The school held elections among students every
year for offices for President, VP, Secretary, etc.
Tim always wanted to edit the year-book but
wasn't chosen for historian for the 2nd time.

I myself didn't feel strongly about office. My
grand-dad, I heard, was head of a county district
and did a few things, including setting up the
first public water pump for farmland irrigation
for my hometown. The pump lasted till this day but                                                          
unfortunately he didn't even live to see his children
get married. The revolution came along and he
was persecuted and died in prison for working
under the other party, leaving his wife and
children and, to some extent, his grand children,
to suffer the next 30 years. "The evil that men do
lives after them. The good is oft interred with
their bones.*" Just like that. Growing up, I                                                                
haven't heard villagers (not even his brother) say                                                          
any good thing, or anything at all, about him.                                                              
What's the point of office? Isn't being a healthy 
and responsible person good enough?

Tim was not very upset, either. I threw enough                                                              
cold water in advance, I guess. It also helped he                                                           
was elected representative again. In the end, I 
told him he did his best, making posters and
preparing for speeches, and that was the reward in                                                          
itself. As the Tao says: the way is to do and to                                                            
not covet**. Sweet truth.

NOTES:

* "Julius Caesar", Shakespeare.
** 圣人之道，为而不争。