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Sisi had managed to snatch one red armband. It had fallen to the ground and was a bit damp and smudged with dirt, but it was new and smelling of the yellow ink just printed on the band that read: Red Guard.I am officially guarding the socialist land under the red sun of Chairman Mao, she thought with pride.The frustrated principal stepped forward, adjusted his glasses, and cleared his throat. He informed the students that he was going to read the names of those chosen. If a student's name was not called, they were to give back their red armband.The list wasn't that long, fifty students in all. But from the mouth of the principal, each name was squeezed out slowly, with effort, like a goat discharging pebbly manure. The names of her friends, Li Jun and Hin Ru, were read off, along with other student leaders, but Sisi's name had not been uttered yet.The last name on the list was finally read. It was not Sisi's name.Her heart sank.As the principal came down the steps toward Sisi, her heart rose again. He called out Sisi's name and, taking her hand, led her up onto the stage. With her standing beside him, he declared that they had been making a grave mistake for a long time -- the mistake to put the daughter of a disgraced landlord in a position of leadership.He snatched the red band from Sisi's trembling hands and ordered her to leave school and never to return again.Sisi didn't know what to do or think. The words struck her like unexpected thunderbolts. Her heart climbed up into her throat and hot tears trickled down her cheeks.The principal roughly shoved Sisi off the stage. The crowd was utterly silent as Sisi stumbled off the stage and fell. Picking herself up, she slowly began to run along the muddy road, following the three fresh tracks left behind by the chief's vehicle.