A Dream About Independence

Chapter One: The Civic Event

Chapter 1: "The Civic Event".

It was March, 2010, the first class day for being more specific; as usual the school had organized a Civic Event of Class Beginning: we sang the National Hymn, someone read a poem and that sort of things.

After that, Mrs. Norma spoke. She gave a sham smile and nobody thought about what the Headmaster could say. He came after her, he had the face frowned in a sad motion; he had wept and was whiter than usual; he was worried for something.

This man had a very bad new to tell about: the Spanish Reconquist was real and in front; in Valparaíso some war ships had disembarked with the idea of making us a Colony again.

The Kindergarten girls had the face of someone who is getting actually nothing, the Primary  ones were crying; the High School ones, as me, were surprised and furious; adults were trying to seem brave, but they were actually shocked.

In the classroom we couldn't occult the worried faces and some classmates started to cry. Teacher Elsa, very Christian lady, prayed, told us the story of the Chilean Independence War and gave us strength, making us believe that, if we had broken free once, we could do that all over again.

When the obligated prologue ended, we sat slowly and classes started. The worst beginning of all: nobody was concentrated on teacher's words, but into Headmaster's ones.

Ended the first our class, my best friend in the entire school, Paloma Bustos, looked for me in my desk while I kept my belongings. She told me about an unexpected party to be done the same night in there.

-Shopito, would you go to the party?-she asked.

-Of course, if it's for giving strength why not-I answered.

-Nice! We'll be together! Sofi, how do you feel about what the Director said? I don't look you sad-she noticed.

-I don't feel sad, I'm furious against the Spaniards. I'd like to make a little army-I said dreamly.

-Of course! Just like Manuel Rodríguez did!-she laughed.

-Something you know about history, he made a lot of little armies in the independence war époque-I answered.

-And you start right now with your Mental History Book, it always happens-she noticed.

-If you want I can tell you in the party: it's very interesting-I offered.

-Nice idea!-she said with sarcasm.

-Palo... If I wanted to organize a little army, would you participate?-I asked.

-Obvious, Sofita, obvious-she said.

Then, the bell called to back to classes and we climbed the long stairs to arrive to our classroom.