Chapter 3 - Graduation
#3 of The Beasts of Burden
We exited the bus and lined up in rows alongside the other students. The teachers lined up in front of us, standing side by side, some with arms crossed in front of them, some behind their backs. I checked the weather on my phone, out of view of the nearest teacher.
68 degrees, with a cold front into the evening.
"Great," I mumbled to myself, "We're gonna get cold and wet. Whatever. We'll be inside. The party is going to be amazing."
The principal, Mr. Keran, spoke up over the ambient noise of the senior student body.
"Students, we are going to enter the gymnasium with respect for the school and staff who have allowed us to use it. I suggest you take off any offending clothing before you enter as their dress code is much less lenient. I'm talking to you, Mr. Martin."
"Hey," Tazu spoke up. "I thought this was America, a place where I can express myself. If I want to wear my collar, I should be allowed to."
"Tazu, be quiet," I whispered.
"You're lucky I'm not calling your parents now," Mr. Keran continued. "Anyway, for the next hour, you will find your caps and gowns in the auditorium, dress up, and sit in your assigned seat until the ceremony can begin. Do I make myself clear?"
A collective "Yes, sir" droned.
"Good. Now, parents will be arriving later, and at 5:00, we will begin the ceremony with opening statements. I want you to be on your best behavior yet on your final day."
Mr. Keran and the teachers escorted us to the auditorium's backstage area where our clothes hung on racks. I rushed over to my cap and gown, beaming. The thought of going to my first party with my friends made my fur stand on end. I could just imagine it all: the sweet punch, the energizing music, the chance to see almost everyone I knew before I never saw them again, plus one I kinda wanted to forget afterwards. I wanted those moments to be unforgettable.
After getting dressed, I walked out to the large gymnasium where dozens of rows of chairs sprawled over rubber padding. Thirty of the expected two hundred students had already sat, and most of the others gathered in small groups of three to six. I found my group located in the bottom row of one of the bleachers.
"Hey, guys!"
"Hey," Redd said. "Nice get-up."
"Thanks," I said. "You don't look too bad yourself."
"Oh, stop it," she laughed.
"Okay, then."
Redd's expression dropped, but she still smiled.
"So what are we talking about?" I asked.
"Oh, we were just talking about that final exam in Mr. Waterson's class," Redd said.
"Oh my God," Usala added, "why do they have to make the questions so freaking difficult? I may have an IQ of 141, but that test stumped me. How am I supposed to know what blackbody radiation was?! You know, I was this close to having a mental breakdown."
"You haven't had one yet?" Tazu said.
Redd chuckled into her hands while I bursted out laughing. Usala pushed him away, almost hard enough for him to fall out of his seat.
"Come on, Taz. Be serious."
"Stop calling me Taz and then we'll talk."
"Fine. Hey, Isaac, what time is it?"
"It's 4:27. Parents should be piling in any moment now. We just gotta wait. Have you guys thought about your careers anymore?"
"I found an interest in being an engineer," Usala said.
"I don't care," Tazu said. "I'm just gonna go wherever the winds take me. Whether it be a surfer or a philosophy major, I'll just go with the flow. It's not like it's going to matter anyway."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Well, I'll give it to you straight." He lied down on the floor in front of his seat. "This world just has too much for me. I don't want to be just another person doing the same dead-end job for years on end. I don't want to be known as the guy who just did 'this' for the remainder of his only life. It's not that I don't care, far from it actually. I want to fulfill something that I just haven't found yet. You understand?"
"Yes, and to give some advice, college will definitely help you find some great options."
He put his hands behind his head as he crossed his legs and sighed.
"Fine. I'll give it a shot."
"So what about you, Redd?" I asked.
"Ah," Redd said, "I'm not worried now."
"College?"
"Community."
When my watch read 4:30, it signaled me to find my seat again as parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbors, friends of the family, and grandparents rolled in. The gym's small bleachers filled quickly, and the ceremony was about to start.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Mr. Keran said into the microphone of his podium, his deep voice filling the room with bravado, "We would like to begin this, the last day these students can call themselves part of North Farrow High School. After this, many of you will move on to bigger and better opportunities that you will experience. Some of you may work to stop crime in its tracks. Some of you may become famous beyond your wildest dreams. Some of you may even discover life in the cosmos above. I want to take this opportunity to say congratulations to each and every one of you who has made it this far and will continue to do great things in the future. And now, the NFHS Class of 2015."
The assistant principal took Mr. Keran's spot as she called out each name. Thoughts raced in my head about the party again.
"David Justin Abernathy, Brenda Taylor Ackerman..."
The imagined music pounded against my eardrums. I bopped my head to the beat, but nearby students gave me weird looks, so I just hummed. I wondered what music they were going to play. Electronic would let me showcase my choppy dance style, but pop rock is much more suited for a house party. Something from the nineties would be a perfect start, and then we could finish out the night with a powerhouse of a rock ballad.
"Francesca Catherine Hill, Usala Georgina Holter..."
