This was it. The Moment that all seniors have been waiting for. Well...except for me. Today was graduation day and my best friend May have been bugging me about it, saying again and again that I would have to keep in touch with her.
“Of course, I’m going to stay in touch. We have been friends for 10 years, May.” I said, laughing as I shook my head at her. May have been practically shaking my shoulders, asking whether I will stay in touch and demanding ‘Yes’ as the only answer.
“You better. Because if you don’t give me daily updates about your college life, I’m going to go over there.” May hmphed as she put her hands on her hips. She looked really pretty in her graduation gown, her braids formed into a clean ponytail. I had no idea how she was able to maintain those braids.
We were all at the auditorium, waiting for the graduation ceremony to begin. Technically May should have been at the opposite side of the auditorium from me, but May being May, ran towards me as soon as she spotted me. I, on the other hand, sat in my seat while others were busily taking selfies of themselves wearing graduation gowns. Yeah, I was definitely not going to do that. But things didn’t work my way usually if May was around.
“Why are you just sitting there? Aren’t you excited?! We’re finally free from this hell hole!” May screamed, pulling me up from my seat as she reached for her iPhone.
“Ms. Everette. You’re still on the school premises that you call a hell hole. Please refrain from saying such things again.” The snotty history teacher hissed at May as she passed by.
“Party pooper. I swear she is going to die alone with 50 cats surrounding her.” May said, glaring at the teacher as she stuck out her tongue.
“I don’t know...Mr. Gishe seemed interested in her.” I said, giggling. Mr. Gishe was this creepy gym teacher who would look at students weirdly. Some swore that they had caught him staring at the Janitor’s butt for 5 minutes straight one time.
“Yikes. I would rather be a cat lady than to be with Mr. Creep Stare. Now come on! Pictures are the ones that last!” May said as she pulled me in for a selfie. We ended up taking a dozen with wacky poses. I wouldn’t have been able to do that if not for May. I was so going to miss her...
“Hey. You’re overthinking again.” May said, hitting me lightly on the shoulder as she put her phone away in her jean pocket underneath the gown.
“I’m just going to miss you when we’re off to different schools. I’ll be in Cornell and you’ll be in Vanderbilt. That’s 850miles away!” I said, shaking my head. I was so used to seeing her all the time. We have been friends since forever. It was my routine to pick up May on my way to school, and we would always go back home together too. Now to think that routine won’t be needed anymore, made me sad.
“Aww, but we’ll see each other on vacations and holidays! And we’ll text each other. Everything is going to be fine. Trust me.” May said, wiping a tear from her eye.
“Oh, look at what you made me do now. My makeup is all smudged.” May laughed as she slapped me on the back.
“At least you’ll have less makeup on your face when you cry later at the ceremony. You’ll look less of a raccoon.” I said, rubbing my back furiously.
“Hey! I will not look like a raccoon! That’s the beauty of waterproof mascara.” May said, flipping her hair. She soon had to apologize to a boy who was passing by absentmindedly, coincidently getting slapped by May’s hair.
“Girl, where are your parents? Mine is here but I don’t see yours.” May said, trying to find mine in the crowds as she stuck her neck out like a giraffe.
“Oh...Well, you know my dad. He never comes to any of my ceremonies. And Mom...she had to work today.” I said, trying to act nonchalant, trying to swallow the feelings that tried to force themselves up.
“They are not coming to your High school graduation?” May’s jaw dropped open in shock.
“It’s nothing. I’m going to be fine. I might have to leave during the ceremony anyway. There’s this mini orientation at Cornell. I get to meet my seniors and classmates.” I said, smiling at her.
“Oh. You’re coming to the party though, right? You can’t miss it. Everyone at school is going to come and it would be pretty much the last time for the class to be together before the reunion.” May said, giving me the puppy dog eyes.
“Yeah. Of course, I’m going to be there. The orientation isn’t going to be that long. If it turns out to be a bore, I’ll just sneak out.” I said, laughing. Even if it was fun, I would have to go to the party. I didn’t trust May with booze. The girl didn’t know her limits and would drink endlessly if she was unsupervised.
“Okay. I have to go to my seat now, but see you at the party later?” May said, wiggling her eyebrows.
“Yeah. Happy graduation, May,” I said, giving her a smile.
“You too, Lissy,” May said, giving a smile back.
The graduation ceremony was really a bore just like I thought. The principal went on and on about something that I didn’t bother to listen to, and some of the students did some performances that were just...Nah. After all that fiasco, it was finally time to get the diplomas.
May went on the stage first since her last name was Everette while mine was Knight. When May went on stage, beaming when she got her diploma, I clapped loudly with the others, and I could hear her brother Jack catcalling. May rolled her eyes at that.
When it was finally my turn, I just walked over to the principal and grabbed my diploma, quickly getting off the stage. To be honest, I wasn’t offended when my mom said that she couldn’t make it to my graduation. I couldn’t be a baby about it, and I knew my dad would never come even if I asked, so I didn’t bother. My younger brother, Alex, was at school so he obviously couldn’t come. But when I stood at that stage, I knew that nobody was watching me graduate while other students were all supported by their families. I was jealous of them.
When the ceremony finally ended, Students all flung their graduation caps, some yelling that they were free at last!
It just reminded me of this tacky metaphor I had seen in a musical.
School is a prison. The teachers are guards. Students are the prisoners, wearing the prison garb that they call a school uniform.
Can I just say that I want to slap some sense into my 15-year-old self who actually thought that Metaphor was cool and was actually touched by that? Gag.
As soon as the ceremony was over, parents all mingled with the students, trying to find their children. I quickly hugged May and went sprinting off while students were congratulated by their parents, each holding a flower bouquet. I didn’t want to be the odd man out.
Making my way to the bus station, seeing all the students with their parents looking all happy, I couldn’t help but be a little mad at my parents. I wanted to have that too. It was once in a lifetime kind of thing and they didn’t come.
As soon as my bus came, I took a seat and stared out the window as the bus made its way to Cornell. I really hoped the mini-orientation would be better than the crappy graduation ceremony that I had to endure just now.
