Chapter 80: Graduation day

Before the alarm clock even sounded, I was already awake with a tremendous smile on my face, its finally graduation day. All my life I've been waiting for this day and it's finally here. I stood up and headed to the bathroom, took a shower and got dressed in a purple dress. I was so excited I didn't have breakfast. I headed to school and when I got there, my mates were already in school looking well-dressed. I said hello to some of my friends, then we were given our graduation wear.

"It's finally that era when our school releases another set of people into the world. Believe me, this is one of the best sets the school has ever raised," said one of our founding fathers. After a short talk and a word of advice, we were called one after the other to get our diplomas. While I watched my mates walk up to the stage to get their diplomas, I felt so emotional as I awaited my turn.

When the diploma was remaining just one, I expected to hear my name and to my greatest surprise, my name wasn't mentioned. After the graduation service, I headed straight to Principal Benjamin's office, I opened the door without knocking and yelled her name.

"You know it's not normal to just walk into my office like we're sharing it,"

"I didn't get my diploma, why is that?" I yelled,

"Oh yeah, you're Angie, for shame. I didn't expect it would be you. You know, when the board sent me the list of graduating students, I was shocked because I figured one person from your class isn't graduating, not because you didn't perform well in school but because your 12th-grade performance was so horrible, I mean did you even study at all?"

"I know I flunked but I had enough grades to graduate and...,"

"This is Lucky dreams high school, and according to the board, any student who doesn't get at least a B in all courses cant graduate, I'm sorry Angie,"

"So I would have to come back next year or something?"

"I'm afraid you'll have to repeat 12th grade to graduate,"

The moment she said this, my mouth began to taste sour and my eyes were filled with tears. my tears were so hot that I became convinced that I was in much pain. I ran out of Principal Benjamin's office and headed home. When I got home, I began to cry, I cried so much that my face began to swell. I had no idea what I was going to tell my parents because they would be expecting me to show them my diploma when they come home. I was so troubled that I didn't even know if I should run away or just kill myself, while I was worrying too much, I fell asleep and had a dream that it was all a mistake, then Principal Benjamin apologized and gave me my diploma.

A few hours later, I woke up and realised I had over 23 missed calls and 20 text messages, I didn't read any of them because I wasn't in a good mood, I stood up and headed downstairs and tried to watch T.V but I wasn't comfortable doing that. Shortly after, the exit door opened and my parents walked in,

"Where is my baby girl," Dad said and spread his hands as he walked towards me, I smiled and walked to him then I hugged him, "I'm so proud of you baby girl, you know what, just let me go up to my room and freshen up, then we would celebrate," he said and went up to his room. As soon as he left, Mom looked at me weirdly, it was like she knew something was wrong.

"You know, it's only like yesterday you woke up before the alarm clock sounded and told me you were going to school because you were so excited you're finally in 12th grade, now you've graduated and you don't look happy. Talk to me, what's wrong?"

I tried to talk but then tears rolled out of my eyes again,
"Mom, I didn't make it, I didn't make it,"

"What do you mean you didn't make it?"

"I'm not graduating high school Mom, Principal Benjamin said I performed horribly in 12th grade so I can't graduate, I'm so sorry Mom," I said but Mom remained quiet while I kept crying.

20 minutes later, Dad walked down to the living room and saw me crying and Mom looking at me with disappointment written on her face,

"What's going on?" He asked but we both ignored him, "Can someone tell me what's going on here?"

"Your daughter isn't graduating high school," Mom said,

"How? that's impossible she...,"

"She performed horribly In 12th grade," Mom interrupted, "And she said the school won't give her a diploma unless she performs well in the 12th grade,"

Dad chuckled,
"I know this whole conversation is a joke, there is no way she could come this far and flunk that much In her final year, she's not stupid,"

"Well ask her to give you her diploma if you think this is a joke,"

Dad remained quiet for a short while,
"So you mean to tell me, she's not graduating?"

"No, she's not,"

Dad chuckled,
"You know, when I began to see dirty characters in you, I thought it was only temporary. Every day you kept worrying about Jones and now look at you, you're a failure,"

"Hey don't say that to her," Mom said,

"Don't tell me what to say okay," Dad yelled, "Our daughter isn't graduating because of a boy and you expect me to go easy on her? This is also your fault,"

"My fault, How is it my fault?"

"If you've been hard on her she won't be a failure,"

"Listen, I can tolerate you putting the blame on me but I would never tolerate you calling my daughter a failure, so please darling watch your words, she's still our daughter,"

"You know what, I don't have time to listen to this bullshit," Dad said and walked up to his room leaving I and Mom in the living room. Mom gave me a hard look, and then she shook her head and headed upstairs without saying anything to me.