Charlie, having escaped death, and Frank, who had given up on suicide, sat on the sofa in the room chatting. The Frank before him was no longer the overbearing soldier, but merely a kind and amiable old man."Do you know what keeps me going? It's dreams. One day... never mind..." Frank said meaningfully, but in the end, he shook his head and chose to let it go."What?" Charlie asked, his eyes still red."It's stupid." Frank seemed to be talking to himself. "It's just the dream that maybe one day, there will be a woman with her arms around me, her legs wrapped around me, and when I wake up in the morning, she's still there. Her scent, sweet and warm." After finishing, Frank paused. "Later, I gave up on that." Frank slowly enjoyed the wine in his glass.Looking at the Lieutenant Colonel like this, Charlie said earnestly, "I don't understand why it's not possible. Once we return to New Hampshire, we can look around. You're so handsome, you're funny, and you're a great travel companion. You're sensitive and compassionate."Frank suddenly realized, "Charlie, are you kidding me?"Charlie couldn't help but chuckle. "Yes, I am."That night, Charlie and Frank returned to New Hampshire. Charlie mentioned the school meeting scheduled for tomorrow, which worried him greatly. Because his parents couldn't make it to attend, he had to face the pressure of the school alone, and he hadn't decided whether to compromise. As for George, he had completely cut off contact.Before leaving, Frank, who refused to say goodbye, still reluctantly stroked Charlie's face, trying to use this method to remember the young man's appearance. This surprised Charlie, as he remembered how much the Lieutenant Colonel had hated being touched at the beginning.After saying goodbye to Frank, Charlie walked into the auditorium alone, facing the turning point of his fate. But just before the meeting began, Frank, who should have gone home, appeared in the auditorium. Supported by Charlie, he walked onto the podium and sat in the seat for Charlie's father. Opposite them were George and his father, Old George, and George didn't even dare to meet Charlie and Harry's gaze—everything was just as Frank had expected.The headmaster began to interrogate Little George on the spot. At first, Little George was evasive, trying to avoid it by saying he wasn't wearing contact lenses and couldn't see clearly, but the headmaster didn't buy it at all. Under the headmaster's relentless pressure and Old George's coercion, Little George finally gave in. "Don't believe everything I say. It was very dark, I didn't have my contact lenses, etc. It might have been... Harry Havemeyer, Trent Potter, Jimmy James."George betrayed his friends, the other three friends they were with; everything was just as Frank had expected. Even when the headmaster intended to press for further details, George betrayed Charlie again, pushing all the blame onto him. So, the headmaster turned and began to interrogate Charlie."You don't wear contact lenses, do you?" The headmaster wisely confirmed this first. After receiving an affirmative answer, he continued, "With your unobstructed vision, who did you see?"When it came down to it, Charlie still couldn't make a decision, because this was the moment that would determine his future. On one side was his future, on the other was his conscience. He couldn't make a choice. "I, I saw some things, but, I, I can't say who it was.""Fine, then what did you see?""I can't say.""You can't say, or you don't want to say?" The headmaster's relentless pressure left Charlie at a loss."I, I just can't say!""Can't, don't want to, shouldn't... You are testing my patience and making a fool of everyone. I will give you one last chance, otherwise, there will be serious consequences." The headmaster was on the verge of anger. "By serious consequences, I mean your future will be permanently damaged." Faced with such pressure, not to mention Charlie, even George, sitting opposite, felt he couldn't take it anymore. "Now, I will ask you one last time. What did you see in the parking lot last Tuesday night!""I saw some people." Charlie was finally forced to confirm."Very good! Did you see their figures and appearances?" The headmaster saw the dawn of victory, and Charlie was forced to nod. "Then whose figures and appearances were they!"Charlie's amber eyes were filled with hesitation and uncertainty. "Those characteristics..." But just before the words came out, Charlie struggled again. This time, he knew his final choice, unwavering. "It looked like any Baird student, sir." Charlie chose to stand his ground.The headmaster was furious. "I don't have a single witness. Mr. Willis's testimony is vague. The clues I was looking for, Mr. Simms, should have come from you. But... since that's the case, I cannot punish Mr. Havemeyer, Mr. Potter, or Mr. James. And I will not punish Mr. Willis, as he is the only one who can be called a Baird Man. I will recommend that the Disciplinary Committee expel you.""Mr. Simms, you are a cunning accomplice, a liar..." The headmaster's accusations were only halfway through when he was interrupted by Frank. "But not a snitch!""Pardon me, I didn't hear you clearly?" said the headmaster."I won't pardon you." Frank said stiffly."Mr. Slade!" The headmaster's voice was filled with anger."This hearing is a complete farce." Frank's words caused a stir among the students present."Please watch your language, Mr. Slade. This is Baird School, not a military barracks." The headmaster didn't intend to continue tangling with Frank. "Mr. Simms, I'll give you one last chance to defend yourself."But it was Frank who answered. "Mr. Simms doesn't need to. He doesn't need to be labeled as a 'Baird Man.' What is this? What is this? What is your school motto? 