28A TRICYCLE TOOK mother and daughter to the National High School. Teresa was wearing the school uniform; her white blouse was new, a gift from her father for her having won the pageant. David had also gotten Teresa a new pair of white socks for the occasion; he said the whites, when not new, were easily noticed, but not the maroon skirt the girls wore to school so it didn’t need to be replaced. When Teresa and her mother entered the school grounds, Teresa cast aside her worries about the rashes when she saw the quadrangle teeming with students who would be her audience during coronation. The more diligent ones were already in some semblance of a line according to their class sections, but there were still many others who formed crowds with their friends. The stage was ready for the event.
