The Island

Part 6 - 3

Three:

Jeanette bounced her curled blonde hair in Carmen's mirror. About three hours had passed since she left Sara's room with Carmen. Ever since then, Carmen helped her pick out her clothes and perfect her speech. Jeanette was dressed for success. "Are you ready?" Carmen asked, packing away her beauty products in her travel tote. Jeanette smiled. "I'm ready." Almost immediately after that, a voice called from the stairs for Jeanette and Carmen. The speeches were about to begin. Despite her incident that morning, she felt well enough to present her speech and run for leader of the island. In a strange way, the experience made her feel stronger; she remembered she had wrote that in her speech last-minute. While Jeanette did her hair, Carmen kindly transferred Jeanette's whole speech onto two sheets of lined paper. She thanked Carmen for that. "Let's go." Carmen said to Jeanette, walking past her and to the door. Jeanette smiled and walked away from the mirror. She left her room behind Carmen; she was carrying Jeanette's speech for her. From the foyer, everyone started clapping as they entered. Carmen smiled and Jeanette waved to the crowd. Almost directly in front of the stairs was a podium-like object that looked like it came straight from a high school pep rally. It was clearly aged and beat up - pink and blue paint-marks lined the sides. Standing at it was none other than Michael, who wore a black vest that looked too small for him and dressy pants and shoes. The occupants of the cabin had ceased cheering once Jeanette stepped onto the foyer floor. Right at the front, two seats lie open. "If you will, please take a seat." Michael gestured to the empty seats. Carmen looked back to Jeanette and handed her the speech papers. "You go last. I arranged that, if you were curious." Carmen whispered as they sat down. In front of them, Michael cleared his throat and looked out on his friends. "Hello, everyone." He began. The crowd's whispers became silent. "My mother used to say 'It is better to lead than follow. If you don't like it, lead it.' This is why I stand in front of you, today. I believe that how this cabin is terrible and immoral. The events of Adin's death have led to the absolute disgrace and disorder of this cabin. Friends, if you do not vote for me, you shall watch the downfall of all of us, starting with our Jeanette." He gestured at her in the front row of chairs. "She may seem confident with her looks, but we all know she is terrified. Do you really want someone who is scared to lead us all? I certainly do not, and my supporters can agree. More on the topic of Jeanette... She might as well have unstable tattooed on her forehead. That may seem rude, but think about it from her perspective; she has lost her boyfriend, been through questioning, and left to serve us all. That is taxing, I will admit. But those experiences will not make her a good leader whatsoever." Jeanette's jaw was half-open at his words. "That's enough about Jeanette, so let's discuss Sara, our 'head investigator;' no doubt there is an effort to finding out what happened to him, it's just the efforts are all wrong. By interrogating random people like JT," Michael gestured toward him, who sat in the second back row of chairs. "who clearly have nothing to do with Adin's murder at all. Sara's leadership by the way isn't really leadership - it's just a bunch of expectations and random orders she gives her boyfriend. That isn't leadership, that's just bossiness. I'm tired of being told around by her, and feeling like I am the bad guy. I simply want to help, and she prevents anyone except her boyfriend and a few others access to her investigation at its details. If I would have gotten the right to be head investigator, I guarantee you I would have found Adin's body and what happened to him. The way she has chose to lead is the wrong way, and I promise to lead us right. After all, I am the one who suggested a democratic govern, which I thank the lot of you for helping to achieve that. I promise if I am leader that all my decisions will be selfless and for the greater good of all of you. Thank you." Michael got off the podium and took his seat in the back row next to JT.