Ocean Eyes

Graduation

We arrive at the high school with plenty of time to spare. I'm so shooken up and my anxiety is through the roof. Ugh! Why does there have to be so many people? 

My mother and father get out of the car and we make our way down to the football field and I give them their seating tickets. They have number for their seating arrangement. As they head down to their seats I head back up to the school and look for Amanda and Emily. I walk around for what seems like forever through a crowd of teenagers all wearing caps and gowns. It's so loud in this hallway that I can't even hear myself think. Finally I see someone familiar at the end of the hallway. Emily! Obviously she didn't hear me so I shout again. Emily! It's still too loud in here so I give up and try to weave my way through the crowd to get closer so I can meet up with my friends. Emily, as say again and she looks up from her phone and notices me. Suddenly I feel someone wrap their arms around my waist and pull me back. Very funny Amanda, I mutter. Were you surprised at all, she asked? No, I say. I knew it was you the moment you grabbed me.

After Amanda, Emily, and myself talk for a few we hear a loud booming voice over the loud speaker. "Class of 2020 graduates please line up in alphabetical order like we practiced yesterday at graduation practice"! We all fall in line Emily and Amanda are behind me thankfully we all have the same first letter in our last names. After everyone lines up we hear the loud speaker go off again and everyone is directed to make our way to the field and take our seats. We walk down to the feild and from then on it's two hours of boring. I just want it to be over with. Then finally I hear my name called and I make my way up to the stage and get my diploma. I quickly shake the principals hand, grab my diploma and mozy on back to my seat. I watch Emily and Amanda get their diplomas as well. After it's all said and done we throw our caps up in the air then flail our arms around to catch our caps. Then we line back up and make our way to where our parents are seated and slowly we all split up to find our families. Mom, Dad, and I take pictures together and then I get a few pictures with Emily and Amanda and then we all walk to my parents car together. Then I say my goodbyes to my friends and we all go home. When I arrive to the house I can't think of anything more that I want to do then take this ugly Maroon and Gold cap and gown off and get out of these shoes. I also want to take my makeup off as well but I don't. Mom and Dad start calling for me and I quickly answer. They said they wanted me downstairs in a few minutes so I agreed and made my way downstairs after I took off my shoes along with the ugly cap and gown. I go downstairs to see Mom holding a cake and Dad holding a beautiful pink colored envelope. 

What's all this for, I ask? I'm honestly very surprised. Mom starts talking before Dad gets the chance to. We decided to give you a small graduation gift even though your birthday is right around the corner, Mom said. You guys! You didn't have to do this for me. My birthday is next week. I could have waited. Dad clears his throat and waves the pink envelope around as if motioning me forward. We love you and you're our only daughter and it's also a once in a lifetime experience; "you only graduate once, dear", he exclaims. Plus you haven't even opened the envelope. 

I nod and smile. Dad hands me the envelope and I take it and open it. I read the card aloud. "Congratulations Aniey, we love you so much and we want you to know how proud we are of you, we know you will do great things in life, you're practically all grown up now so we got you a little something" signed Mom and Dad. 

I see a little compartment on the card. I'm guessing there's money in it? I reach into the little compartment and find $100. You guys shouldn't have, I said excited. I run over and hug them both. Mom and Dad as if on cue both say, "you're welcome sweetie, we love you".