Graduation day was finally upon them. Carl wasn’t impressed that he had to be at school at least two hours before the start of the ceremony to make sure he had enough time to register. Everyone also had to be seated in the hall thirty minutes before the start of the ceremony.
Make sure you leave home in good time. It's a really busy day, and you're guaranteed to get caught up in the excitement!
Carl texted, copying the Mackeys' memo to the student body.
What a load of shit.
He did, however, look forward to leaving that godforsaken place.
Everyone at school was happy when he arrived. They all looked ready for a magazine photo shoot.
“OMG!" Rosie said with a girly lilt when they met her and Jack at the school entrance. "How do you make your graduation cap stay on, Carl? It looks good, and it doesn’t seem to have caused you permanent hat hair.”
“Because you know hat hair's basically the worst," Jack added.
Carl thought it was the ugliest hat made in the history of mankind, combined with a gown that looked like a tube sock. Sal giggled beside him.
The ceremony was incredibly boring, and it was hot outside. People in the assembly hall waved brochures in front of their faces in a feeble attempt to stay cool.
To Mr. Mayer's great joy and the regret of everyone else, Strong Edge High School embraced a formal, somber graduation ceremony. Whooping and hollering had been replaced by applause and serious, bored-looking faces.
Eugene Waldo, the valedictorian and highest-ranking academic student in the graduation class, made the most boring speech ever; time flowed like asphalt.
Sal checked Jack’s watch. A whole minute had passed since he'd last checked. He was thirsty and bored. A few rows in front of him, a lady drank greedily from a bottle of water. Sal stared dreamily at the bottle. His head felt hot, and the heat sunk into his black hair. He couldn’t wait to break free of the sweltering heat.
Nothing had been left out from the speech: paths through life; what it meant to be on the brink of a new beginning; overcoming obstacles; high dropout rates; economic worries; health problems; classmates as individuals; friends and friendship; and looking back to the early years. He'd even covered memories of high school, including the terrible, recent murders and what might be learned from them. He ended with a big thank you and a heartfelt gratitude for the hard work and support of the teachers. This was followed by a tribute with special recognition for Principal Johnson, topped off with advice for making a difference in life.
The speech had been delivered in monotone in an adenoidal, nasal voice.
Sal actually caught a glimpse of a guy taking a nap during the boring speech, proving Eugene Waldo was the cure for insomnia.
When Eugene finally congratulated his fellow graduates, a collective sigh of relief went through the hall. Cell phones had to be turned off during the ceremony, and everyone fought to resist the urge to text or Google as it unfolded. Everyone also had to remain in their seats until the last of the students had received their diplomas so they'd feel properly acknowledged.
Thankfully, the handing out of diplomas was a quick and orderly process. The faculty made sure no one drowned out the recognition of another. Unlike Eugene Waldo, Principal Johnson's voice sounded out like a foghorn.
At the end of the ceremony, the graduates retreated to Pomp and Circumstance, which looked ridiculous. Sal felt like an elephant in a glass store. He smothered a giggle when someone stepped on Eugene Waldo’s gown making him trip, causing a domino effect through the row of the students.
The Open House after the ceremony was luxurious. It was expected that more people would show up than those who had been invited. Graduation balloons had been tied to the front porch, indicating that the building was a place of fun, food, and festive atmosphere. The house was sterile clean, with framed photos of Carl, the guest of honor, placed around the room. There was a sign-in book in the front hall for guests to leave a message for the graduate. It also ensured no guest would be forgotten. Crepe paper streamers hung from the ceiling inside the house and the big tent in the backyard which served as the food court.
And there was plenty of food to go around. A huge buffet with a colorful tablecloth and beautifully organized centerpieces was featured in the middle of the tent, with tables and chairs positioned around it. There was a variety of chips and dips, vegetable platters, nuts and fruit, sushi platters, pizza, and soft drinks and tea and coffee. A tall, three-layered chocolate cake and cupcakes topped it all off. A banner over the cake read "Happy 18th Birthday."
Sal’s mother had outdone herself. He felt a wave of guilt wash over him like ice in his gut when he realized he'd neglected everyone while he'd wallowed in self-pity.
His family had made sure Carl received the celebration he'd deserved. He figured he could make amends in subtle ways, but a confession was out of the question.
The turnout for the party was unbelievable. People that neither Carl nor Sal knew stood munching by the buffet. It seemed like half of the student body of Strong Edge High was present before they moved on to their own celebrations.
Everyone congratulated Carl and asked Sal if he was feeling better.
“Eugene Waldo should receive a gold medal for the most boring speech ever,” Rosie said while the foursome was eating chocolate cake at one of the tables in the tent.
“I swear, even the Mackeys were dozing off," Jack said, his mouth full of cake.
“Do you always talk when you're chewing?” Rosie asked Jack. “Talking while chewing makes me appear more powerful. What's the logic behind this theory, you might ask? It's that powerful people often behave as if the rules do not apply to them,” Jack answered with a teasing expression on his face.
“Where do you learn this crap?” Rosie said, annoyed.
“I learned it from you. You always text on your cell phone while we eat,” Jack replied.
“Anyway, I gotta go,” he quickly added before Rosie had the chance to answer. “I gotta head to Giantsfair to set up my gear.”
“We’ll come with you, man,” Carl said. “I need to get out of here.”
Rosie and Sal agreed.
Finally, they were able to slip away to Giantsfair to celebrate Carl's birthday, graduation, and the end of the school year on their own.
Sal softly, almost wistfully, opened and held the door for the others to pass. Then, he smiled at his parents, and he walked out the door.