The Graduation Read Free Page A

the design of future spacecraft, both manned and unmanned. The problem was, the experience was boring him.
    Throughout his school days, he had seen himself as a budding scientist. Now he was finding out that the entire analytic approach to the universe left him feeling cold and unsatisfied. This was a critical discovery; it completely threw off his future plans. He no longer knew what he should study in college, or even if he should go to college. Looking around at the other kids in his class hanging out in the hallway, signing one another’s yearbooks and gossiping about how loaded they were going to get on the ship, he wondered if he was the only one who felt confused. He often wondered that—why he felt so different from everybody else.
    “Yeah. The rocket and space business is OK,” he replied. “But I’ve been thinking of starting my own rock-and-roll band. Would you like to front it for me?”
    Clair was amused. “I’m totally tone deaf.”
    “But you can dance. That’s all that matters.”
    “You should get Jessie. She’s got a great voice. She’s singing at the ceremony this afternoon.” She stopped, obviously afraid she might have offended him somehow. “I’m sorry, Mike.”
    “No problem. That’s neat, she’ll be in the ceremony and all.”
    Clair was watching him. “You never talk to her anymore, do you?”
    He shrugged, feeling uncomfortable. Bubba must have told Clair how he felt about Jessica. “I never see her.”
    “You’ll see her today.”
    “I guess.”
    “Look, I’m being nosy.”
    “No.”
    “Well, then, talk to her today. Hey, I said a lot of nasty things about her before—and I still think she deserved them—but she is a classy chick. She really likes you.”
    Curiosity got the best of him. “What makes you say that? You haven’t seen her in six months.”
    “I can tell.” She leaned closer. “Do you want me to tell her?”
    “Tell her what?”
    Clair reconsidered. “Nothing.”
    “What?” he insisted.
    She grinned mischievously. “Nothing.”
    “Clair.”
    She shook her head. “I won’t say anything.” But she had to add, “As long as you say something.”
    “You’ve been hanging around Bubba too long. That sounds like a threat.”
    She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and began to bounce away. “I’ve got to talk to my pals on the cheerleading squad. If you run into him before me, tell him I went to look for them in the gym. Think about what I said!”
    “You remember what I said,” he called after her, embarrassed.
    He continued to search for Bubba. The first-period bell would ring in a few minutes, but he doubted that many kids would be heading to class. As usual on the last day of school, there was a party atmosphere all over campus. He observed it without feeling it. The hot weather contributed to his mood. He remembered how it had been hot the day he had met Jessica.
    Am I looking for Bubba or trying to hide from Jessie?
    He bumped into Nick Grutler next outside. They had kept in touch: regular telephone calls, occasional one-on-one basketball games. Tabb High had finished first in the league for the second straight year. Some people were saying Coach Seller was a genius. None of those people had been on the team. The title belonged to Nick. Come next fall, he would be attending U.C.L.A. on a full athletic scholarship. Michael was proud of him.
    “Does the old school still look the same?” Nick asked.
    “Hey, I haven’t been gone that long.” Nick had been heading in the direction of the parking lot. “Where you going?”
    Nick averted his eyes. He had gained a great deal of confidence since he had stumbled stuttering into the 7-Eleven at the end of the first week of school, but when he was troubled, he reverted to his old habit and looked away. “Maria’s coming to the graduation ceremony,” he said. “I’m picking her up at the rehabilitation clinic in San Diego.”
    “How is she?” He knew Nick hadn’t seen Maria since she had