Not Even Alaska

Not Even Alaska

My chest was tight, my hands were sweating and my head was moving in slo-motion. Not remembering my speech that I practiced the night before, I improvised.

"Good Afternoon, my name is Percy Johnson."

My deep voice echoed across the gym as I faced a sea of people awaiting my graduation speech. "This college, Harvard that is, has been a wonderful experience for me. The professors have been amazing and the classes very challenging. They made me work hard and strive for success."

I was valedictorian of my class and was chosen to make a speech in front of everyone's parents at the ceremony. Well, everyone's parents but mine, they couldn't make it because they were in Costa Rica vacationing their asses off.

"I hope that every student that passes through the halls of this school have the same incredible sense of accomplishment that I have, when they go to class every day knowing they are learning with the best and brightest students in the country, and with that on this day, January, 19th, 2013, I send luck to all my classmates and future graduates of this magnificent school."

Cheers erupted from the large crowd as I walked down from the podium. Diploma in hand, I sauntered over to my girlfriend Leah who stood waiting for me on the sidelines. She grabbed me in a bear hug cooing over how great my speech sounded, ruffling my dark hair in the process. Did she know how long it took to put it up like this?

"Yeah yeah I know, I'm awesome no need to remind me and lay off the hair." That comment got me a light smack on the head and a little laugh out of Leah.

"You are so conceited Percy," Leah joked.

"Yeah I know," I laughed a deep laugh kissed Leah on the cheek and walked over to my Biology professor to thank him. Leah followed with me hand in hand.

"Hello Professor Lallier, " I spoke with confidence to the wise old man in front of me.

" Why hello Percy, That speech you made was quite the thing."

"Thank you Sir,to be honest I winged it."

"Well you did a great job. However, I would like to talk to you about something in private. Could you come over here with me for a chat?" Professor.Lallier motioned out the gym doors with his wrinkly hand. I looked at Leah, and she smiled nodding her head,

"Yeah, sure Professor anything for you," I walked out to the hall following my professor and thats when the ball dropped,

"Percy, would you like to go with a research team to Alaska? It would only be a weeklong trip and you were chosen to go because of your marvelous scores."

I think my brain actually stopped working for a second after his raspy voice had told me about Alaska and when I responded it sounded something like " Uhh,yeah,Oh my gosh,umm, Yes!"

"Well that is settled. Take this application and fill it out by tomorrow, the group leaves in two days so get packing! Theres a list attached to the application."

"Yeah, ok I guess I'll fill this out, see you tomorrow Professor L." I half yelled as I ran back to Leah literally jumping and skipping from Professor Lallier's news .

"Leah,Leah! I'm going to Alaska in two days, isn't this awesome." I yelled in my girlfriends face while I shook her shoulders making her curly blonde hair go crazy.

"OH, really? Wow Percy I'm so proud of you and I bet your parents would be too, how long is the trip?" Her blue eyes were wide in excitement as she spoke and my smile faltered at the mention of my parents but came back thinking of Alaska and I proudly replied, " One week."