by GalFisk » Fri Jul 12, 2024 8:43 am
Did the classmate also enter the competition himself? No.
Did he want Jennings to win for a specific reason? Yes. Did he want that Jennings does something with the vase after he won it? Yes. like: use it to decorate their room in the dorm? sell it? give it back to Mr Wilkins as compensation for the one he broke? This.
And that's the final piece, so it's time for the
***SPOILER***
Mr. Wilkins had two identical horrible vases, which he intended to give away to the headmaster, who in turn would give it to a charity his wife was a member of. Jennings accidentally smashed one of them while playing ball, and Mr. Wilkins got so upset that Jennings vowed to go into town and get him a new one. Mr. Wilkins told him they were antique and not made anymore, but he went anyway the next day, and was amazed to find one in a store window. He was informed by the owner that it wasn't for sale, but would be the first prize in a ball-throwing competition at the weekend fair. He managed to convince the headmaster to let them all go to the fair, and when Mr. Wilkins caught him practicing for the competition, and tried to give him some tips, Jennigns' friends were so dismissive that Mr. Wilkins decided to join, and ended up winning, all the while not knowing that his remaining horrible vase was the grand prize. The headmaster, by the way, was the one giving out the prizes, and he knew what Mr. Wilkins felt about the vase.
The Jennings books and radio plays are full of similar hilarious mixups, and are a childhood favorite of mine.
Thanks for playing!