Epilogue
The second Friday of June was an important day in the yearly life of Enchanted Falls. Their high school graduating class would receive their diplomas and move on into the world. The students meet, for the last time, as a class in the hallways of Enchanted Falls High. The boys wore a dark red color, while the girls all wore a white color, the school colors. The school rings graced all the hands of the graduating class, even those who hadn't worn it all year long. The rest of the school was gathered in the hallways above, finishing up the last of their finals, before heading out onto the football field in time for graduation. Hugs and kisses were shared in the classrooms as the classmates reflected on their past four years together.
Belle was busy helping bobby pin Robin's cap on properly, since Mrs. Ashen had been in tears putting it on the first time. Polly and Julie were busy admiring the other's graduation dress. I was with all the girls trying to take attendance, to make sure we had no "no-shows." Though very difficult in a small town to skip out on graduation, it had happened before. The last of the senior class trickled into the classrooms as I and the other teachers handed in their last attendance record. Mr. Verika walked in to each classroom to talk to each of the students.
"Today is the beginning of the rest of your life. You may not realize it now, but come September you will realize that you are not returning to these halls anymore, you will not see the same teachers anymore, you will not see the same students anymore, and you will not see each other anymore. I do hope though, that distance doesn't separate you all so much that you all cannot remain in touch. I think the most tragic thing that can happen to a class this close is to break apart after high school. In keep in touch, don't lose your friends, your memories, and of course, whatever we taught you here at Enchanted Falls High—academically or not. Even if you do fall away from the friends you made here remember this saying I told you on your first day of Freshman year: 'There is a reason why everyone walks into our life. We may not realize the reason right away, or may be not for years, but there is a reason. Treasure every person you meet for they will help mold you into the person you will become.' Good luck to you all," Mr. Verika said. The class remained silent as he left.
If tears and hugs and kisses were going to start again, I didn't give them too much of a chance to. The other teachers and I had to quickly line all the students up in the hallway to get them ready for the procession. We heard the underclassmen trample down the stairs, laughing and talking and panicking. The seniors were all ready to process out of the school for the last time to the stand set up in the middle of the football field. "Pomp and Circumstance" began as the students started to walk slowly. I joined the other teachers as the seniors filed out of the building towards their seats. Past their family, friends and fellow schoolmates they all walked towards their future. They tried to smile, but it all seemed like they were walking towards their own funerals. As they reached the end of the aisle way, the two lines split and walked towards their chairs.
Mr. Verika began the ceremony with the pledge and the anthem. He then gave a speech about the graduating class and about their potential. Next, Mrs. Anderson got up to give a speech, as the teacher representation. She mentioned her fondness for teaching the class and the happiness she felt for getting to know each and every one of them. Next, Mr. Verika called up Kelly, as the Student Council and Michael Jones, a Junior. Kelly gave a speech about her year as Student Council president and how honored she was to have been elected. She then passed on the candle that she lit at the beginning of the year during Student Council inductions on to Michael, who had been elected next year's president. She wished the next year's class good luck as she ended her speech.
After Kelly finished, Mr. Verika introduced the key note speaker, the mayor of the city. He had graduated from Enchanted Falls High School and wanted to speak at this year's graduation. He told the class to reach for their goals, never stop dreaming, and to always do good for themselves and for each other. The valedictorian, a shy young man named Kevin Gregs, gave his speech, encouraging his fellow classmates to "keep excelling in all that you do" and "to never forget what they learned at Enchanted Falls High and never forget each other." After his twenty minute speech (who knew that this young man could get so long winded for his valedictorian speech?), Mr. Verika and I began to hand out the diplomas as Ms. Hansen, the vice principal, read the names. Each student came up and received their diploma and moved their tassle across their cap.
