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Chapter 32, Part 1
Back to: Chapter 31, Part 5 Next: Chapter 32, Part 2



The four teenagers strode down the hall of the school building. Looking neither left nor right, they silently made their way to their destination, a goal firmly in mind. They would not be stopped or slowed from completing their intended task, and no one could make them change their mind. With their leader fallen, the kindest and wisest thing they could do was to honor her memory.

“Hey, what are you kids doing here?” Ms. Esso asked, scowling at the black-clad teens. “It’s a Saturday. Students aren’t supposed to be on school property unless they’re serving detention.”

“Trust me, ma’am, we have every reason to be here,” Ophelia spoke up, her eyes fixed determinedly on the older woman’s face. “As I’m sure you’ve heard by now, last night, Ms. Gibson was killed rather horribly. Blood loss. They found the guy, but… well, that’s not going to bring her back, now is it? I was there when she died. She died right before the ambulance arrived. We’re here to record one last show, in her honor. That’s all. And then we’ll go home, nice and quiet, and we’ll get ready for graduation tonight. I promise we won’t make a mess. We just want to honor her memory.”

Ms. Esso sighed and nodded resignedly. “Very well,” she replied reluctantly. “But if I see so much as a paperclip missing, you four are responsible.”

__________________________________________


“My fellow classmates,” Ophelia said slowly, looking into the camera, “I have terrible news for you. Very recently, one of our beloved teachers died a terrible and tragic death. Ms. Gabrielle Gibson was stabbed and then left to die.” She swallowed hard, trying to control herself.

“It’s okay, Lia,” Emily said softly, patting Ophelia’s shoulder. To the camera, she said, continuing where Ophelia had left off, “Ms. Gibson was a great teacher and wonderful leader. Her unconventional behavior and teaching methods made classes memorable and enjoyable, as did her unusual sense of humor. She was also a kind woman who helped the four of us to become better people, who made us more than what we could have ever become alone. We would have slipped through the cracks unnoticed, had it not been for her. Because of her, I have several wonderful friends, as well as more confidence than I did at the beginning of the school year. She will be greatly missed.”

Ophelia swallowed hard, then said, “In closing, I’d like to sing a song in honor of Ms. Gibson. AJ, if you will…”

AJ nodded and pressed a button on the boombox beside him. Ophelia took a deep breath, then began to sing along with the music:

“Too long in the same place
I'm sinking into this town.
I've charmed the same old snakes
I think we gotta get out
Before I break away from me
Cuz this place is my lobotomy.
Imagine we were dead
Counting all the things we never did.
I remember when you told me
I should live like I'm dying
And not to close my eyes
While everything burns.
What are we waiting for?
These years are dying slowly,
Today is still in front of us
And we're breaking out
Cuz today is now or never…”

_____________________________________


“Thanks for taking the picture, Mom,” Ophelia said, grinning at her mom. “There, now you have the picture of me before I graduate. Make a few extra copies… I’ll need one of them tomorrow.”

“For what?” Emily asked.

“Don’t worry about it. You’ll see.”

“Does it have to do with the funeral?” AJ asked.

“It might. Just be quiet. All will be revealed.”

“I hate when you’re all mysterious like this. It’s annoying,” Tiffani muttered.

“Admit it, you enjoy it.”

“I guess.”

“Now, let’s get ready for graduation.”


___________________________________________


Sara Lowry looked down at her notes, then out at the crowd of her classmates and their families. She smiled to herself as she looked near the bottom of the page. It had taken an hour of semi-begging to convince the principal and vice-principal that it was a good idea, but in the end, she’d won out.

They’ll be so happy when they hear this, she thought.

Smiling out at the audience, she cleared her throat and began her speech:

“Greetings to all of you. Fellow classmates, if I were to say that the last four or so years were arduous for most of you, I would be making a gross understatement. Growing up, I’m sure a lot of us have seen movies that present idealized views of high school life, and we’re told by countless people, ‘These are the best years of your life.’ Well, I’m sure I speak for most of you when I say that if these really are the best years of our lives, I can’t tell, and I’m afraid of what the rest of life holds for me. A lot of you have dealt with being bullied, abused, mistreated, and made to feel inferior, simply for who you are. We’re told that this is normal, that everyone gets picked on growing up. Well, I’m here today to say that we shouldn’t stand for that type of behavior. We should embrace people’s differences, rather than shunning them for it. This school year, we’ve actually made progress toward this, in fact. A group of students graduating today formed the Clique News Crash show, a school broadcast show where the news anchors were members of different social groups. However, as time progressed, these peers of mine became close friends. CNC crew, ride and take a bow. You’ve given hope to a lot of us by showing us that you don’t have to be underweight and underdressed to be successful and well-liked. It is people like you who will truly make the future a brighter place. On behalf of everyone here who has been treated badly by the so-called beautiful people, I thank you warmly for being my voice. Aiden Desjardin, Emily Desjardin, Tiffani Royale, and Ophelia Foley, by virtue of your accomplishments, I think you four deserve to be up here just as much as Maya or I do. Perhaps someday, the school administration will give special recantation to such wonderful people as yourselves. But until that day comes, the best I can do is to ask you to come stand here on the stage with me for the rest of my speech, and then accept my deepest gratitude and admiration for what you have achieved…”

The four teens rose and walked up to the stage, amidst great applause from their classmates. The cheerleaders looked, in comparison, as though they had all been slapped across the face.

Click Next: Chapter 32, Part 2 to continue...

 
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