Senior Year Box Set

I was happy that we’d helped pay for the books until I read the bottom. Get David Dawson’s signature in your yearbook and receive a FREE cinnamon roll or potato skins on your next visit to Granny’s West.

While I thought that this was a good marketing plan, I wished I’d been told about it up front. I decided to let it slide for now because I’d chosen not to be involved in running the businesses. As much as this made me want to dive back in, I realized I was about to leave in a few days. I wouldn’t have the time or brain space to deal with that once I started filming.

◊◊◊

I got pulled out of first period to meet with Vice Principal Palm to go over my speech. Once we sat down in his office, he began to ramble.

“David, I wanted to make some modifications to your speech …”

I tuned him out as I mentally reviewed for next period’s Calculus class that had Dare all worked up. Somehow, he’d found out that both Gina and I were still ahead of him, grade-wise. Once he shared that, and Gina and I recognized how much it made him lose his mind, we’d called my former tutor, Suzanne, to help us.

Honestly, I didn’t really care if he got a higher score in the class. An ‘A’ was an ‘A,’ after all. Only the boy genius would obsess over something like that.

“I took the liberty of retyping your speech,” Mr. Palm said to end his monologue.

“Thanks,” I said as he handed it to me.

“I have to say that you took my suggestions well. Not everyone would be so cooperative. I appreciate you working with me on this.”

I gave him my best winning smile and put my hand out for him to shake.

“Thank you, sir. I’m sure my speech will just be a formality for our upcoming graduation event. I wouldn’t want to say anything that might cause you or any of the other members of the school administration potential heartburn.”

“That’s very adult of you,” he said as I left.

I waited until I made it to my math class before I threw his speech into the trash. As I did so, I considered maybe pulling it out because I hadn’t written mine yet, and when I’d contacted Frank to help me, he’d laughed. He claimed it was a rite of passage into the adult world to have to write a speech like this. Frank did agree to proofread it once I’d finished it. I suspected he wanted to manage me like Mr. Palm had tried to.

The clock hit the hour, and the test began with the sound of turning pages as we all looked at our test questions. I got to work and almost laughed. Most of the problems were recycled from or variants on the test Suzanne had sent us. I looked over at Gina, and our eyes locked for a moment. Dare was going down.

◊◊◊

By lunchtime, it was a toss-up as to what commanded more attention: test anxiety, state-championship mania, or yearbook signing. The other students had discovered the Granny’s West ad, and I got cornered at lunch by all the underclass boys. My usual tablemates decided to abandon me.

“Give me a few minutes to eat my lunch, and then I’ll sign them,” I said to set expectations.

I had about thirty freshmen surround me as they watched me eat today’s mystery meat surprise the lunch ladies had offered. I suspected they had cleaned out their freezers, and we had hit the bottom of the barrel on this one.

Once I finished my meal, I stood up to organize this chaos.

“This is how it’s going to work. I want you to line up, and if you expect me to sign yours, you have to sign mine. Just keep in mind,” I said as I paused for effect, “my mother will be reading this, and she knows your parents. If you don’t want her at your front door, make sure you don’t write anything you’ll regret.”

I spotted a girl in the group.

“Everyone line up behind Kelly,” I announced.

We’d been forming lines since kindergarten, so they quickly complied.

It ended up going better than I expected. By the end of lunch, I had writer’s cramp, but I’d knocked out about half the people that had this period’s lunch.

As I walked to class, I was hounded to sign yearbooks. This had to stop, so I diverted to the office. My new best friend, Vice Principal Palm, agreed to set up a table in the field house where I would sign yearbooks after school. He made an announcement to that effect and said I was to be left alone until then.

◊◊◊

After school, I made my way to the field house and found the table set up with two chairs. I didn’t understand why there were two. There was another table there staffed by the yearbook committee so anyone who hadn’t picked theirs up yet was able to.

Several students had already lined up when I sat down to begin signing. The seat next to me was taken by none other than Destiny Crown. I looked a question at her.

“I’m head cheerleader,” she told me.

This was her big moment, so I didn’t comment.