It was another day for the ham-humans, but this night for them was very special. Tonight was the night Cappy graduates from eighth grade and all the ham-humans got seated to watch their friend Cappy get his certificate from the stage of their auditorium, where the graduation ceremony was held. After the long minutes of watching them all being graduated and hearing their speeches, it ended with a small snack table in the hallway where the parents or guardian who came get free food. The ham-humans sat on the bench, about three meters away from the crowded area, waiting for Cappy to come out, but when it hit 11:30 pm there was a problem.
"You guys, it's like 11:30pm." Sandy had her eye on the clock.
"Oh no, we have so much homework, non?" Bijou looked worried.
Everyone, but Penelope, Cappy, and Boss, are sixteen years old (grade 11). Penelope was 12 (grade 7) and Boss was 19 (College).
"Yeah, we do." Sandy pointed out sadly.
"I'll go get Oxy." Pepper stood up and went to the snack table to get Oxnard and prepare to go.
Pepper moved here a couple of years ago because she wanted to be closer to Oxnard since they are humans now.
Pashmina, Bijou, and Sandy looked disappointed that they had to leave with the rest of them on Cappy's special day, while the guys were all outside goofing around.
"Penelope." Pashmina turned to her, "We have to go. So, I want you to stay here and wait for Cappy so you can tell him that we're sorry."
"Why me?" Penelope asked.
"Because you're like his best friend." Sandy pointed out.
"Yeah, you guys are really close." Pashmina agreed.
"Besides you and Pashmina of course." Bijou added.
Penelope thought about it and agreed with their saying, "Okay, I'll do it."
At that very moment Pepper and Oxnard, who came back with both hands full of food, was prepared to go.
"Okay, we're ready." Pepper said while holding onto Oxnard.
Pashmina nodded then looked at Penelope and smiled. She gave her a hug and a kiss, "Thank you so much, sweetie."
Penelope smiled back, "No problem, Pash."
As they waved to Penelope good-bye, she watched them leave and met up with the other guys outside. They, then, walked, somewhat, in pairs: Pepper with Oxnard, Pashmina with Dexter, Bijou with Hamtaro, Sandy with Maxwell, and the rest walked in groups.
Penelope sat on the bench and waited for Cappy patiently, while examining the photos behind the glass case in front of her. They weren't very interesting as for she came to this school as well.
Finally, Penelope spotted Cappy coming out of his classroom with his friends. She got up happily and walked to him. Cappy had a black tux on with his green hat that no one could ever make him take off. Cappy noticed Penelope walking towards him so he left his friends for a while to talk to her.
"Hey Penelope." Cappy smiled, "Where are the others?"
Penelope smiled then frowned knowing she had to give him the bad news, "They um… had to leave and complete their homework."
Cappy sighed, "They're never there for me for that long, but I can't blame them. I'm just glad you're always here for me, Penelope."
Penelope blushed, "For you. Anything."
Cappy smiled then realized the time, "It's getting late. I'll go and get my things then I'll walk you home."
Penelope nodded as Cappy ran down the hallway by other people heading towards his locker.
Penelope went outside and decided to wait for him there. It didn't take long for Cappy to find her, for he came out of the door fifteen minutes later.
Cappy looked around for Penelope then saw her, "I thought I'd find you here." He shouted out loud across the field to her.
When they started walking to Penelope's house, it was pretty quiet among them.
"Are you nervous?" Penelope asked to break the silence.
Cappy stared at her with confusion, "Nervous about?"
"High School." She replied.
Cappy thought about it before responding to the question, "Not really. I'm actually looking forward to it. I get to make new friends and start a new life."
Penelope stood by him no matter what, so if he was happy; she was happy, but she didn't want him to leave their school because he was one of the only good friends she could really talk to. Penelope didn't tell him how she felt about him leaving; she just smiled and said, "Sounds cool."
Once Penelope reached home and waved good-bye to Cappy before shutting the door, she went to her room for some time alone. She lay on her bed facing the ceiling while holding onto her pillow.
"Start a new life?" Penelope repeated Cappy's words from tonight, "Who would want to start fresh when you have a great one right in front of you?" Penelope sighed, "I guess he doesn't think his life is good enough, but at least I can still hang out with him just not as much…." She lay on her bed thinking silently for a while as it got late. Her last words before she fell asleep were, "Boys… they're so complicated."