Chapter 39: Labor Force Delivered to Your Door
Facing Chris's polite request, Mr. Anderson wisely stepped aside, gesturing for Chris to proceed.
Teaching this class was just a way to make a living—he didn't expect to cultivate any outstanding students to boost his performance reviews.
Therefore, his teaching was merely going through the motions for the principal. He paid no attention to classroom discipline, and he didn't even care if everyone showed up.
Now that Chris, a seemingly influential guy, was about to speak, he naturally agreed and stepped aside, curious to see what the kid was planning.
Chris looked at the twenty or thirty students in the class, all staring at him wide-eyed, their quiet and focused demeanor greatly surprising Mr. Anderson.
He had never seen these students so attentive during his regular lectures.
This made Anderson look at Chris's muscular physique, then at his own scrawny build, and he suddenly had the thought of hitting the gym.
He just didn't know if it was still possible for him, at his age and with his frame, to become a big, strong guy.
As Anderson pondered the possibility of developing serious muscles, Chris began to speak loudly: "Through what just happened with Johnny, I realized a major issue affecting all students—an issue that's compelling me to consider running for Student Council President.
Therefore, I, Chris Griffin, am calling upon my fellow students to help me campaign for Student Council President, so that I may have the opportunity and ability to resolve this problem that affects everyone here."
At this point, some of the sharper students had already guessed what Chris was getting at. Their expressions suddenly became excited, and a few even wanted to shout and cheer for Chris.
However, Chris noticed these enthusiastic students and gestured for them to hold on, to wait for him to finish.
The majority, though, still had no clue what Chris was talking about. They continued to listen with blank expressions, not daring to make the slightest movement.
Chris knew these were the bulk of his voters, so he made his point crystal clear: "This problem is bullying! I believe most of you have experienced bullying—from elementary school to middle school, and now in high school, and even into college.
Some of you might be the bullies, while others are the victims. I know many of you are forced by circumstances to bully others, just to avoid being bullied yourselves.
But it's undeniable that this might not be what you really want—the school environment forces you into it, makes you feel like you have no choice."
Listening to Chris's speech, everyone in the class was lost in thought, and even Mr. Anderson, standing off to the side, recalled his own school days.
He was one of the bullied, just as Chris described—at the bottom of the social ladder from elementary school through college, where everyone could pick on him.
Even after entering the workforce, people around him subtly excluded him. Otherwise, he wouldn't have ended up teaching this notoriously bad class that everyone at James Woods High knew about.
Anderson, drawing from personal experience, felt emotional, while the students—who were only in high school and hadn't fully formed their worldview yet—didn't feel it as deeply.
After all, except for a few bullied nerds, most of them were troublemakers. They were the ones who bullied others, so nobody messed with them.
It was just bad luck today that they ran into someone way tougher, which forced them to listen obediently.
Come to think of it, were they being bullied by Chris right now?
A few quick-witted troublemakers thought absently, then saw Chris wave his hand, stirring up a strong gust of wind.
Such a display immediately made the distracted troublemakers snap back to attention.
Chris then said with conviction: "So in order to change this environment, to allow all students to be themselves, and even more importantly, for the future of this country—
I, Chris Griffin, have decided to start by running for Student Council President, and step by step, change the school atmosphere here in Quahog.
I hope everyone will vote for me. Give me an opportunity to help everyone, and I certainly won't let you down!"
After Chris finished his heartfelt speech, the students who had suffered from bullying applauded with tears in their eyes, and even Mr. Anderson joined in with appreciative applause.
Only the confused troublemakers, intimidated by Chris's presence, hastily followed suit and clapped.
But they completely failed to understand what Chris had said, only catching that Chris wanted to be Student Council President and stuff like that.
"Thank you for your trust, everyone, and thank you, Mr. Anderson!" Chris bowed forward, completing the performance, and thanked the middle-aged teacher beside him, who had tear stains at the corners of his eyes.
"No, no, Chris, it is I who should thank you. If only I had someone like you during my school days... Never mind, let's not dwell on that." Anderson pinched the bridge of his nose, suppressing the emotions that had been buried in his heart for years, and let out a sincere sigh.
But no sooner had he begun than he stopped himself. After all, so many years had passed—what good would it do to talk about those things now?
It was better to focus on the present and see if this young man could change the tragedy of his own past, prevent what happened to him from happening here.
Thinking about how he could help Chris, Mr. Anderson considered for a moment and asked, "I'm wondering, Chris, have you found a faculty sponsor yet? A regular student who wants to run for Student Council President needs a teacher's recommendation. Do you know any teachers well enough?"
"...Would it be possible to trouble you, Mr. Anderson? As I just said, if it weren't for Johnny's outburst, I wouldn't have had this idea at all." Chris was momentarily caught off guard, then quickly found an excuse.
After all, he genuinely didn't know what preparations were needed to run for Student Council President, but he couldn't just admit that—it would turn his entire speech into a joke.
Anderson, however, didn't suspect anything. He looked at Chris's build and nodded knowingly, clearly having misunderstood.
In Anderson's view, given Chris's physique, it was already impressive if he didn't actively bully others. Why would anyone be stupid enough to provoke him?
Perhaps if Johnny hadn't rashly shouted out loud today, Chris probably wouldn't even know what it felt like to be bullied, right?
The more Anderson thought about it, the more sense it made, and he sighed, thinking Chris was truly a good kid. He nodded and said, "I'll help you submit the recommendation letter to Principal Shepherd, but as for campaigning among students, I can't help with that."
As he spoke, the dismissal bell rang.
Normally at this time, the students in the class would have already scattered, showing no respect to any teacher.
But today, Chris was standing at the front. The good students were still mulling over Chris's campaign speech, while the troublemakers were in awe of his strength.
Therefore, they all sat obediently in their seats.
Seeing such a sight, Mr. Anderson smiled wistfully and called out to Chris, "Good luck! I'm looking forward to your successful election. I'll be heading out now."
Looking at another person he'd won over, Chris noted that his charisma seemed to be growing stronger.
Then he walked up to Johnny and said coldly, "Let's go. It's time to talk about how you're going to make this up to me."
Johnny, whose backside had been hurting for half the class period and whose face was now pale, didn't dare disobey and quickly followed Chris out of the classroom.
And the few guys Chris had stared at earlier also didn't dare make any moves, all honestly following behind.
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