A Do Or Die Situation (Sequel to To Offset The Shakes) // Andy Hurley/Trohley

I'm Headed Straight For The Castle [Part One] (Libbie's POV)

A few day had passed, and today began the start of my class' presentations. Normally, presentations scared me anyway, but I was due to present today. Thankfully, I wasn't the first to go, but just knowing exactly when I had to go scared me above anything else. I hoped that the other few kids before me took longer than the time allotted. I was beyond nervous, and with my idea having worked out, it made me all the more nervous.

-

One by one, kids went up onto the stage in our school's auditorium and presented to our whole school. As each kid sat down after they were done, my heart seemed to get higher and higher in my throat, and I felt as if I was going to puke. After one more kid in my class, it was my turn. There was only ten minutes left of class, and the girl before me was nearly finishing her report, which was on her childhood, when her mom walked out on her, her dad, and her brother. It was bringing tears to my eyes, learning that this seemingly normal girl had gone through such a rough time when she was only ten years old. She told us that her dad raised both her and her brother, and she hasn't heard from her mom since her twelfth birthday. It broke my heart, and it was even bringing tears to her eyes.

As her report was coming to an end, I left my seat in the back of the auditorium and met Mrs. Heritsch backstage, where she was standing there ready with my report in her hands. She smiled as soon as she saw me, then handed me my report. After I grabbed it, applause filled the auditorium, and I knew there was no going back now.

"I know you're nervous, Elizabeth, but you're going to do great, I just know it! Your report is nearly flawless, and with your little surprise later, your schoolmates and teachers are going to eat it up. Just believe in yourself, okay?"

I was just about to answer her, when I saw Andy and Joe out of the corner of my eye. Andy had a giggling Max in his arms, while Joe had a diaper bag slung around his shoulders. Gage was following shortly behind them, looking like he was barely keeping up, mainly because he had to drag Max's stroller up the stage stairs. It made me laugh, knowing that they walked here and that's why they were nearly late for the start of my presentation.

I hugged Joe and Andy, and quick gave Gage a kiss before I took my place behind the black curtains. I took one deep breath and pushed myself through the small opening in the middle of the curtains. The bright lights made it hard to see the sea of faculty and students, which I was actually thankful for.

-

It felt like hours had passed before I even considered starting to read my report-turned-lesson. Quiet conversations had started to erupt in the sea of people, and I had become even more nervous. I glanced back through the curtain and saw Gage bouncing Max on his hip, completely oblivious to the fact that I hadn't even started presenting yet. That small gesture was enough for me. I took a deep breath, took my place in front of the mic and stand, opened my report, and began reading.

"Students and faculty," I began. "last school year we were given a project in our English class. I was never one for reports, especially ones that involved speaking in front of people, and I don't think I know any high-schooler who is," I said, and a few chuckles sprang up from the crowd. "Now, I sat in the back of my English class for weeks after we got assigned this report, wondering and wondering what to write about. I felt like nothing was good enough, nothing was informative enough; I felt like it had all been read before. But, when an unexpected surprise arose in my life, I knew exactly what to write about, even though it wouldn't become clear for many more months.

It's not hard to figure out what that unexpected surprise was. I mean, I hid the evidence of that surprise under my sweater for almost nine months. My son, Max Alexander, was born July 25th, and thus became the inspiration for my report," I read, slowly relaxing into everything I had written down.