Chapter 18 graduation
It seems only yesterday that Ben and Gwen became a couple. By now it's been several years. Today is the day the two teenagers finish high school and head off to a new beginning. We rejoin our heroes as they prepare for the graduation ceremony. Ben was putting on a nice suit while Gwen was wearing a white dress. Ironically the two cousins would end up looking like a bride and a groom on their graduation day and it wasn't even intentional.
Gwen was putting on perfume as she combed her hair in front of the mirror
"Well… this is it. The end of high school…" she said to herself as she heard a knock on her bedroom door
"Yes?"
"Ready to graduate high school sweetie?" Lily asked as she peaked into the room
"I think so but I'm a little sad though. I'm gonna miss my friends and everything…"
"You can always keep in touch with them" said her mother as she entered and sat down on her daughter's bed
"I know. Still I'm a little scared. Heading into the unknown…" said Gwen as she lowered her head. Her mother placed her hand on her shoulder for support
"You'll be fine Gwen. Everyone makes it okay. With good grades and abilities like yours you can do anything you want and your father and I are very proud of you for that…"
Gwen smiled at her mother and brought her in for a hug
"Thanks Mom…"
"You're welcome dear"
After a few moments her mother spoke again
"Well we better go. We don't want to be late for the ceremony…" and with that they separated from the hug and headed downstairs
In Ben's house things were similar only Ben was a little more depressed. He sat in his room and stared blankly at his reflection in the mirror. He was so lost in his thoughts he didn't hear the knock on his door and he didn't hear it open
"Ben?"
He didn't answer
"Ben?" the man asked again and put his hand on his son's shoulder
Finally Ben snapped out of his trance
"Oh hey dad"
"Are you alright?"
Ben sighed deeply as he returned his gaze to the mirror
"I just can't believe it's over. I spent half of my education as a lousy student and thanks to Gwen I'm an honor student now… I enjoyed studying with her but those days are gone… poof…" he waved his hand lightly as he spoke the last word
"You and Gwen will still see each other. You two are inseparable and who knows? You too might learn the same thing in college…"
"Yeah…"
"Come on, cheer up son it's a happy day…" sad Carl as he patted his son on the shoulder and then on the cheek and walked out. This talk with his dad made Ben feel slightly better. He sighed deeply and finished preparing for the ceremony.
An hour later…
"Hey Ben"
"Hey Gwen" said the boy as he brought his cousin in for a hug
"Happy graduation Ben" his cousin beamed at him
"You too 'dear'…" he teased as she blushed and huffed and pushed playfully as they sat down in the row of chairs. Up front were a stage and a podium with a table full of diplomas. Before long the principle came up to give his speech
"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, fellow students and parents…" he began as the crowd listened
"It seems only yesterday you people came through our doors fresh out of elementary school. Some of you joined us some time afterwards. And now six years have come and gone and here you are about to head out on a new beginning and start your lives. As your principle I would like to above all congratulate you for your achievements and you successfully finishing high school. Some of you may study art, some of you may study medicine and some of you may study physics. Whichever way you choose I'm sure it will send you far and wish you the best of luck on your journeys. Do not be sad about leaving this high school behind for it is not over. A wise man has said 'an end is merely the start of something new'. On behalf of Bellewood high school I wish to congratulate every single one of you and wish you good luck on your futures…" said the principle as the crowd applauded
"Now, I will call your names and when I do please come up and receive your diploma…" said the man as he tended to a list of people on the podium
"Marty Mcfly"
"George Mcfly"
"Emmet Lathrop Brown"
"Jenifer Jane parker"
"Loraine Banes"
"Peter Parker"
"Clark Kent"
"Perry White"
"Jack Dawson"
"Rose Dawson"
"Stanley Yelnats the IV"
"Fred smith"
"Homer Hickam"
"Shin Wolf"
Before long the crowd of graduates grew until it was Ben and Gwen's turn
"Benjamin Kirby Tennyson" said the man. Once he heard his name Ben could feel his heart race. He rose slowly from his chair and walked up the podium and received his diploma and shook the principle's hand as he congratulated him. Once done Ben walked off the stage and returned to his seat to be embraced by his parents
"We're so proud of you of Ben…" said the parents as they hugged him
"Thanks guys" he said as he sat down beside his cousin
"I'm proud of you Ben. You've come a long way…" she said with tears of joy in her eyes
"Thanks cuz" said Ben as he embraced his girlfriend in a hug
"Gwendolyn Carry Tennyson" said the principle as Gwen got from her seat and proudly received her high school diploma and shook the principle's hand. Once she returned to her seat she went through the same routine with her own parents and sat down as Ben wrapped his arm around her shoulder and kissed her hair. Gwen could feel her cheeks turn red and it wasn't from the kiss
"To conclude the ceremony I'd like the crowd to stand up for the singing of the national anthem"
Moments later the two families were in the parking lot
"We did it! We finished high school" said Gwen as Ben picked her up and swung her around as he embraced her
"We sure did…" said the boy who's no longer a boy but a young man as he held her in his arms…
To be continued…
Well I hope you like it and I hope you noticed the movie references with the different names.
I would also like to dedicate this chapter to Michael J Fox the man who played the role of Marty Mcfly and to the rest of cast of the back to the future films. I would also like to wish Mr. Fox all the health in the world…