Julian Carlton gave the sports meet registration list to the class monitor, Sean Hayes, telling him to finish compiling it by Wednesday.
After Julian Carlton left, Sean Hayes began compiling the names. Xavier Jennings, being a student athlete, naturally couldn't get out of it and signed up for the men's 3000-meter race and the long jump.
Holly Winslow instinctively steered clear of such things. Her stamina had been poor her whole life. It was only after getting married, when she was... ahem... "nagged" by Mortimer Quincy and dragged out for a run every day, that her stamina improved a little.
Anna Willow and Iris Kensington didn't even give it a second thought. Before long, the three of them had put the matter out of their minds.
Over the next two days, the entire class noticed that Holly Winslow was receiving "special" attention from all her teachers.
'How tragic.'
Today was Wednesday, the last day to finalize the sports meet registration, and no one had signed up for the women's 800-meter and 3000-meter races yet.
There weren't many girls in the science-track classes; Class Eight only had eighteen.
Sean Hayes scanned the classroom, his gaze finally landing on Holly Winslow and her two friends.
Just then, Holly Winslow turned her head to say something to Anna Willow, and her eyes met Sean Hayes's.
"..."
'I have a bad feeling about this.'
She pretended not to see him and turned her head back, picking up her pen to work on her homework.
By now, the whole class knew that the women's 800-meter and 3000-meter spots were still empty.
All the girls were avoiding the class monitor.
Sean Hayes walked over, registration list in hand. He was a rather frail-looking boy with black-framed glasses, a small mole by the corner of his eye, and average looks.
Anna Willow was sitting on the aisle, so Sean Hayes placed the list in front of her. He pushed up his glasses and said in a negotiating tone, "Anna Willow, Iris Kensington, Holly Winslow, how about one of you three signs up for an event? You didn't participate last semester, and it's not fair that it's falling on the other girls again this semester."
Anna Willow was busy copying her math homework. She glanced up at Sean Hayes and refused while continuing to write, "Class Monitor, we're too slow. We didn't even pass the fitness test last semester. We'll definitely lose."
Sean Hayes really couldn't find anyone else. "Mr. Carlton said it's the participation that counts, not winning or losing."
"Please, Class Monitor, don't make us. We're really no good at it."
Anna Willow wore a woeful expression. The 800-meter was one thing, but running a 3000-meter would be the death of her.
"Class Monitor, you should find someone else. We'll cheer them on," Iris Kensington added, nodding in agreement.
Sean Hayes pushed up his glasses again. "Just help me out with my 'job' here."
"If just one of you three signs up, that'll be enough. Then I can report back to the teacher."
Since he'd put it that way, all three of them felt a little embarrassed—especially Anna Willow and Iris Kensington, who often asked to copy his homework.
Seeing the miserable looks on Anna Willow and Iris Kensington's faces, Holly Winslow said with resignation, "Class Monitor, I'll sign up for the 800-meter."
Sean Hayes nodded and wrote Holly Winslow's name in the 800-meter slot. The two 3000-meter spots were still empty.
After he left, Anna Willow threw her arms around Holly Winslow. "Holly, you're a lifesaver!"
Iris Kensington also hugged her from behind, grinning. "Holly, you're such a little angel. I'll definitely cheer for you, and I'll even buy you a whole pack of Wahaha."
"Get off, get off. Stop with the flattery." Holly Winslow "pretended" to be annoyed, tugging them back by the collars of their shirts.
But they just hugged her tighter, continuing to lay on the flattery. "Holly, you're the best."
"Holly is a little fairy, the prettiest little fairy."
...
The evening self-study session was taken over by Julian Carlton.
He began with a false show of politeness. "No one has signed up for the women's 3000-meter race. Are there any female students who would like to volunteer and bring glory to our class?"
None of the girls in the class answered him. Anna Willow kept her head down, pouting and muttering in displeasure, "Old Calder is 'forcing' people again."
Sure enough, Julian Carlton started making the choice himself. "Since none of you are volunteering, I'll just pick people from the roster. I'm not asking you to bring home a medal, but you can't lose without even putting up a fight. It would make Class Eight lose face."
He glanced at the list and, after a moment, continued, "The students in this class who haven't signed up for anything yet are: Dulcie Kensington, Anna Willow, Lily Chandler, Iris Kensington, and Lynn Hayes."
His eyes swept over the group. Noticing that Iris Kensington and Lynn Hayes were on the taller side, he made his decision cheerfully. "Iris Kensington and Lynn Hayes."