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1.2 // eric's expectations

1 . 2 / /   e r i c ' s   e x p e c t a t i o n s

Grade Six // Age 12

THE SOUNDS of clapping filled the gym as another student went up to the stage to receive their Academic Excellence Award. Alexandria was already clutching her own Improvement Award, and she couldn't help the giddy smile that bloomed on her face as she stared down at the plaque. It was her first award, and she didn't expect it at all. She can still remember her siblings' cheers as she walked the stage to receive her award. She wasn't embarrassed like she usually would have, she was too happy.

The ceremony went on for awhile yet, and after receiving her certificate of graduation, they were allowed out of the gym and to the school foyer. It was packed to bursting with students and their families. It was easy to pick out her own, for her brother and father stood towering over everyone. "Little Ria!" Khalil exclaimed, hugging his little sister fiercely. She grinned, pushing him away. Her parents and sisters congratulated her, and they moved outside, where they could breath and move easier. They took a million picture of their youngest, and her parents promised her the two new books she had been wanting.

After that, the guests were asked to leave, and the students were given a lunch of pizza, juice, cupcake, and a bag of chips. Alexandria sat beside her friends, and talked about the day. They were excited for what came next—the dance. It would be the first dance any of them have attend, and to say that everyone was excited would be an understatement.

They were first ushered to their classes to get their report cards, and as Alexandria was walking towards her class (having been delayed talking to one of the office ladies who wanted to congratulated her) she heard sniffles. Some was obviously crying. She saw Eric Osman from the other class sitting on the ground. Alex's first thought was who cries in the middle of the hallway? There's a bathroom right down the hall. Then, she thought about why was he crying today. It was a happy day! They were finally done with elementary school! Alex couldn't figure out a reason why anyone would be sad today.

"Eric?" she asked tentatively. He looked up, startled, and started wiping at his tears. He jumped to his feet, his previously iron pressed and neat slacks and button up shirt wrinkled. "What's wrong?"

"N-nothing. Nothing," he said. "Nothing."

"You're crying," she pointed out. "That's not nothing."

He nodded, and his shoulders hunched inwards. He seemed defeated and when he looked up at her again, his green eyes were brimming with tears again. "I really thought I was going to win that academic award," he said. "I worked hard all year for it. But I didn't. I didn't win anything."

Oh. That's it? was Alexandria's first thought, but she checked herself. She won an award, she was happy. She didn't know how he felt and how important this was for him.

"You worked hard, though? You felt like you improved?" she asked.

He nodded.

"Then that's what's important. You don't need other people to tell you what you did was good. To . . . validate you," she grinned slightly. She'd never used that word in a sentence before, but she had heard her older sister say it a hundred times in the past few weeks as she worked on a school project.

"Oh," Eric said. "Oh. Well."

Alex smiled. "You did good, Eric. And there's always next year," she said.

Eric nodded, his brows furrowed, seeming to be lost in his thoughts. Alex frowned a bit. Well, she did what she could. She started walking away when Eric called after her, "Thank you!"

She turned, walking backwards as she shot him a smile. "No problem, Eric."

In the coming years, Eric would win the Academic Excellence award in middle school, and the highest academic achievement awards in high school, and end his high school career by being Valedictorian. Through out it all, when he felt discouraged, he remembered what Alexandria said to him. It helped him strive towards what he wanted and to achieve his goals. He learned to seek less validation from others but to recognize his own self worth.

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Hi everyone and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

A shorter chapter than usual for the flashback, but I hope you like it! What do you think of Eric? This chapter reminded me so much of my own grade six graduation—it was a great day.

See you next chapter,
Sage