Chapter 11 - Looking Ahead
(...Dimmsdale High's auditorium...a month later...)
All across the school's class lines, the students had been dreading final exams. The reactions ranged from apathy to shock to apprehension, among others. In the end, though, the majority managed to pass them or squeak by on their average (with but a small handful failing altogether).
The fortunate ones occupy the first ten rows of the spacious room. Their parents, relatives and assorted guests and teachers fill up the remaining seats. On stage sits the principal, a dark-haired man and two other people. One is an older man with a mustache, while the other is a short, dark-haired woman; these are the two vice-principals.
Standing at the podium is A.J., who focuses on his speech amongst the flash-bulbs of the cameras.
"...I feel there is so much one can take away from the years at this school. In fact, I think we are better people for having gone here."
The crowd applauds as the bald young man departs the stage. The female vice-principal gets up and takes the mike.
"Thank you, Mr. Preston. That was A.J. Preston, our valedictorian."
A.J. walks down the aisle and takes his seat. Chester turns around.
"Nice speech, man. I can't believe you were ever worried about that."
"Well, it did get a little hairy there toward the end."
The applause dies down. "Now, I would like to introduce an extraordinary young woman, one whose passion for education can be an inspiration to us all. Our salutorian, Virginia Flanagan!"
Her essay in hand, Tootie takes the stage. She adjusts her glasses and shuffles the papers.
"What does education mean to me, you wonder? It means an untold world of chances; a way to enrich your life. Sure, it may be tough at times, but when you stay with it, you'll find it to be an unforgettable experience. I honestly don't know where I would've been without my education."
Timmy sits, paying full attention to his girlfiend's words. He's distracted a little by a conversation taking place behind him. He turns and finds Vicky and Donna chatting behind him.
"Excuse me, but shouldn't you be paying attention to Tootie's speech?", Timmy states in a hushed tone.
"Shouldn't you?", the redhead replies in kind.
"The two of you have had a month to catch up. Can't it wait?"
"Hey, she's rehearsed this speech for us every day since she finished it. I practically know it by heart. I'm starting to wish I'd destroyed it myself."
Donna stares at her friend a little. "You have got to tell me what you've been up to these last 10 years."
Vicky looks at the brunette. "You would not believe it." She turns to Timmy. "Besides..." She jerks a thumb at her father, holding a digital video camera and focusing on his daughter. "Father Scorsese's getting every moment on tape.""Personally, I consider myself very fortunate to have attained an education from skilled individuals dedicated to their work. My teachers have provided me with so much. They informed me and my fellow students of information we may not have ever figured out on our own."
Mr. McKenzie sits with the other teachers, barely able to contain his elated smile.
"I can imagine what some of the beautiful people might say: 'I can always rely on my sports know-how' or 'Who needs an education when you look this good?' (and take it from me, I'm well aware how this is going to sound). Athleticism and good looks are nice while they're here, but they are not going to get you everything in life and they certainly won't last forever. Every little bit helps in this world."
"From time to time, most of my colleagues grumble aloud 'Why do we have to learn about history? What do we need to know about chemistry? We're never going to use this stuff in real life!'. Well, let me say that if you can't learn from the past, then don't count on a bright future. And chemistry? How about knowing what not to mess around with so you won't get blown to pieces. Besides, it's possible you could end up on a game show, where you might need to know the capital of Argentina or which chromosomes determine who we are."
Vicky leans over. "Oh, and if you break my sister's heart - for real - I'll break every bone in your body. You know I will." The redhead sits back in her seat. Timmy reacts with somewhere between a smile and a gulp. He believes her, but also knows that this is as close as it comes to Vicky giving her blessing.
"I find it next to impossible that there are people in the world who choose not to pursue an education and that some people decide to drop out of school. Don't they know that the pursuit of knowledge is a gift? Don't they realize, or even care, that, in some countries, children aren't allowed to get educations? How these children are unable to further themselves in the pursuit of a better life? Imagine only gaining knowledge from sources of a similarly detached, uninformed nature."
