain
to the front of the stage.
The awards ceremony was almost over at this point. Mr. Turkle was beaming as he
presented Chad with a massive trophy. Then he handed him the $3,000 grand prize.
Thank you, Principal Turkle, Chad said politely, and then held up the trophy in triumph.
He pumped his fist in the air and turned to face different areas of the audience so that
everyone would get a good look. There was a weak smattering of applause in the
bleachers that died out almost instantly.
Boo! yelled an old man near the stage. He stood up and yelled it louder. Boo! This cry
was like a spark that ignited the indignation of the crowd.
Soon, everyone was yelling. Get off the stage, a woman yelled. Bring back the jury, another yelled.
Voices of discontent rippled through the football field. Chad let his raised hand drop to
his side and looked to Mr. Turkle for help. Mr. Turkle's face was angry and dark.
We want a new vote, a young student yelled. New vote, a group of people yelled, and
then more joined in. New vote, new vote.
The crowd was in a total uproar. Members of the jury looked at each other anxiously.
Outwardly, Miss Fortenberry didn't seem to show much concern.
She was keeping her composure for now, formulating a plan for how to deal with this
mess. She turned to the bearded man sitting next to her, a high-level administrator at
the school, and calmly said, Can't you get them to shut up? Flustered, the man stood up
and approached the microphone. He was a well-known figure in the school who struck
fear in the hearts of many of the students.
If they'd listen to anyone, they'd listen to him. Seeing that the crowd's complaints were
about to be squashed, Mr. Wiles stepped to the front of the stage. Stop right there, Mr.
Wiles yelled at the bearded man with ferocity.
The bearded man stopped mid-stride and looked back at Miss Fortenberry. You don't
take orders from him, Miss Fortenberry chastised. Take the mic and then take control of
this crowd.
She looked like she wanted to slap him in the face. Sit down, Mr. Wiles yelled at the
bearded man. Sit down right now or I'll make you sit down, he growled.
The poor man was so frightened he staggered backward. Seeing this commotion on
stage, the students in the bleachers stopped shouting, but their bodies were still tense
with readiness. Mr. Wiles stood tall in front of the seated judges who, like students about
to be chastised, were bowing their heads and waiting for his instructions.
Be honest with me, Mr. Wiles began. Which performance do you think was most
deserving of the grand prize? Now the judges understood why Mr. Wiles was angry. They
looked at Miss Fortenberry with resentment.
If it hadn't been for her intimidation tactics, at least a few of them would have given You
at the Same Table the highest scores.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone