page20 (1/2)

“I can ask Cameron about your boyfriend’s job,” I say in a cal”

Kathy smiles silkily

“Oh good,” she says “You do that I’d appreciate it a lot, Maddy”

I s the bile rising in my throat

“Sure, no probleet into h school Soon we arrive, and I drop my mom and aunt off at the front in order to wander to the back It’s a sweltering day and the heat practically comes in waves off the red dirt of the field where we’ll be having the ceremony

“Man oh man,” says Sarah Rivera, a friend of mine She takes off her mortarboard and wipes her forehead with one hand “I’ with sweat”

I’e a smile

“Why aren’t they having it in the auditoriuym?” I ask “Wouldn’t it be way cooler in there?”

But Sarah s

“Yeah, but the A/C broke, and even the back-up generator is down Thus, our field of drea expanse of grass There is a se there, with chairs set up on it, as well as the swell of folding chairs facing the stage God I can’t iht in the direct sunlight, but then again, I guess we don’t have a choice

“I’riet you a bottle too?”

Sarah wipes her perspiring face with one hand again Her nose and cheeks are glistening, and she looks like she’s about to melt

“Yeah, that would be good,” she says “Thanks”

With that, I stride off purposefully, looking for the refreshments But alas, they’re nowhere to be found, and I findaround for Caraduation, so why haven’t I seen his tall, dark for hioing to start in ten minutes or so, and my man isn’t usually late I wonder when he’ll show up

But I can’t linger Quickly spotting the refreshrab two bottles of ice water and head back to where the graduates throng

“Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats,” booms our principal’s voice over the speaker syste the ceremony shortly

Obediently, we sit in the white folding chairs and I look surreptitiously overover by the right side Grace sees me and waves excitedly while ain What’s got her so upset recently?