"Most people think to themselves 'I've already finished high school. Why would I want to waste my time in college?' No one's forcing you to go to college, nor am I suggesting you just blow it off. But to the privileged few who deign to take the next step, you'll have an chance to expand your knowledge and create many opportunities for your future. Believe it or not, there's a glass ceiling for high school graduates in the job market. A college degree will give you the edge...even in something as menial as fast food."
The crowd laughs at this, but Trixie sinks in her seat.
"To me, education means hope. It means strength, freedom and success. In short, education means life."
The crowd erupts in applause. Tootie walks off the stage and heads for her seat, a smile on her face. She never cared to be popular in the traditional sense, but she really liked the admiration that comes from doing a good job.
(...Timmy's car...two weeks later...)
As the vehicle makes its way down the streets of Dimmsdale, the driver - now a high school graduate - reflects on his life and how his passengers have affected it. He looks to the pretty brunette in the seat next to him; she found her way into his heart and got him to realize that she was the one for him.
He glances at his rear-view mirror and looks to the redhead behind her; she used to despise him, and while she doesn't completely like the guy, she can still spend time in his company without doing him harm.
He focuses on the brown-haired woman next to the redhead; if not for her, they wouldn't have ended up like this. Timmy felt like he owed Donna something, but he wasn't sure what it was.
Timmy looks over to Tootie. She glances out the window. He reaches his hand over to her and takes her hand in his. The brunette looks at him.
"I'm proud of you."
She squeezes his hand. "I'm proud of us."
"So, what do you two have planned for the future?", Donna inquires.
Timmy takes his hand and rests it on the steering wheel. "Well, just college, really."
"And then?"
"'And then', what? Can't we wait until it happens?"
Tootie turns around. "Besides, we've barely gotten into summer."
"Okay, but it never hurts to be prepared." Donna turns to her old friend. "What about you? You gonna do anything?"
"Well, I was thinking of writing a book."
"What about?"
"I don't know yet. Maybe it could be a book on babysitting."
"So it'll be a horror novel, then?", cracks Timmy.
"Watch the road, laughing boy."
Donna stretches a bit. "Hey, is anyone else hungry?" As it turns out, the party is only a few blocks away from a McKinney's.
"...and over there is the fryer..."
(...McKinney's...)
A middle-aged man navigates a dark-haired young woman through the compressed kitchen area of the fast-food joint.
"Have you got all that?"
The brunette looks up; it's Trixie. "Yes, sir."
"Good. Now get to work." He walks away, then turns back around. "By the way, I know who you are. Don't go expecting any special treatment just because of your name." He heads for his office.
Trixie stuffs a bag of frozen French fries into a bucket and dips it into the fryer.
(...outside McKinney's...)
The car pulls into the drive-thru lane. Timmy leans his head out the window to better accommodate the speaker box.
"Welcome to McKinney's. How may I help you?", states a garbled voice in a tone suggesting that the person had done this one time too many.
"Yeah. I'd like three cheeseburgers, a double cheeseburger, four medium fries and four colas." Vicky clears her throat. "Excuse me; three colas and one diet cola."
"That'll be $18.45. Pull up to the next window."
Timmy rolls up his window and follows the instruction. After a few moments, the food is ready. Trixie opens the window, bags in hand.
"Here you are, sir. Have a nice..." Trixie stops suddenly when she sees to whom the food is going. "...day."
Timmy looks surprised to see his ex-girlfriend working here, of all places. "Well, this is a shock." Trixie groans as she hands off the bags.
(...the street...moments later...)
Timmy sets his drink in the cup holder and his food on the floor. The women, meanwhile, scramble for what is theirs. Timmy slams on the brakes. The ladies manage to hold on to their food.
"What the hell was that about?", demands Vicky.
Timmy looks at a pair of squirrels in front of the car. From the point of view of the on-looker, they look like regular squirrels.
Tootie looks to her boyfriend. "What is it, Timmy?"
The squirrels run from the car's path. Timmy smiles a bit. "Nothing. Nothing at all."
The car starts moving again. The "squirrels" look at it from the sidewalk...and smile. Their outward 'normal' appearance melts away, leaving a pink one and a green one.
"You know something, Cosmo?"
"What's that, Wanda?"
"I think that Timmy's going to be all right."
He puts his arm around her. "I think so, too."