Senior Prank (9781620957295) Read Free Page A

for free. Their mother, Maureen, is a secretary in an accounting office. The family seems to all have separate lives, probably the result of their 29 years together.
    Marcus always seemed to be on his brother to do better. “Lamont, you have it in you,” he would often say. “You’re just lazy. You have to make your own way. Nobody’s going to give you anything.”
    Lamont knew that there was much truth to Marcus’ rants. He realized that his chances of a college scholarship for his academic work were slim and none. Running fast might be his ticket, since as a freshman three years ago he placed third in the county and sixth in the state in the 200 meter run. He was a Potts favorite at that time.
    However, as a sophomore, Lamont fell in with the wrong crowd, discovered drinking, drugs, chasing women, and poor attitude. He constantly was in trouble at the school and even worse got tossed from the track team when he missed three preseason workouts. That was the Potts’ rule. His grades were C’s and D’s.
    â€œLamont, you have a world of talent,” Potts told him at the time. “I’m afraid you’re going to be like lots of others that came through this school and waste it. You don’t have any want to. You could have been a helluva runner. You refused to do it my way. Listening to others sometimes is the key to success.”
    Lamont knew Potts was right and this was his time to correct things. Besides, if he trained, he knew he could become a track star again. If he was good enough it might open doors to colleges and a future. He had no idea what he wanted to be in life, only that he wanted to follow his brother to college. The tales of partying, women and fun convinced him college was for him.
    Over the summer he went to a local all comers’ track meet and stunned everyone by winning the 200 meter run in a time faster than his freshman time. He knew that if he got serious he could win, or at least place high, in the state meet.
    Elvis McGraw was an enigma. Seems nobody could figure him out. His interests were wide and open. School to him was the great socialization process. He was the ultimate slacker, skating by with C’s, although his state and standardized test scores put him in the top 20 per-cent of his class.
    His mother, Gladys, worshipped the boy. She was always the biggest Elvis Pressley fan ever, and there was little doubt what her son’s name would be. Her husband, Vernon McGraw, died when Elvis was eight from stomach cancer, and as a result, Gladys threw all her attention at her son. Some say she even spoiled him. She worked as a secretary at a local oldies radio station.
    From a young age, her Elvis became the real Elvis. She dressed him like The King, styled his hair like the crooner, and constantly provided him with Elvis facts and figures. She took him to Graceland about every three years, and even took him to Tupelo, Mississippi, to see the real Elvis’ birthplace. It was a little one room shack, but meant so much to her. Gladys didn’t have much money but she scrimped and saved, and provided Elvis with whatever he needed.
    Her Elvis had mastered the guitar and even played in a local rock band. He was popular at such appearances, much due to his resemblance to the real Elvis. However, he wasn’t interested in a serious female relationship, instead just bouncing from girl to girl. Unlike his fellow teenagers, he wasn’t much for video games or sports, instead choosing to practice his guitar and study music. Obviously, he envisioned a career in music. He avoided drugs and drinking, instead getting his kicks with practical jokes. His nickname, which only a few people called him, was Elvy.
    What was amazing was that when Elvis wanted to be he could be the smartest student in the class. Sometimes, his essays were of top college level. Once he made a bet with the girl with the highest grade point average in the class that he could