Chapter 11. -Do the impossible

It's kind of fun to do the impossible.

~Walt Disney

I nervously bit my lower lip while I tried to fix my exam-hat for the millionths of time. The stupid thing just wouldn't stay put. I looked to my side, where Freddie sat. At least he looked like he was even more nervous than I was. I mean, we already knew we passed our exams, but there was something about it, graduation day. It just made you nervous.

Freddie didn't have his degree yet, either. With a name like Benson, you'd think he'd be like the first name on the list. But you'd be surprised how much classmates we had with last name Adams. Finally, he was up. I could hear Mrs. Benson sobbing from behind me. Frankly, I don't see how anyone could have missed that.

Freddie gave a short speech where he thanked everybody, and talked about taking new steps in life. Kind of the same speech all of the Adams' had given before him, and which I knew I'd hear a couple of times more today. I must say, I wasn't really paying attention, I was still too focused on my slipping hat, until he suddenly said my name.

"Also, I'd like to thank Sam Puckett, one of my best friends, who always makes me go on when I'm ready to give up." I didn't really care what else he had to say. I was too busy trying to get rid of the tears that were currently filling my eyes. When had I became such a sissy, anyway?

But I couldn't help it. I had always seen Freddie as such a friend -one that always makes you go on -makes you fight, even if things get hard. -Carly too. And they both meant everything to me. And it just made me feel incredibly happy to know that I was seen as a friend like that, too. If only by one person.

Two minutes later, Freddie sat down next to my right again, and carefully smiled at me. I softly smiled back, moving a little closer to him. It still seemed to take forever before my name was called, but, suddenly, I wasn't all that nervous any more, somehow.

And finally, finally, finally Principal Franklin called my name. "Samantha Puckett, would you come forward please." I took a deep breath before walking up the stage. Principal Franklin handed me my degree and shook my hand while everybody started clapping.

"Congratulations Sam. I'm so very proud of you! We'll all miss you." he said. " Thank you." was all I could say. I walked over to the small desk where I was supposed to give my speech. I looked into the mass of people. Most of the children on the front line were already holding their degrees. I was named Puckett, and therefore I was always last in row.

Spencer was sitting next to Mrs. Benson, as close to the stage as possible. Mrs. Benson was still sobbing while Spencer was holding up a video camera. "I am not going to thank everybody up here," I said. "that'd be to cliché for me. And I'm sure by now you all know that everyone here is 'ready to take a new step in life'." a few people laughed.

"So, all I'm going to say is; wow! O my God, I'm graduating! Seriously! Me!" Now everybody was laughing. "Now honestly, how many of you people can say you saw that coming? I know I didn't! I mean, it always seemed impossible to me. But, you know, after you've done all the work even though you hated it and you've been wanting to quit about a hundred times but you didn't..."

I paused for a sec, finding the right words to say. "I guess it's kind of fun to do the impossible." Everybody started clapping again, and I made a dramatic bow before going back to my seat. "Now that, Benson, was a speech." I whispered in Freddie's ear.

He smiled back at me. "Well played, Puckett, well played." he whispered. "But don't for a moment think I didn't see your teary eyes during my speech." he whispered in an even lower voice. I blushed, for one moment stunned without words. But I found them again within seconds.

"Hey, Benson." I whispered slowly. " Your mom's a nurse right?" I asked. "Yeah..?" "Well good cause if you ever say something like that again you'll need her!" Freddie rolled his eyes, but did shut up. I smiled a little. At least I still hadn't lost my touch.

After the ceremony was completed, and I finally got to throw my dysfunctional hat in the air, the congratulations-part began. Spencer was the first one to greet me and lifted me in the air. He came running up to me with that crazy smile on his face. "Sam!" he yelled, and then he grabbed me by my waist to spin me around.

"Spencer, you idiot, put me down!" I laughed. He didn't, but he stopped spinning. "Sam, we're all so, so proud of you! I still can't believe you did it, you actually graduated!" I hugged him tight, my legs still flooding in the air.

"Sam, honey!" Mrs. Benson still had a little crack in her voice. Spencer put me down, and began to shake Freddie's hand, maybe a little too enthusiastically. "Would you look at you!" She said. "Why, is there something between my teeth?" I said sarcastically. But I don't think she heard. "You're graduated! You're all grown up and smart and..." She started sobbing again.

I sighed deeply. "Mrs. Benson." I said in my softest and nicest and most comforting voice. "Would you stop crying? It's embarrassing." She quickly wiped her cheeks. "O." She mumbled. "Sorry."

A smile filled her face. "You did well Sam." She said. "You earned that degree." I smiled back at her. "Thanks." I said. "No need to thank me." She said. "It's true." I smiled and nodded. She was right. I did earn the degree. I worked hard for it. I did the impossible.

After all the congratulations had been exchanged, I decided I wanted to go home. Carly already had her degree, and I wanted to talk to her.

I was looking around to find Freddie or Spencer, when I suddenly saw a glimpse of short, blond hair. A jolt went through my body as I looked back. Our eyes met for no more than a second, but it was long enough.

Her bleached hair was short and messy and her skin was over tanned and wrinkled and her eyes were blue and dull. It was her, no doubt. I knew my mother when I saw her. But what was she doing here?

A hand touched my shoulder, and I jolted up again. "Yo, Sam, what's up?" Spencer asked. I sighed relieved. "Nothing. I'd like to go home now, is all. I want to see Carly." I told him. "Sure thing." Spencer said. "I'll get Freddie and his mom, then we'll be on our way."

I nodded vaguely and followed him through the crowd. Why was my mother here? What did she want? It made no sense for her to be here. Non.

If she loved me, then it would make sense. If she was sorry for what she'd done, it would be logical. But she didn't. Did she? No. She didn't. I was sure of that. I had to be sure of that. She couldn't be sorry, I didn't want her to be sorry. Maybe I didn't even want her to love me.

Maybe it was because I was afraid that, if I let her in, she was going to hurt me again.

But maybe not. Maybe it was just because it would mean I should forgive her. And I wasn't ready to do that, just yet.