Shade and the Skinwalkers
Page 30
My mom showed up sober. She kept crying and saying how proud she was of me—which was totally embarrassing, but nowhere near as embarrassing as tripping over every single person she had to pass to find a seat in the bleachers and then falling into the lap of a cheerleader’s dad. Oh, yeah, that happened. In middle school. At an awards ceremony. The teasing I got for months afterward, not to mention the cruel taunts from the cheerleader’s friends, completely wiped out any joy I had initially felt over winning that award. My mom also wore a pretty pink linen suit and the pearl necklace I’d given her for Christmas. She looked good. She looked like a normal mom.
As I walked onstage to receive my diploma, Kai and my mom whooped and hollered. I wished they hadn’t, but it was OK. Lots of kids had family who did the same thing.
I got all nervous as my full name was read out loud: Galactic Shade Griffin!
Someone in the audience made the sound of a bird. Idiot. The guy sounded like a rooster, while a griffin is half eagle. Good luck to you in your future, moron!
As soon as I started walking across the stage, the announcement was made that I’d won an award! The Newspaper Club Award for Excellence in Journalism! I wanted to cry, I was so happy.
Principal Marquez shook my hand. As he handed me my diploma, he said, “Congratulations!” We smiled and posed for the photographer taking Graduation Day pictures.
As I approached the person handing out the awards, she extended her hand to shake mine. Her fingernails were painted blue with green spots! When I looked into her eyes, I noticed she’d smudged charcoal eyeshadow all around them. She looked like a raccoon. As she shook my hand, she leaned forward and said, “Congratulations on getting into Ocean View College! You’re going to love it there!” Then we turned and smiled for the camera.
*Footnote: Melville, Herman, Moby Dick, (Penguin English Library, Kindle Edition).
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