Chapter 9 – Last Full Day
Lizboa woke up feeling mournful. “This is the last full day of our trip. It’s gone so quickly.”
“Indeed!” said Alice, cheerfully. “But what’s the point of feeling sad and fussing over it? We still have a day and a half. Let’s enjoy it to the fullest!”
“Exactly,” laughed Alexis. “And it won’t help a bit if you keep on lazing in your bed.” She yanked the covers off Lizboa and Baixue’s bed. “Come on! Get up, lazy pigs!”
Lizboa got off her bed, with her pillow in her hands, chasing Alexis. She chased Alexis into the bathroom. Lizboa flung the pillow, trying to hit Alexis. She ended up upsetting Cynthia’s wash basin and the water in it splashed all over Cynthia.
“Oh, sorry!” exclaimed Lizboa, before dissolving into torrents of laughter.
“Well, thanks for drenching me,” said Cynthia, sarcastically.
“I helped you with your morning shower! You don’t need to take it anymore,” said Lizboa.
“I don’t take morning showers,” grumbled Cynthia.
Soon Cynthia was dried up and ready for breakfast and the sightseeing for the morning.
They were going to the Summer Palace. Mr Leung had told them that it covered 720 acres of land, three quarters of which was water. They gasped at the clear blue lakes and beautiful buildings. Out of the four historical sites they had visited – the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace – they found the Summer Palace most fulfilling of the adjective ‘elegant’. It had not the power of the wall, or the grandeur of the Forbidden City or the Temple of Heaven, but it was gentle and pretty.
After lunch, they took the bus to Beijing National Stadium. “In other words, the Bird’s Nest,” said Baixue as they approached the parking lot.
They all knew that Beijing hosted the 2008 Olympics, and that the National Stadium held the track and field events, plus the opening and closing ceremonies. They first marveled at the exquisite exterior design. The building lived up to its name. It looked really like a bird’s nest!
“It’s so unique,” said Lizboa.
“The design is creative, and that’s good for an Olympic stadium – you remember it,” said Alexis.
“It cost a lot to build, nearly 428 million US dollars,” said Evelyn.
“I should think so! Why, Baixue told me that the exterior was made out of steel!” exclaimed Alice.
“I must conclude that it’s distasteful,” said Cynthia, as they headed to look at the interior.
The interior was certainly not half as memorable as the exterior. It just looked like any large sports stadium, with the field in the center, and seats surrounding it.
After taking a group photo outside the stadium, they headed on to look at Beijing National Aquatics Center, otherwise known as the Cube. After admiring the stunning exterior, they went back to the bus to each get a little bag of stuff. In their little bag was their swimsuit. In 2010, as Mr Leung had informed them, the Cube was re-opened as an indoor waterpark – and instead of hearing an introduction to the waterpark, they were to experience its rides, slides and tides instead!
They rushed to the changing rooms to change into their swimsuits, and then ran out to try out as many slides and rides as they could.
They ignored the wave pool and the spa, but went on all of the slides and rides. They enjoyed Tornado, where four of them would sit on a raft and shoot down the slide. The love Bulletbowl, where they circled around in a dome, then were sent flying down a chute. They adored Aqualoop, where they shot up, then down again. Speedslide live up to its name. It went so fast that the girls screamed with joy. Pipeline was a favorite too. It had so many loops and turns and drops. Other rides were fun also, but these were the highlights.
Cynthia, however, was too timid to try out even the gentlest of the slides, and stuck to the lazy river.
They chattered as they got out of the pool to go into the changing room for a shower before taking a late dinner.
“Oh, I do wish the school could turn the swimming pool into something like this!” said Lizboa.
“I suppose we could tell Miss Caty that,” teased Alexis.
“No, I mean only one or two slides,” said Lizboa. “Don’t you agree, Baixue?”
“I shan’t care!” said Baixue. “I’m not going to go back with you anyway.”
The girls fell silent as they thought of having to depart without Baixue soon. “Hey,” said Baixue. “The fond farewells come later on! Enjoy yourselves now.”
The girls rubbed themselves dry and took a shower. Tired from their restless afternoon, they were hungry for dinner.
That night was one of the few nights on which they had evening activities. The girls were going back to the auditorium of the Peking University for the Prize Giving and Closing Ceremony of the Children’s Choir Tournament.
Everyone’s carefree feeling from the afternoon was gone; they were all nervous and feared the worst – what if they came last?
They crowded into the auditorium. The ceremony started with the representative of the association that organized the competition giving a speech. “The Children’s Choir Tournament is a great chance for boys and girls to display their wonderful abilities for singing and also to meet children from other unfamiliar countries. The Tournament, I flatter myself, is not only a competitive event, but also the crossroads of all nations,” he read from his cards.
Then the main sponsor stepped on stage to give a speech. The contents were much the same as the previous speech. The girls politely tried to suppress their yawns.
Then the judges went up on stage to give their comments, and they listened with fear, anxiety and excitement. The judges commented on the efforts of each team. Some were definitely negative. McJone’s had a report that had a few suggestions, and a few compliments. The team that had done a mini-opera had a very positive report.
“In third place, with 85.79 marks…” announced one judge. The girls held their breath. “St. Paul’s School, from the United Kingdom!” No! It was not them. This added to their nervousness.
“In second place,” said the judge. “With 90.25 marks…” The judge paused dramatically, trying to create suspense. It worked, for the girls bit their lips nervously, hoping that they were at least in second place. They were certain they couldn’t be first, but it would be humiliating if they went back without placing.
The judge continued. “From the USA, McJone’s Foundry School Choir!” Overjoyed screams echoed in the auditorium. The girls were delighted as their conductor stepped on stage. They hugged each other, cheered loudly and jumped up and down.
The champion was, as they had guessed, the team that had done a mini-opera. The girls were too happy to consider or care whether that team deserved the place.
Everyone in the choir, from Mrs Jenkins to the pianist to the girls, was overpowered by the happiness of placing second. Mrs Jenkins said, as they boarded the bus, “I am really pleased with our result, girls. I will take you to a Le Patisserie, the best café in Beijing, and you can all order one cake and one ice-cream! You can also stay up as late as you wish to tonight, and have parties in each other’s rooms!”
This added on to the joy of the girls’, and the cheering didn’t stop until they got to the store. The driver was really vexed.
They certainly enjoyed their ice-cream and cake, and played in each other’s rooms till midnight. It had been a lovely day, what with the joy of placing and the excitement of the water park.
They slept soundly that night, but they would wake up to find themselves looking forward to the flight back to USA.
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