Disclaimer: I do not own Recess!
Spinelli Woods Esq: Glad you liked! Here's the last chapter sniff sniff, so I hope it isn't too bad! Keep reading!
Chapter Twenty-Five: The Graduation Ceremony
It was almost seven o'clock at the Ronald Reagan Auditorium. All the seniors were running around in their caps and gowns trying to shake off their nervousness. Mrs. Lawson was running around trying to locate the ones who were to wear Honor's Cords–which they were just now getting. People were already starting to show up. It hurt them to see some of their relatives being shooed away to the gym, where they would be forced to sit through the ceremony watching it on a rinky-dinky screen.
Some other girls decided to go along with Spinelli's bare feet plan, and wore some white flip flops as dress shoes. That way it would be easier to kick them off when they were on stage. When one teacher commented that the ones wearing flip flops would be sent home, the girls didn't even give it a second thought. Like they could actually throw them out because of some make-believe shoe rule or something.
It was nearing time for the seniors to start walking out into the auditorium. Gus's girlfriend, Cornchip Girl, had said that while the school HAD provided programs (without the senior's money, mind you), that there were no decorations whatsoever. Not that it surprised anyone. Why should they be surprised after all the mess they had been through? Everyone held their breath when they heard the song "Pomp and Circumstance" playing. Then they all walked out slowly in pairs down the aisles...to graduate.
The first part of the ceremony wasn't too bad. The prayer and the pledge of allegiance went by without any problem. The reciting of the school's creed was pretty okay, considering that they hadn't said it in several years. They wondered how the people stuck in the gymnasium were doing, suffering in the heat and having to stare at that projection screen. In the back corner, T.J. could see a man with a smallish camera on an easel-like thing. Figures, only Prickly would order such a pathetic excuse for technology.
Gretchen's valedictorian speech was extremely good, but no speech came close to making anybody cry as Guru Kid's when he presented the check to the St. Jude representative. He began first by introducing himself–Jimmy Reed–and that he had been...still was...a patient at that hospital. (A/N: I don't know much about cancer, so bear with me if I don't get some facts throughly straight. I don't feel right copying what my classmate said at my own grad.)
"Most of you I'm sure don't know this, but when I was born, my parents were told that I had a form of cancer that would more than likely take my life within a few months. Eighteen years later, I'm still around. True, it took almost twenty spinal taps, over a hundred therapy sessions, and even more chemotherapy treatments to help me get through it, but I'm still here. This...this hospital is very good for kids. It helps you to not only get through cancer, but it helps you to live with it and to feel good about yourself, instead of making you think you are some kind of freak. I don't know what I would have done without people from St. Jude's by my side. That's why I'm honored to present this check from the graduating class of 2006 as a donation to help further scientific studies to help maybe find some cure for cancer, and to continue helping children."
Guru Kid got a standing ovation. Not one soul was seated in the auditorium when he handed the representative that check for one thousand and two hundred dollars. The girls were blotting tissue under their eyes to keep mascara from running everywhere and giving them "raccoon eyes". The guys tried very hard to keep their emotions inside.
Time came for the diplomas to be handed out. This was when Spinelli (along with some other girls) kicked their flip flops off and walked on stage barefoot. The boyfriends were a little amused that they actually dared to do this, but they kept straight faces as they got their diplomas. Except for Gordy, who stuck his tongue out behind Prickly's back, and Phil (the former boy scout) who flicked his nose behind him.
All the awards and scholarships were handed out, Gretchen getting the most of course. Everyone was restless by the time the last kid got their scholarship. Prickly went up to the front podium to say the last words–much to everyone's disgust.
"I would just like to say thank you all for attending and witnessing this display of academic excellence in the class of 2006. Seniors, in order to complete the transformation from student into young adult, you may move your tassels from the left side to the right side. Then you may take your class ring from your finger, turn it to where the name of the school faces AWAY from you–"
His words drowned out when Spinelli muttered, "The only direction I want it to face is AWAY from me."
"Congratulations, seniors," Prickly continued once they were done. "You are now graduates of Ronald Reagan High School, class of 2006. It has been my honor to have been your principal, and I wish you the best of–"
"HOLD IT!" yelled a deep voice from the back, causing everyone to gasp and turn around to see who was interrupting the principal's closing words. When they saw who it was, the class nearly fell out. Some of the faculty were even surprised. T.J. saw Mrs. Mitchells faint in her seat. But, it couldn't be...but it was. It was Robert Mitchells aka King Bob, in the flesh, standing back there in his army uniform.
"Hold everything!" the raven haired youth insisted, making his way towards the front where Prickly was. "Not to be too rude, Mr. Prickly, but I just don't believe any of that heart-felt sentimental crap you just said was actually meaningful."
Prickly was shocked, on one hand to see King Bob alive, and on the other hand that some KID was speaking against him. "Now, see here young man–"
"Don't you young man me," King Bob partially growled, sending Prickly into more shock. "I heard all about what's been going on at this school, and I for one am ashamed. This school...it was named after a great American hero, Ronald Reagan for Mike's sake! But you, sir, have pretty much made a mockery of that hero by turning a memorial school into a fraudulent, immoral community."
King Bob was on the stage now, talking directly to Prickly, but it was obvious he was trying to get a point across to everyone. "I bet Reagan is literally rolling in his grave at what corruptness this school has inflicted on this class...in a school that's named after him! Pal, I've been running around lost in the middle of Iraq, in the middle of a war, and I thought I had it bad. At least I didn't have to worry about con artists like you. I finally get home after weeks in the desert, run into an old buddy who works for the newspaper [A/N: That's Lawson, btw] and when I heard about what was going on in this school, I thought I had landed in some kind of Communist country instead of America!"
Prickly was too embarrassed to say anything in response. Actually, everyone was still in shock of seeing King Bob alive, plus the fact he had just chewed out the principal. When the former king was done glaring at Prickly, he turned towards the graduating class.
"Guys, I've known you since we were very small," he said in a nicer tone. "And I'd have to say, that this group of young Americans has always been a favorite of mine. You did right in fighting what was just. I'm only sorry to see that the battle was partially lost. But you DID set a good example for those future generations. So, I salute you, and God bless everyone here. Go make a future for yourselves, and always remember...no matter where you go in life, you will always meet someone like Principal Prickly. And when you do, just remember that you were brave enough to go against the original...so be brave when you go against the carbon copy."
That got in a few laughs. The graduates felt uplifted. He was right. In that they would always run into Prickly wanna-be's and that they would have to brave. Which wouldn't be a problem. They had already proven that.
And that's all folks! Sorry if the ending seemed rushed, but I had to get this last chapter up TODAY because I'm not going to be here from Monday to about Friday at lunchtime, since I'm going away to camp with some friends. But I will be back and ready to rumble! The next fic is prolly going to be "Last Action Hero", where T.J. meets his hero Senor Fusion! Unless otherwise notified, that's going to be the next project, so be patient, and when I get back, I'll start writing on it! Oh, and don't forget to review!