Parts of this are x-ed out to avoid unuseful ill feelings.
I’d been sent the news that I would not be handing out diplomas at the East High graduation. That seemed an ill omen for a return to the location that spawned the last heckish year for the School Board.
Before I set out for the DECC I got a call from Tim wondering if I could give him a ride to the graduation. I told him that would be no problem but asked him if he had a ticket to the usually packed ceremony. He seemed a little surprised said that he didn’t but said it would be no problem. Well, it was no problem because when we entered together and he had no ticket the ticket taker called over one of the DECC’s supervisors who looked at the scruffy Tim and then at me immaculately dressed for what former Board member, George Balach, once called the only perk for being a school board member. (a perk that no longer guarantees the honor of handing out diplomas.)
After a hard stare at me the manager whisked my chutzpahtic companion in. I suggested that the balcony might have a few more seats and then went in to the front of the main floor where I was to be seated. A few minutes later seated by myself with none of my board colleagues apparently to sit near me Tim showed and leaned over to tell me he’d noticed I seemed not to be very popular. I gave him a big grin. A little later Art showed up and sat down and Tim moved off to talk with some of the other notables. Then, still charmed, Tim came back to inform us that he’d gotten the OK to join us. I have no idea who he asked.
Art and I joked back and forth until the ceremony began curious to see if we got booed when our names were announced. We weren’t. I saw our student Rep, Jude Goosens, take a seat near us on the stage next to a timpani and asked him if the instrument was “his baby.” He blushed a bit, and I barked out with a laugh “How come I’m not surprised?” Jude has a glorious bass voice.
Art and noted one notable void from last year’s ceremony up on the stage. I’ll say no more.
Near the end of the ceremony I leaned over to Art and told him not to go and talk to the Superintendent. He smiled and agreed to abide by my wishes. Once the new graduates had all filed out Art and I were in no hurry to rush off. We waited, much as last year, while the crowd filed out. We stood near the stage looking at the lost mortar boards tossed up in the air in a dramatic display of jubilation and mused about the students who had lost their tassels some of which were colors that denoted special honors. I commented that for some kids they might go home with a tassel upgrade demonstrating that they had been in the national honor society. While we joked xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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As we walked out shaking our heads we got to the lobby and talked. Then we looked up on the wall and saw a digital screen showing the empty stage. We wondered if it was recording the event. Then we wondered if it had been on during the previous graduation and, if so, whether that tape still existed. It could prove how hard a “shove” Art gave the Superintendent.
We went back to ask if it was recorded. We were told us that it was probably just a live feed but were encouraged to call the DECC office the next day.
I just called. It’s only a live feed.