Usala seemed to be sweating through her gown, but she nevertheless grabbed her diploma and walked offstage. She then hid her diploma under her chair and bounced repeatedly until this blue fox guy in front of her petted her head. Usala shook his hand then rubbed it, the guy looking satisfied in some way before laughing it off. This was strangely considered normal in my book.
Realizing I was staring at them, I looked around for my parents and saw them sitting near the floor right beside the Schafer family. I waved, and they both waved back. A few side glances from other families still indicated tension. They probably didn't want them to be seen together because my mom is a cat, and my dad is a fox, and blah, blah, blah. I blocked out a thought from invading my mind right before I was supposed to go on. All of the tenth row (yes, I counted) stood in unison, and as the names echoed throughout the building, a mental clock ticked down for my name.
"Sarah Eleanor Powell."
Tick.
"Josh Richard Pratt."
Tock.
"Isaac Sapeli Prin."
Boom.
After getting my diploma, I was so relieved that it was finally over that I didn't pay attention to the rest of the ceremony, besides Redd and Tazu getting their diplomas as well. It was all a blur, including the valedictorian speech. It had something to do with some cheesy, clichéd message about hope for the future. The next thing I remember is meeting up with my friends afterwards. They stood outside, waiting for me to show them the coveted document every parent wants to frame.
"Sweet!" Redd said.
Usala stared at it, the air cooling around us.
"The principal's signature is good, they spelled your name right, and here it is."
She glared over a small section that gave the school's name and pointed out that it said "North Forrow High School."
"See? Typo," she said.
"What does that mean?" I asked.
"It means that whoever typed this was not paying attention when they printed it. It says the same thing on mine and I just needed confirmation."
Usala tended to obsess over the smallest things. One time, she searched through an online dream dictionary for half an hour because she saw a turtle in a dream from the week before. She claimed she was busy and only at the moment found the time to research. The teacher scowled at her for having her phone out.
"So, the party's tonight," I said.
"Yeah, about that," Redd said. "Are you still sure you want to go to Grayson's party? We could have one at your place and invite a few people."
My parents stepped into frame.
"With our permission," Mom said.
She turned to me and embraced me, her bare forearms wrinkling my gown.
"I'm so proud of you."
"Thanks, Mom."
My dad walked up to me, his long stride and flannel jacket prominent. He was slightly higher than eye level when he spoke.
"I want to say how amazed we are of you. You might not have had a quote-unquote "normal" childhood, but I don't think it matters now. What matters right now is that you find what you love and you follow it. Except if it's a person because that's stalking."
"Ren!"
My mom stood behind me with a defined grimace plastered under her pinched pink nose.
"Sorry, dear. I'm getting off track. Just remember, Isaac, that wherever you go, be yourself and--"
"Dad, I'm not leaving to go to college yet. It's just graduation."
"Just graduation?" His mouth dropped at the word. "It's not just that. You're going into the next stage of your life. Enjoy this stage as much as possible before adulthood kicks in."
"All right. Um, we were about to go to a party over at a friend's place."
"And?"
"Can I go?"
My mom gave me the raised eyebrow look again.
"May I please go to the party?"
Her face softened as she pulled me into another hug. Her eyes drooped when she looked at me again, yet she still beamed.
"You're growing up so much. Soon, you'll leave for college, find a wonderful girl or guy, and get married--"
"Mom!"
"Niki..." my dad interrupted.
"Like your dad said, just...enjoy yourself."
"I know. I promise I won't do anything dangerous while I'm there."
"Just be safe and if you need to get in touch with me..."
"I have your number in my phone on speed dial. I'm gonna ride with my friends, if that's okay with you."
My mom looked rather uncertain about the whole thing. She knows I'm growing up, and she knows that nothing will happen to me with my friends around. I didn't want a repeat of that fight with Grayson again and, of course, neither did she. She's the mother eagle, but this birdie has to fly off eventually, so she agreed.
"Thanks, Mom! You're the best!"
Now I was the one hugging her. She returned it and, for some reason, started comforting me. I think she was aware of what could happen and just wanted to give me a glimpse of what would happen afterwards. After a few moments of sudden realization, I let go and turned towards Redd. Her parents stood beside her as they talked, becoming as teary-eyed as my mom got. I walked over to her and told her what my mom said.
"Well, that's great," she said. "We just gotta wait for Tazu and Usala, and we'll head off."
"I think I see them," I said.
They strolled over, now dressed in their usual wear. Tazu's black t-shirt wore a white anarchy symbol, accentuating the spiked collar around his neck, and his jeans were ripped at the knee. A wide-brimmed fedora sat upon Usala's head, two holes cut in it to make room for her long ears, while her bent legs highlighted the 90s-style pleated pants. Curious, I looked over Redd's outfit, a simple red coat over a concert tee of her favorite band at the time, Boom Sera of Australian fame.
"So are we travelling to the party or not, Isaac?" Usala asked.
"Yeah! We're going, and we are going to have the best time of our lives!"
"Whoo," Tazu added, apathetic.