Shoelaces

Porcelain Birds

"Mmm, this is delicious, Ms. DeRosa," I mumble to her with my mouth fool, across the table. I'm at Santi's house for like the 100th time, eating more and more of Ms. DeRosa's food. Somehow, each time, her cooking is better than the last.

"I'm glad you like it, hijo," she reaches across the table, and ladles another spoonful of asopao into my bowl, which I could never refuse. "I can't believe you two are graduating in just a few weeks." She turns and pouts to Santi. "You're going to leave me all alone here."

"Don't worry, mom, I'll visit whenever I can. And Darrion will even tag along."

I want to say yes, but my mouth is full, so I can only nod and give half a smile. The three of us finish dinner, and luckily, Ms. DeRosa lets me help clean up this time. We talk amongst ourselves until it's late and it's time for me to get home, Santi walking with me of course. Santi and I walk to the door, until I suddenly realize I forget something. I grab my backpack from the floor and call out to Ms. DeRosa.

"Ms. DeRosa, I forgot I have something for you!" I yell, and soon she walks out to the two of us from the kitchen.

"You brought something for me? There's no need, Darrion, truly."

"But I wanted to. For everything you've done for me and all the food I've eaten here." I reach into my backpack to pull out a small box. "I saw it at the mall the other day, and it reminded me of the china cabinet I saw here on the first day I came over." I reach my arms out to give her the box. She opens the box to reveal these five little porcelain bunnies.

"¡Oh, qué cosa! They are beautiful, hijo." She places the box down on a side table, then pulls me into a big hug. "I liked you from the moment you walked into the house, Santi knows that." She continues to hug me, then pulls away. "Okay, now shoo, you two. You don't want to see me cry."

"Bye, mom!" Santi exclaims as he opens the door to guide me outside.

"Bye, Ms. DeRosa." I follow Santi out the door, and once again, we walk the all-familiar path back to my house, hand in hand. Sometimes the road not taken becomes the road taken after all.

---

You know, I've been begging to leave high school from the moment I stepped into it, as a tiny little freshman. But now that graduation day is here, I'm not ready to leave. So many memories from these dreaded halls echo in my mind, like the day I first met Jazmine. And now, look at us, in our caps and gowns, waiting for our names to be called for us to walk across the stage and receive our diplomas. I feel like an idiot in this oversized garment I'm wearing, but I really don't care. I guess I've learned to care a lot less about the smaller stuff and care a lot more about the big stuff. Though, I do care that the sun is beating down on me while I'm wearing this hideous attire. That's something that I cannot get behind. Suddenly, my row stands up. I guess it's time for the Gs to walk across the stage. People that I somehow don't know despite going to school with them for four years are on either side of me. Oh well. I guess we will forever remain a mystery to each other, until we add each other on Facebook when we are going through a midlife crisis. My name is called, which results in my walking to the stage. Luckily, I don't fall. I shake hands with my principal, who then hands me my diploma. I look out to the crowd watching the graduation, my family cheering loudly in the parent section, and the one person way in the back who's yelling way too loudly. Of course, Santi would. I walk off the stage and back to my seat, waiting for Jazmine's turn. It's finally her time to walk to the stage, and I cheer crazily for her. She looks at me and smiles, before walking back to her seat. As soon as the ceremony is over, we run to each other and hug, throwing out caps into the air. We're no longer high schoolers. I'm no longer a high schooler. Crazy.

---

Timing worked out perfectly, because I graduated exactly a week earlier than Santi, which allowed both of us to go to the other's graduation. That's why I'm here at his high school, at way too early for a summer morning with Jazmine, waiting for his name to be called. Having the two of them meet each other was probably the worst decision of my life. I thought that Jazmine would have my back, but instead, her and Santi ganged up against me. I really should have seen that coming. But, at least, a lot of times the three of us hang out together, and it's not awkward. My two favorites and me.