Part Seven: Graduation Day

She had been in an embarrassing state when she opened to the knocking at the door. "Grandpa Max!"

She was half undressed under her bathrobe, her hair was in a messy bun which was held in place by a ball-point pen, and her toothbrush was hanging from her mouth. She was home alone; her parents at work.

The old man smiled genially, she was just like another granddaughter to him, and gave the safety code, "Vomit Comet."

She relaxed and smiled, standing aside to allow him inside, saying around toothbrush and toothpaste, "Sorry, I just woke up…"

"No problem Kiddo." To him she was 'Kiddo', Gwen was 'Pumpkin; it was the exact opposite of what Grandma Verdona called them.

She went back to the bathroom, leaving Max seated on the couch, and quickly readied herself for the day.

"You've worked pretty hard over the past few months haven't you?" Max started as soon as she sat into the recliner.

"No," she replied modestly, "not hard enough…"

He smiled, taking a small rectangular box from his breast pocket, "Our superiors think differently…"

She took the box with shaking hands and opened it to find, "Oh my god…"

There, nestled in the box, was a brand new Plumber's badge. It gleamed in the light, unsmudged by any limbs or scratched and dulled by active use.

Tears of gratefulness, pride, and relief began falling down her face, "Thank you."

"Don't thank me Kiddo," Max chuckled softly, "you've earned it. They're pretty impressed by your dedication, endurance, and adaptability." He stood up, "I've gotta run, Verdona's on-world. The other three should be awake…"

She stood up quickly, putting aside the box and her badge, and hugged him tightly. He hugged back just as warmly before taking his leave.

"Hey guys!" she called as she walked up to their usual table. Ben and Gwen greeted her loudly while Kevin remained silent.

"Grandpa Max dropped by this morning," she explained as she neared them, "he dropped off something.'

"What did he drop off?" Ben questioned worriedly.

She grinned and pulled out her badge, her properly green badge, "This."

Ben was first up, hugging her tightly and pecking her cheek as the other two gathered around them. Gwen hugged her as well while Kevin clapped her on the back.

"Howzabout another round of smoothies? On Kevin!"

"Tennyson…"

END