Wake up.
No.
You have your speech today…
All the more reason to stay in bed.
Putting your pillow over your head isn’t going to slow down time.
I don’t care.
You remember that one time…
Stop. I’ll get up.
...you broke your arm when you fell off that chair…
Look! I’m up! Will you stop now?
Yes.
Do you HAVE to bring up every embarrassing moment of my childhood?
You’re still in your childhood. And no, making faces in the mirror won’t change that.
I wasn’t.
Yes, you were.
Nuh-uh.
Ya-huh.
Nu--
Did you just fall down the stairs?
No.
I’m pretty sure you did.
Nope.
“Good morning, sweetie! How did you sleep?
“Hi, Mom.”
How DID you sleep?
I don’t remember.
Liar.
I have a speech today! How do you think I slept?
You know, I bet HE’s going to be there.
Groan. Don’t remind me.
“You all ready for your speech, honey? Graduation is usually a PRETTY big deal…”
Does she realize she’s making it worse by trying to joke?
Don’t be mean.
“I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”
That’s right, you. Look on the bright side.
Shut up.
“You’ve hardly touched your food.”
“Not hungry.”
“I see. Well, why don’t we leave early so you have time to prepare when you get there?”
Why aren’t you responding? She asked you a question.
I’m nodding. That’s a response.
She’s washing dishes with her back turned.
“Okay, sounds good.”
How hard was that?

***
Man, it’s quiet in here.
There’s this new thing I’ve heard about. It’s called conversation.
Apparently, Mom has heard about it too.
Do you have any idea what she’s talking about?
No.
Me either.
“Here we are!”
I’m shaking so bad.
Badly.
I am about to give a speech. Do you really think I’m going to think about things like grammar?
You should. You are about to give a speech.
“Good luck, hon! I’ll be rooting for you the entire time.”
She’s kind of endearing sometimes.
I know. I’m getting fond of her.
I can’t believe I’m moving out in a couple of months.
Don’t worry. A few months after that you’ll be saying, “I can’t believe I actually lived with my mom.”
And you have some sort of experience with going to college?
No more than you.

***

Did they just get to M?
What?
The names. Last names. Once they get through Z, I’m up.
Oh. Yeah, they just called up Tyler Morris.
They’re halfway through.
Not necessarily. People with last names beginning with X and Y and Z are probably fewer than people with last names in the beginning of the alphabet.
Thank you. That helped.
Oh, look! It’s your turn!
I’m gonna trip I’m gonna trip I’m gonna trip I’m gonna--
Stop freaking out. Just remember that the entire senior class is behind you, including…
Don’t you dare.
…him.
I JUST ALMOST TRIPPED ARE YOU HAPPY?
No.
“Thank you for being such an exemplary student. And next up…”
I didn’t trip.
Yay.
You don’t sound very excited.
You know, the one thing you do have in common is that you both have last names beginning with letters in the end of the alphabet.
What is it with you and-- How is it that HE manages to look completely nonchalant while I stood there like an idiot?
He doesn’t have a speech after the next three people.
Two people.
One person.
Holy cow it’s time for my speech what do I do I forgot it all.
The first word is “The.”
Thanks.
“Introducing our valedictorian…”
Good luck!
Wow. You’re expressing something other than skepticism.
“…to end the ceremony.”
Your nervousness is having an effect on me.
I see.
“The moment I sit down…”
Remember the words, remember the words.
Why is it that you didn’t bring your speech up with you? Like, paper does exist. It is the 21st century.
I need to be able to change what I say without having to worry about reading the words off a paper.
You’re going to CHANGE your speech? In the middle of it?
I don’t know. Maybe.
Like, instead of talking about graduating high school, you’ll go off about giraffes.
Stop distracting me.
Fine.
YES they laughed at my joke.
It was a good joke.
Thanks.
I bet he thought it was funny.
Stop.
“…and I realized: I’m going to miss that moment.”
They’re clapping! I’m successful!
Hooray.
And back to the skepticism.
You aren’t nervous any more.

***

That’s right. You shake those hands. You give those hugs. Go, guuuuuuurl.
Please don’t call me guuuuuuurl.
You aren’t any fun at all.
“Hey.”
OH MY GOSH HE’S TALKING TO ME.
You’d better respond. Also, side note, you have carried out conversations with him before.
Shut up shut up shut up.
“Hi!”
A little too exuberant.
Hush.
“Nice speech.”
“Thanks! Glad you liked it.”
Stick to the one syllable words. That way he’ll understand your undying love for him.
I’m going to start ignoring you.
“No, I thought it was really good. Honest.”
“Cross your heart?”
“Cross my heart. Hope to die, too, if it makes you happier.”
Wipe that grin off your face.
“So.”
“So.”
The conversation. So witty.
“I can’t believe it’s finally summer!”
Do that thing you do where you whirl around in circles when you’re happy.
“Oh. Yeah. About that…”
About what? About summer?
“Yeah?”
You’re grinning like a loon.
“I, uh, know that you’re going to college, like, really far away in the fall…”
“The other side of the country, yeah.”
“Anyway… I was wondering if you wanted to--”
He’s asking you out he’s asking you out I know it’s against my nature but I’m so excited--
QUIET!
“--go to coffee or something before that happened.”
YES.
Yes!!
“Sure.”