the Agricultural Museum [, our billet,] that some Central leaders would see us on August 31. When we heard this, everyone exploded in excitement. Speculation was rife: Which leader or leaders would be there? Would Chairman Mao come? The result of our group deliberations was that Chairman Mao was sure to be too busy to come. Since we were not from Beijing, there was even less reason for him to see us. But there was a small and adamant group who were sure that Chairman Mao would appear. Naturally, I wanted to believe them. Truth, after all, is often the prerogative of the minority.
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It was 6:00 A.M., August 31. We all woke with a start. Although we were all at the age when it is impossible to wake up in the morning, everyone had been really excited the night before. People had woken at the slightest noise and looked around to see that nothing was going on, before drifting off to sleep again. But this time it was for real. We all got dressed in record time and, armed with the food and water we had set aside the night before, ran into the courtyard.
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Once assembled, we climbed into our bus and were driven to Tiananmen Square. We lined up and sat in ranks; the Square was turned into a massive sea of green. We waited wide-eyed and expectant. Morning broke slowly, and we saw the majestic outline of Tiananmen Gate. As the sun rose, we began to get hot. But we waited and waited. Our eyes were popping out of our heads. The sweat trickled down our brows and into our eyes. Everyone was constantly wiping the sweat away with their hands. We took out our food and water and started chatting as we ate. Some people nodded off to sleep, heads cushioned on their knees. As a person nodded, his or her head might slip off the knee and they'd awake with a shock, look around, and then nod off again. This happened repeatedly. Some people simply lay down to sleep, using their caps and satchels as a pillow. I stood up and looked out over the Square, a massive expanse occupied by an army of battle-weary Red Guards. I sat down and was overcome by drowsiness myself and, despite my best efforts to keep awake, I was exhausted and fell asleep.
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Suddenly drums could be heard, a weak sound at first that grew louder. After the drum roll, all the loudspeakers on the Square resounded with the opening chords of "The East Is Red," followed by the tumultuous sound of the orchestral arrangement of the song. The very earth shook with the volume of the sound. Everyone jumped to their feet. My heart was in my throat; I could feel my pulse around my lips, in my head and neck. The eyes of a million Red Guards were riveted on Tiananmen Gate.
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The leaders of Party Central had appeared! But who was behind them? It was Chairman Mao himself!! Everyone threw down their hats, satchels,
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