Graduation ended and hugs and kisses were exchanged. The class' graduation song was played over the loud speaker as Mr. Verika and Ms. Hansen lined all the graduates up on the school's front steps. The teachers and I took our places on the chairs in front of them. With a "say 'cheese', the photographer took their last class picture together. The students ran off, awaiting the endless amounts of graduation parties they were bound to attend. We teachers watched as they left, sad to see another class go, but hoping only the best for them in their future. We would anxiously await their ten year reunion…
Ten years passed by quickly for me. More classes came through, more students' names to learn, more personalities to match. Of course, Belle and the Beast's class held such an important place in my heart that no class would ever replace them. On this, their ten year reunion, I was already at the restaurant, talking to some of the teachers. A few had retired, some had moved on to other jobs, but the majority of us were still at Enchanted Falls High. The students, now grown-up professionals, started to trickle in with their companions. I glanced over everyone coming in, hoping to see someone from that little group that had captured my heart ten years ago. Julie was the first one I saw. She hugged me and showed me her engagement ring. She was an acclaimed lawyer, but had moved out of state. Her fiancé stood behind her, a little uncomfortable. He did, however, look more comfortable when Lance and Polly walked in. Those two were the surprise couple of the century. After all the torturing and teasing, we had still expected to see Chris and Polly as husband and wife, not expecting that Lance would pop the question to his best friend's cousin.
Polly and Julie caught up, as Jake (I believe that was his name) and Lance talked on. Chris walked in, Belle's friend Joanne on his arm. One could tell that Joanne was pregnant only by the way that Chris was acting around her. Joanne was an accountant at the Angel Corporation, where Chris was the marketing director. Lance had a career in journalism, while Polly was a pediatrician in town. Robin and her husband Jason entered into the room, beaming as any new parents would. The lawyer and teacher proudly showed off pictures of their one month old son Michael. Last of the class to come was this year's graduation speaker, a popular and famous author, and her husband. Belle and Ross were so happy together. Ross was now CFO of his father's company and would soon become CEO. Belle's books were incredibly popular, including one based off her experiences in Enchanted Falls high.
Seeing Ross reminded me of when everyone called him the Beast, how he was very isolated from everyone and how one girl changed all that. Their three year old daughter Chelsea was with her grandfathers for the night at the LaGrange household. The group hugged and laughed, enjoying themselves. Lefou and Craig soon came over with their girlfriends. Lefou was an accountant for a company in the city and Craig was a doctor at the Enchanted Falls Hospital. Even Gaston Marks strolled over with his date. She was a coworker, not his girlfriend, at the broker company he worked for. The group was pretty civilized and seemed to be happy with their lives. Except Jessie Killington and Janie Olsen, who arrived with their rich husbands. Both were unemployed and lived off their husbands' wealth. However, it was commonly known that the four involved were never faithful, making for a dismal marriage. Neither acknowledged Julie's greeting and were cold to everyone in the class. No one missed them, unfortunately.
The night ended too soon for my tastes. It was sad to see them go, though most still lived in Enchanted Falls. Belle promised to let me see Chelsea soon, and Ross said he might be able to come soon. Then she let me in on a secret: she was pregnant again. She was going to tell her father and father-in-law tonight, and the other friends tomorrow at the lunch they had planned. However, Polly had heard and she and Lance told the three of us she was pregnant as well. Belle and Polly left chattering away about baby showers, shopping for clothes together, going to the same Lamaze class and so on. I sighed and looked forward to the next group that would be as close as they were to me, unsure of if they would come.
Yet, I knew that Belle and Ross' story had to be told. There are probably hundreds of Rosses out there waiting for a Belle to come and help. They may not be romantically involved like Belle and Ross, but just need a friend. And of course, it always pays to get to know someone a little better than before. Until next time, Victor Gregorio.
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A/N: That's the end, kiddies! I hoped you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Well, since I'm done, I guess I could shamelessly plug the other stories I'm not done with:
You've Got to Learn Your Lessons Well in the Passions section
The Tale of the Woman Warrior in the Fairy Tales section
And this should be posted soon:
Le Cirque Boheme in the Plays/Musicals section
And you could read my finished stories:
The Phantom Lives On in the Plays/Musicals sectionSaying Goodbye in the Miscellaneous Cartoons section.
Well, summer's here! I hope everyone has a safe summer and no summer school. I am happy because I took my last New York State Regents ever. And there's the fact that the Board of Regents might actually do something to help me. Since the Physics regents was so hard (my teacher cried while doing the questions they gave us, okay?) and so many students failed it that they may throw out the grades. Well, either way, if I pass or fail Physics, if I pass French and Sequential III, I can still graduate with an Advanced Regents Diploma since I passed two science regents already. (Bio and Chem). Well, have a great summer! Also, this last chapter is dedicated to Robert Volpe, my friend's father who passed away recently from cancer. Thanks! ~*Mac*~