Chapter Four
Graduation
Graduation came to soon and not soon enough for Virgil, not soon enough since he wanted to be out there already, he felt like he was wasting time finishing school and that he should just take his GED and finish early but John brought up the fact that even Scott finished high school before going off to join the Air Force, and that had been his dream all along. So Virgil knew that Scott would want him to finish too. It came too soon, since he still had no idea of what to tell their father, in a way to persuade him to let him go. He had planned to enlist and then tell their father before he left, but he had promised John that he would tell him before he enlisted so he had to think of something else. The bad thing was, he hadn't thought of it yet.
"Hey Virge," Gordon's voice brought Virgil out of his thoughts.
"Hu?" Virgil said snapping up in his chair and looking at Gordon who smiled.
"Are you on planet earth today or not?" Gordon asked with a laugh as he handed Virgil the butter, "I've been asking you if you wanted butter for the last two minutes."
"Oh," Virgil said a little surprised, "Sorry."
"Are you alright Virge?" John asked as he took a sipped of his orange juice.
"Yeah-,"Virgil said sounding a little unsure.
"Are you sure about that?" Jeff asked with a small smile, one of the few he had had in the last five months.
"Yeah, I guess I'm a just a little nervous," Virgil said looking at John, who nodded his head saying he understood.
"What's there to be nervous about, you just walk through the gym, no big deal," Alan said as he tried unsuccessfully to get a piece of bread out of his braces.
"No Alan, this is more then just walking through the gym, graduation is a big deal, and your's will be too," Jeff said putting his son's hand down to stop him from picking at his braces.
"I know its a big deal, I just don't understand why," the twelve year old stated, though he shrugged his shoulders and turned his attention back to his breakfast.
John rolled his eyes and turned back to Virgil, "So Virge what time to you have to be at the school?"
"Hu?" Virgil said, his head popping up and looking at John, he had started gazing off again.
"What time do you have to be there?" John repeated.
"Oh, nine, why what time is it?" Virgil asked suddenly a little worried.
"Relax its only eight thirty, I'll drive you so you don't have to worry about being late if you walk," John said, hoping that Virgil would take the hint that he wanted to talk to him.
"Alright, thanks Johnny," Virgil said with no argument.
"No problem," John said getting up from the table and heading for the door.
"I thought you said it was only eight thirty?" Jeff said, "The school is only two and half miles away."
"Yeah, but I just want to spend some time with Virgil before he becomes a high school graduate, I'll be back by five after nine, I won't stay and watch rehearsal or anything," John said with a smile as he watched the look of horror cross Virgil's face.
"I'll say you're not staying for rehearsal, its bad enough you're going to have to see me do it once," Virgil said as he picked up his cap and gown that hung on the stairs. "See you guys at four."
"We'll be there," Gordon said with a smile, Virgil knew that smile all to well.
"No jokes tonight Gordon," Virgil said pointing at his little brother.
"Oh come on Virgil-just a little one?" Gordon begged holding up his fingers to show how little he meant.
"None," Virgil said looking to his father for support.
"None Gordon," Jeff said agreeing with Virgil.
"Oh man," Gordon said and then crossed his arms into a pout.
"I'm sorry Gordon, how old are you?" John asked.
Gordon stopped in the fake pout and said, "Sixteen."
"Then act like it," John said putting his hand on Virgil's shoulder and leading him towards the door, "See you guys in a little while."
"See you are four, no jokes Gordon," Virgil said as he was being dragged to the door.
"No jokes, yeah, yeah, yeah," Gordon said disappointed.
"Good bye Gordon," the two older ones said and then they were out the door.
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It took them less then five minutes to reach the school and John turned off the car and turned to face his brother, "You haven't thought of a way to tell him yet have you?"
Virgil just sat there for a minute not knowing what to say, then sighed, "I got nothing."
John laughed, "You can always do what Scott did."
Virgil rolled his eyes, "Johnny, I don't think just blurting it out that I'm enlisting is a very good idea."
"But you have to admit, its the only one you've got," John said with a smile.
"Sad, but true," Virgil admitted, he looked in the seat behind him, his cap and gown hung to his right just waiting to be put on, "John-I want to thank you again for being there for me-and for not telling dad, it means a lot."
"You are not getting out of telling dad tonight Virgil, I've kept your secret long enough, its time he knew about it, I mean come on you are due at basic in two weeks, dad, Gordon and Alan need time to process whats happening," John said looking at his watch.
Virgil sighed, as much as he hated to admit it, John was right, "You're right, I'll have to figure something out."
"Well you should get in there, You have about five minutes before you're late and you still have to change," John said reaching back and pulling the blue gown to the front of the car the blue and silver tassel swaying as he did.
"Right, thanks John, really, for everything," Virgil said as he took the gown from his brother and got out of the car.
"Have a good rehearsal, I'll see you at the real thing," John said with a smile.
"Thanks John, way to make me not nervous," Virgil said rolling his eyes as he closed the door.
Virgil then turned to face the school, his last day of high school, his last few weeks of belonging to himself. Within two weeks he would belong to the Air Force.
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Virgil blinked as the flash blinded him for the fifth time, his graduation had gone by to fast. He had been doing the graduation walk then he was being called out on stage and now suddenly he was getting all of these pictures snapped of him by his father.
"Dad, isn't that enough?" Virgil asked as Jeff began to think out his next shot.
Jeff sighed and looked at his camera, "Alright that's enough here, but I'll get more at your party."
Virgil groaned as he finally took his cap off as they headed towards the car.
"Hey Tracy!" the family turned as one to see Virgil's friend Toby running after them.
"Hey Tob," Virgil said with a smile, "Congrats."
"Yeah, you too, so is it true?" Toby asked as he came to a stop in front of them.
"Is what true?" Virgil asked looking confused.
"That you're joining the Air Force?" Toby said.
"What?" Jeff asked looking at Virgil, "What is he talking about Virgil?"
"Opps, I wasn't suppose to say that was I," Toby said.
"Who told you?" Virgil asked glaring a John but he was shaking his head to show that he hadn't said anything.
"Gordon told me," Toby said.
"How did Gordon find out?" Virgil asked turning to Gordon.
"I didn't mean to hear, I was walking down the hallway when you guys were talking about it," Gordon said sheepishly.
"Well they didn't mean it Gordon, they were just talking, Virgil's not going anywhere," Jeff said patting his son on the back thinking he was right.
Virgil sighed, so much for waiting until after his party to tell him, "No dad, Gordon heard right."
Jeff looked at Virgil searching for a joke in his son's eyes, he found none, "What?"
"I am joining the Air Force, I head for basic in two weeks," Virgil said, he watched his father's face fall, so much for a fun graduation party, this was making out to be a long night.
