Susanna Gilmore is a small-town girl, and she loves everything about it. Now, she and her sister are going from a public school to an elite private school. Despite feeling like she doesn't belong, she determined to make it.
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Anna couldn't believe she was in her school uniform for the last time. "I don't know why my heart is beating so fast. It's a small ceremony." She put a hand over her heart as if that would calm it down. The school decorated the lecture room where their family and friends were sitting. They were lined up outside the room, waiting for their names to be called.
"It was put off three times, so it's surreal that it's happening." Jaci straightens out her hat. There were a lot of mishaps: the remodel of the lecture room got extended, Esther Gillespie's flight was delayed, there was a blackout, and the generator was not working.
"I know, after the blackout, I would have been happy with getting the certificate in the mail." She wanted that paper to prove that she passed. It was starting to feel like she dreamed of going to school.
They moved along the line as names were called. "Oh, we're going next." She grabs her hand.
"Jaci Flores," Chef Marie McKelvey called. Anna squeezed her hand before letting it go. They shared a smile before she disappeared through the door.
"Susanna Gilmore." Chef Ned Blois read her name. She shook her two main teacher's hands.
"I'm proud of how free you've become." Ned surprised her with the compliment.
"Thank you." She smiles. She moved along to Esther Gillespie. It felt like an out-of-body experience to shake the hand of her idol and take the certificate from her. She moves to stand by Jaci's side looking down at the certificate. "I feel like Charlie from the Chocolate Factory." She whispers looking down at the piece of the paper.
"I get that." Jaci held hers to her chest.
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"Thank you guys for coming." She hugs her mom, Luke, and Sookie.
"We wouldn't miss it for the world." Luke smiles.
"This is the fourth attempt so I don't begrudge anyone for not being here." She knew her grandparents were upset about being stuck in Helsinki. Rory had to hold a DRA mixer.
"Lucky, we owe our businesses so nothing can stop us." Lorelai pulls her into another hug. "I'm so proud of you for going after your dreams."