'Children, betray your friends to save yourself, or you'll be burned to ashes'?" Frank's resonant voice echoed powerfully through the auditorium. "Gentlemen, when the bullets fly, some people run, and some stand firm. This Charlie went through fire and water, while that George hid under his father's wings. So what are you going to do? You're going to reward George and destroy Charlie.""Are you finished, Mr. Slade?" The headmaster wanted to ignore this, but how could Frank ever agree?"No. I'm just warming up! I don't know who those famous alumni are—William Howard Taft, William Jennings Bryan, William Teer, whatever; their spirit is dead, or if it ever existed, it's gone. You are currently building a ship for snitches, a bunch of little people who sell out their friends for glory. If you think you're molding them into men, you're wrong, because you're killing exactly that spirit, which is the very spirit this school claims to be founded on."Frank easily captured everyone's attention, his resounding words leaving the scene in silence, with only his voice echoing."How shameful! What kind of farce are you putting on today? The only person in this matter worthy of praise is sitting right next to me. Let me tell you, this boy's character is impeccable, without a doubt. Do you know why I know? Someone here—I won't say who—tried to bribe him, but Charlie won't sell his soul."The headmaster could finally take no more. He struck the gavel. "Sir, you've gone too far!"But Frank stood up directly, saying in an even stronger voice, "Let me tell you what 'too far' is! You don't know what 'too far' is! I'd show you, but I'm too old, too tired, and too f*cking blind. If it were five years ago, I'd have brought a flamethrower here!" Frank slammed his cane onto the table hard. "Too far? Who do you think you're talking to? I've seen the world, you understand? When I could still see... I've seen many, many younger boys with arms twisted off, legs blown off, but none of that is as terrible as an ugly soul! A soul can't have a prosthetic! Do you think you're just sending this fine young man home like a stray dog? But I tell you, you are executing his soul! Why? Because he's not a Baird Man! A Baird Man! If you hurt this boy, you're a Baird coward! All of you! And Harry, Jimmy, Trent, wherever you're sitting... f*ck you!"Frank's words caused a commotion in the auditorium, and those named were even more restless and at a loss. This forced the headmaster to strike the gavel three times in succession. "Please be quiet, Mr. Slade!"But Frank replied with, "I'm not finished!" which left the headmaster speechless. "When I came here, I heard words like 'cradle of leadership.' But when the branch breaks, the cradle falls. It has fallen here, it has already fallen. Makers of men, creators of leaders, be careful what kind of leaders you're creating. I don't know if Charlie's silence today is right or wrong. I am not a judge or a jury. But I can tell you, he will never betray a friend to get ahead! And that, my friends, is called integrity! That is courage! That is the requirement of a leader."Frank's words made the headmaster avert his gaze. "When I come to a crossroads in life, I always know which path is right. Without exception, I know. But I never take it, you know why? Because it's f*cking hard. And now Charlie, he has also come to a crossroads. He has chosen a path, a right path, full of principles, a path to character. Let him continue his journey. His future is in your hands, committee members, a future that is absolutely valuable, believe me. Don't destroy it, protect it, embrace it. One day you will be proud, I promise."Frank's impassioned speech caused applause to break out one after another, finally merging into one, with all the students applauding for Frank. Even though the headmaster kept striking the gavel, he couldn't stop this reverence.The committee held a discussion on the spot, and finally, Mrs. Hunsaker announced the result: "Mr. Havemeyer, Mr. Potter, and Mr. James are placed on disciplinary probation for suspected misconduct. Furthermore, it is recommended that Mr. George Willis Jr. receive neither commendation nor disciplinary action for his cooperation. Mr. Charles Simms is not required to be held responsible for this incident."The moment the result was announced, all the students in the audience stood up, cheering and applauding, paying the highest tribute to Charlie and Frank. This was the most important and profound moment of their lives!After leaving the auditorium, political science professor Christine Downy caught up with Frank and Charlie, expressing her admiration for Frank, and one could even see her affection for him. When Frank left, his face was once again glowing with a bright radiance.Charlie escorted Frank home. He watched Frank walk back toward the Ross family, but facing the children he had previously always criticized and disliked, Frank smiled for the first time, kindly calling the children into his "no trespassing" house to eat chocolate.At this moment, Frank's back straightened up again, which made Charlie break into a bright smile.
