I scanned the audience for my mom and step-dad. They sat in the near back of the open air amphitheater, located next to Chautauqua Lake. The warm summer breezes caressed my skin, and cooled the heat my nerves had created. Both my parents stood out. You can't miss a cowboy hat in a sea of naked heads. Phillip, my step-dad, caught my eye and waved. I snuck a little queen wave close to my chest. He grinned at me, and Mom nudged him so he went back to his serious expression. He rarely went anywhere without wearing his cowboy hat and boots. The hat hid his grey bristled buzz cut. He preferred a bolo tie to one made of silk. And he wore half moon glasses around his neck, ready to pop them on when he needed to read something, and he read a lot. I would bet anything he had today's newspaper in his back pocket, folded over to the daily crossword puzzle.
After the 'big walk' everyone emphasizes as being so important, and what my mom called it, the class of 82 tossed their graduation caps in celebration at the end of the ceremony. We walked en masse to the reception hall. Families would be waiting to congratulate their spawn and take photos to show to their friends and co-workers after they got them developed. There would be so many photo orders after graduation, it might take as long as a week to get their photos back from the drug store drop off counter.
That's when it hit me. I didn't have anywhere to go on Monday morning.
I would be free.
I hadn't yet heard back from any of the places I'd applied. There was the bank teller position at First National, which I'd heard had poor benefits, whatever those were. And I'd applied as a counter waitress at Flamingo Bowling Lanes. Also, not promising. There was the cashier position at the Fly Buyz grocery story. And there was the job at the mall in the clothing boutique. I heard they had a great employee discount on clothing.
Now that's a good benefit.
"Hey Emelia, wait up." Henry jogged behind me, empty diploma holder tucked under his arm. We had to return to school on Monday to pick up the actual paper diploma that would go inside. The holder is all we got at graduation. I guess that made it easier than making sure they handed the right diploma to each of the 300 plus graduates.
I stepped off the cobblestone path and walked with Henry as the others hurried and chatted excitedly on their way to the reception hall.
"What's up?" I adjusted my crooked cap and blew the tassel out of my face.
"Nothing." He scratched his chin.
"Oh. Kay." I hooked my elbow with his. "Let's get this party started." I started to walk, but his unmoving stance pulled me back into him. "Oops." I laughed, a little too much. "Henry?" I could see something in his eyes. It reminded me of the look I'd seen on my step-dad's face the day he had to put my mom's dog, Lady, to sleep. "You feeling okay?" I held my hand to his forehead.
He leaned into my hand. "I'm fine." He reached up, took my hand off his forehead, and held it between us. Our gowns concealed them. "Can we just walk slowly? I'm...I'm not in a hurry for this day to end."
"Why? We've talked about this day since ninth grade." He still held my hand. When Jasper's image flashed through my mind, I tugged to pull it free. He held it tight. Something was wrong with my best guy friend. My heart beat a little faster, nervous tingles ran down my spine.
"Yeah. It seemed a lot farther away in ninth grade. I didn't know those four years would disappear with Jimmy Hoffa."
I gave his hand a squeeze. He was nervous like me about starting this new chapter in our lives. "We'll be fine," I assured him.
"Um, Emelia. Um..."
"Listen." I led him away from the others to a bench under an oak tree. A black squirrel scampered away, chattering at us like an angry old woman. I sat and tugged Henry down next to me. "I'm nervous too. I realized about twenty minutes ago I don't have to be anywhere tomorrow morning. I ain't gonna lie, I almost had a panic attack. But I realize now I have my magical paper, or at least my empty diploma holder." I waved it at him. "It tells the world I can work. I am capable. I've reached the minimum requirement to move on to the next phase of life. Time to level up like in Donkey Kong. But you, Henry." I sighed. Henry was so smart. And his parents were going to pay for college. "You get to chase your dreams. You're going to Cornell University, my step-dad's alma mater, and you're gonna be great."
He shook his head.
"Yes. You will." I squeezed his hand. Jasper would be big time mad if he saw me sitting alone with Henry, holding his hand. But he wouldn't see me. Jasper had a meeting out of town for the weekend in Atlantic City with his sales company. The benefits of being an adult that I hadn't yet experienced. And he hadn't invited me to go with him either. So lucky me. I could spend some time on this important day, this rite of passage, with my best friend Henry.
Henry looked at me, eyes dark, pupils wide. "No. It's..."
I kept on with my pep talk. "You'll study animal science and come back here to open a veterinary office just in time for Doc Dowd to retire. Remember when we went to his office on a field trip and we talked to him about it? And he also wrote you a letter of recommendation to Cornell. Like my step-dad did for you."
"I know. Look, is it okay if I savor this moment? With you? I'm not really looking forward to being around all those people stuffing their faces with marble cake and punch."
I happened to like marble cake and punch. "Sure. I don't mind. But....cake, Henry?"
He grinned a little bit, which made me smile. His nervousness maybe gone a little bit. "I know how much you love cake."
"Do you feel any better now? About, ya know, all the adult things?"
"I guess so."
I patted his knee and he laid his hand upon mine. My knees knocked together. A shadow caught my eye. Was that Kelli-Anne on the cobblestone path. I let out a swoosh of air when I looked closer. It turned out to be only the leaves rustling on the trees, casting a moving shadow. "I promise, you'll be fine. You've laid out a good, solid plan. And I'll be your first customer."
"Oh yeah. The crazy cat lady. How many will you be bringing me?"
"Well, I have Muffin already, and I figure I'll get one cat a year. You'll be away for at least six to eight years..."
He held up his hand. "Stop! You can't be serious."
I laid my hand on my heart. "So help me."
He smacked his hand onto his forehead and looked at me and smiled.
I couldn't help but smile right back.
"Thank you, Emelia."
"For? Which time? I'm so amazing, I can't keep track." I arched a brow at him.
"You are amazing, Emelia." He rubbed my knuckles, one by one. "I wouldn't have gotten into Cornell without your amazing writing skills."
"Ah. You had that college entrance essay down cold. I only gave you a few ideas." I shrugged away the compliment.
"And you helped me write those essays in school, don't forget. I was terrible with grammar and sentence structure before your help." He closed his hand over mine.
I looked at him and smiled.
But he didn't smile. His face was all serious. I looked out at the blooming Dogwoods, glad to be far enough away from them I didn't start to sneeze or get watery eyes. Dogwood was my kryptonite. My one allergy. I still enjoyed their fragrance, from afar, and their beautiful creamy pink flowers.