When one with honeyed words but evil mind Persuades the mob, great woes befall the state. - Euripides Milo Moloney tumbled out of the back seat of the car theinstant his dad squealed it to a halt. The Moloneys werecutting it close and were in danger of being late for theopening ceremony. That was the last thing they wanted.Milo''s mam, flustered and red-faced, jumped out after him asthe three headed for the campus gates. Unmistakable soundsof celebration could be heard bubbling in the distance. As they reached the gates, they were greeted by a flying drone-ball. Like a tiny spherical helicopter, it whizzed downand floated in mid-air beside them, announcing: ''Welcome, Moloney family.
Orientation begins in three minutes.Do not delay.'' ''Wow!'' said Milo''s dad. ''Brilliant.'' They scurried up the tree-lined avenue, as if they wished to run but did not dare. ''For heaven''s sake, Milo,'' said his mam, catching up to him. Milo was tucking in his shirt with one hand as he jogged and fixing his tie with the other. His school bag hung off his shoulder, and his brand-new blazer trailed along behind him like some limp animal tail.
''You''re in an absolute state! Come here and I''ll fix you!'' ''I''m grand!'' said Milo, hiking up his trousers. His mam licked her thumb to flatten his shaggy brown hair. ''And put on your blazer!'' The school they were headed for was the most famous, the most highly ranked and the wealthiest school in all of Ireland: the Secondary Training Institute for Lifelong Employment, known simply as ''the Institute''. It was the pride and joy of the nation, renowned across the globe for its futuristic, hi-techcampus and the unparalleled excellence of its graduates. Its status was near mythical. Tourists would snap selfies in front of the iconic logo. Visiting world leaders would hold meetings in the board room. Famous film directors would shoot scenes there.
Regular folk would take Sunday drives just to see thegrounds and to purchase a keepsake from the school''s shop. And somehow, the young, messy, easily distracted MiloMoloney had been accepted here. He was a smart kid - heand his parents knew that - but they were still amazed thathe''d managed to focus enough to get in. The family broke into a full run as they neared the topof the avenue. There were expansive green lawns on eitherside, the grass as smooth as carpet, like each blade wasindividually cut with a tiny pair of scissors. ''Put on your blazer!'' Milo''s mam insisted. It''s roasting,'' Milo protested. ''Milo, not now, please.
Just do as you are told.'' Shehoisted his jacket up around his shoulders. ''I don''t wantanother argument.'' That morning they''d already argued about what to havefor breakfast, daily showering and whether you could besure the world still existed when you shut your eyes. Just then, the world-famous campus appeared beforethem like a vision from the distant future. Set into theundulating hills of west Waterford, the campus was madeup of a complex of five large white rectangular buildingsconnected by sleek curved-glass tunnels to a central towerblock.It looked more like an inter-galactic space stationthan an Irish secondary school. Every detail was smoothand new.
And yet it looked like it had always been there.Like the hills were made afterwards as a backdrop for it. Milo looked up at the coloured laser lights that shonefrom the rooftops, as if searching for extra-terrestrial life.Several drone-balls whizzed overhead like a swarm of robotbees, carrying signs reading Welcome First-Years! Every sooften, one would buzz down and snap a photo of a familyunderneath the famous sign. And there it was, brieflystopping the Moloneys in their tracks, the school''s nameand motto in bright-blue letters: Secondary Training Institute for Lifelong Employment Efficiency in Education The Moloneys stood under the logo and looked up. It wasa special moment for them. Money was tight, but sinceMilo had been accepted to the Institute, everything hadchanged. Milo''s future was full of possibilities and he wasready for the challenge.
He''d never felt so determined beforein his whole life.