Aaron Drake: Icarus Academy

What is Love?

"Time is money, money is love, so love is worth my time."

- Me

I stood in front of the entire 7th Grade to 11th Grade, right behind the microphone, listening to everyone's applause at me reading whatever was written on that sheet of paper. What was on that paper? It's a long story, and that's what I'm going to tell you right now.

It all started a couple weeks back after another failed Aaron's Crush of the Week. I realized, at that time, money buys love. In every class, to waste time, I would tell the teachers my whole debate. It went something like this:

"Ms./Mr. *insert annoying teacher who's time I want to waste here*, you should know that money buys love. Sure, you can be romantic. But how do you be romantic? For the gents, we take our better halves on dates to fancy restaurants and buy them chocolates and jewelery. Guess what we use to get all that? That's right, money. Without money, we can't take them to the fancy French restaurant in the nice part of town, or surprise them with a bejeweled ring. And for the ladies, what do you use to buy your makeup and fashionable dresses you use to impress your man? Money. Without money, you're wearing second-hand worn out clothes. That's not impressing anyone. Weddings, dates and even life after weddings cost money. And that is why I think money buys love."

Most of the reactions were pretty good, a lot of people agreed with me. I told all the teachers since it was a good way to waste time and a good way to speak in front of my whole class for attention, and I like attention.

But when Dana said it, that deadly line, everything changed.

"You have no idea what love is, Aaron."

I DO SO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS.

It was Friday morning, before assembly when she said that. I had to prove that I was a dedicated romantic, so I had to prove that I had all knowledge of what love was! After all, I've experienced it enough times.

The rest of the day, I would randomly blurt out romantic lines stating what love is, sometimes even relevant to the class we were in. For example, in computer class I said "Love is the CPU of life; it's the only truly important thing."

"Love is knowing you'll never see her again, but remembering here forever anyway."

"Love is the chocolate of emotions"

And several other sweet, romantic lines. Three days later, on Monday, I compiled them all in my notebook. I ended it with the line "But money is still better since it can buy love", as a comedic ending to my beautiful poem. Many other people who went to Icarus must remember that poem.

I showed it to a lot of people, and everyone liked it. I even showed it to a certain girl who I liked at the time (I'll give you a hint: I've already introduced her in this story). A lot of the boys liked the last line, and I usually got reactions of "Aww, that's so sweet, oh, I love this line" from the girls, and then immediate laughter towards the end.

Then, the Annual Icarus Elocution rolled around, and I didn't participate after the disaster of 7th Grade. But I did bring the notebook with me, and I asked Ms. Medina if I could read it out to the 7th Grade-11th Grade. She found out and answered no to me.

I was bored during the elecution. The poems were all the same, dry and boring. I was almost asleep, and not even paying attention. Then the principal came up to the microphone at the end and said, "If anyone in the audience has a poem they'd like to share with us, please come up!", it was then that my entire grade and my friends looked at me, and woke me up, and encouraged me to go.

I stood up, which was hard since both my legs were asleep, and walked through the whole ground since I sat all the way in the back with Maya, who especially encouraged me to go up and read it out. I stepped up to the microphone and said, "Good morning, my name is Aaron Drake and I'm going to read a poem called "What is Love?", written by, well...me"

I began to read the poem. I could feel eyes on me, people hanging onto each word. I descriptively, elaborately spoke each word concisely. Throughout the poem, I was wondering, should I read out the last line about money? In the end I decided not to, since it killed the whole poem. I ended my poem with the last line, bowed dramatically and said "Thank you.", followed by hard applause and cheering for something I created. I was ecstatic.

That moment passed so quick, it felt like it only lasted 15 seconds. But I cherish that moment, you know why? Because now, when I think of the elecution, I won't think of that stupid mess-up in 7th Grade, I'll think of my glorious victory of a poetry reading in 9th Grade.

And don't think not reading out the money line hurt my attention; the girls loved it, and they would've been disappointed with the last line, at least I think so. I don't know what would have happened if I had read out that line, but maybe it's just another thing that wasn't meant to be, like that moment in Helen of Troy in 8th Grade. That poem, though, was published in the Yearbook, and I emailed it to Ms. Fatface, and got the following response: "You never cease to amaze me... Good job son... Proud of you", and I was very happy at that time.

That was my highest, most proud moment in Icarus Academy, and I'll cherish it always.