Graduation Day
"Hello? Michael, where are you?" Mia asked in a whispery voice so everyone around couldn't hear.
"Mia, I'm really sorry I'm late!" Michael apologized to Mia on the phone. Mia sighed
Then began talking "Its okay Michael, but the ceremony is almost starting. You're going to miss it."
She really sounded disappointed. So Michael asked "Mia, are you alright? I can't come right now, it's so chaotic here! I don't think I'll be there in time."
"Oh..." Mia was interrupted by her friend Lily calling her "C'mon Mia the ceremony is starting. We have to go!" Mia looked back and answered "Okay, I'm coming Lily!"
Then she turned back to her phone and said "Uhm…Michael, I got to go." Mia's voice became softer and softer as she spoke to her boyfriend.
"Okay. But I'll see you during the after dinner party." He exclaimed quickly before Mia could hang up. And after she heard what Michael said, she hung up and quickly ran to her place before they would call her attention once more.
"Good Evening! Staff members, parents, guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to the 2004-2005 batch of Albert Einstein High School graduates" Principal Gupta spoke proudly into the microphone.
And soon everyone was clapping thunderously and some boys were even whistling.
Time went by fast, and they were done with the awarding. All that was left was the speech give by one of the graduates.
"Pls. welcome our spokesperson for today, Miss Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo" Principal Gupta pointed to Mia as she was walking towards the microphone.
Again, thunderous clapping and whistling filled the air which made Mia blush a little. Then when the room finally kept quiet she began talking.
"Thank you everyone!" she smiled "Good Evening to all, today is a very special day to me, and surely to all of you."
Well...it would have been special if Michael was around. She thought in head. But she tried to focus on her speech, which she worked hard to accomplish. So she continued
"It's the day we celebrate our hard work and achievements in our dear high school. Don't you think we've worked our asses off?" she asked with a laugh
And a couple of people yelled "Yeah! You're right Mia!"
"And today is the day we get recognized for it and become proud of what we've done. Weather we've been accepted into good colleges or not. Weather we're even gong to one or not." Mia felt good about herself saying all of this so she didn't want to stop.
"…We have to give ourselves a break and say "I know I did it! And I'm proud to be here today!" We are all mature now, well some of us at least." Mia laughed and the other graduates joined in too. Even a couple of teachers.
"And we have different lives to live, different directions to go. So we should start from here, we will miss so much Albert Einstein H.S." her eyes scanned the staff members and firstly Principal Gupta.
"Because you've made us different people, better people, for our future." Mia looked at her mum and who was holding Rocky gently at her arms. And then at Mr. Gianini. He gave her thumbs up and put on a smile which Mia understood to mean "Good work Mia. Pls. go on!"
And so she did, "We have made a difference in this school and this school has made a BIG difference in us" Mia intended to emphasize on the word BIG. She ended her speech saying "So…CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES! AND HAVE A GREAT LIFE!"
She was the first one to throw her cap up and soon everyone else followed while shouting, clapping and cheering. Mia felt so relaxed after she has finished her speech.
But only for a while because what kept on echoing in her mind were the words that Michael said to her on the phone. The words that signified Michael's absence during the most important day of her life.