The Wrong Student: The Crossroads of Maddie Sawyer

The Wrong Student Crossroads Act 2

Mondays. It's often the beginning of a brand new week after Sunday. Kids go into school, adults have to go to work in order to obtain their hard earned money. Certain characters often despise that day since its most generally the end of the weekend of relaxation. This is no ordinary Monday because this special Monday is GRADUATION DAY! for someone who worked really hard on their lessons, persevere when things get rough, and able to get the job done. The sun may had set for someone's high school career but the sun will rise for the beginning of something new.....
GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA
"Janice, it's time to get ready for your graduation today!" said Sonia Hayley opening up the door to Janice's room. Sonia is dressed in a blue floral print shoulder lace dress and her hair is braided up to resemble short hair on her head. "Okay Mom, you don't need to tell me to wake up twice. I know my graduation is today, it said so on my calendar" said Janice slightly laughing as she spits out her words. Janice is dressed in a sleeveless red t shirt as well as long, soft pink striped pajama pants that covered her legs. On the top of her head is short and partially dyed blue hair and the rest her natural color of black. "I'll meet you in the kitchen for some breakfast I've cooked up for you" said Sonia excitedly. Soon after, Janice would clean herself up thoroughly inside her bathroom and after she washed up and brushed her teeth, she would then be dressed in a light gray sleeveless dress along with her matching sandals on her feet. As she stepped out of the bathroom, she smelled the aroma of her special breakfast that her mother had prepared just for her. Janice would soon see on her plate a section of scrambled eggs, toasted french toast coated with syrup, crispy bacon, and to top it all off, a pancake with whipped cream and a strawberry on top that resembles a smiley face greeting Janice on her hard work done throughout her high school career. "Well Janice, what do you think?" asked Sonia proudly of her daughter's accomplishments. "It looks amazing Mother, thanks for preparing the special dish for me. I'd bet that the time you spent making the food for me would pay off sooner or later!" said Janice gladly "You know, I'm kinda surprised that I was able to survive my last school year in the high school year. Coming from me struggling in my classes namely English and World History; not a fan of writing papers but I had to do em anyways, trying and later making the women's high school basketball team while winning a couple of games for the school, and not to mention my 'love' for my soon to be former basketball coach that almost got me into trouble. Nonetheless, I'm happy for him and his soon to be 'Basketball Wife' ". "That's a pretty impressive turn of events going on in your last year in high school. Speaking of 'sports love', I bet visiting Ms. Maddie helped you out a bit huh?" said Sonia "First of all, I bet 'Ms.Maddie' would probably be less formal when you address her and second of all, I wish she'll be able to attend my graduation ceremony. After all, she's the one who helped me stay out of prison" said Janice "Well, I'm glad Ms. Madd...I mean Maddie helped ya out and I'm not disagreeing with what you're saying but I don't think Maddie would be able to attend your graduation as a result of her past history" said Sonia "But if we have time, we'll probably stop by her cell and have the opportunity to show off your new diploma. And not to mention your bragging rights!" "Trying to be hip but you'll be able to keep with us soon enough" said Janice "Just realized after all this talk, my food is beginning to get cold" "Well, dig in then! You got a long and busy day ahead of ya" said Sonia laughingly. Janice would immediately consume her plate of meat, grains, and some fruit for her soon to be full stomach and after putting on her makeup, Janice would go into the car so that Sonia would be able to take her to her graduation ceremony located at the Pauley Pavilion. During the travel to the ceremony, Janice would think about what the future would hold for her in the real world when it comes to her job, living on her own, finding love, and ultimately figuring out what's best for her. "We're almost here Janice, you've been waiting a long time for this moment. Expect me to take dozens of pics me and your cousins who are attending your ceremony as well" said Sonia. "Lets do this" said Janice excitedly. As they walked into the auditorium, Janice and Sonia noticed the LED ribbon board saying 'Congratulations Class of 2021!' and all over the arena, there's seats to be occupied by families, friends, and teachers of the incoming graduates. "Well, I better go and get ready to walk the stage and get my diploma" said Janice excitedly as she heads to the back to change into her graduation attire which consists of a dark red graduation robe along with her matching cap/tassel on her head. After she changed, she would go on to her fellow graduates on the walkway to her seating area in the arena. "Any future plans for your life Janice?" asked Michelle who's one of her classmates/fellow basketball player "That's a really good question Michelle and to be honest, I really don't know because I don't know what the future would hold for me and you guys." said Janice pondering what her future would hold for her "For starters, I'll probably help my mother out on her business or something like that. Matter of fact, I might be going to a first year experience class for people with special needs like myself. It would most likely give me an edge before I take my college classes haha" "That sounds like you got it planned!" said Michelle joyfully learning about Janice's plans in the real world. After their conversation, it's time for graduation! The orchestra played the famous song that's played for graduations nationwide: Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 in D. During the procussions made by the orchestra, the entire class of 2021 proceeded to walk down the aisle and into their seats with thunderous applause. Afterwards, the principal of Janice's high school Mrs. Lindsey Graham would then greet the graduating class and congratulate them once again for their job well done. Soon after, a series of musical performances were brought up and one of Janice's classmates Nicole Richardson sang an excellent rendition of Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield on stage.
"...Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins.." sang Nicole smoothly. During the performance, Janice reflected on her secondary education career in which she often had to ask the teacher for assistance with her assignments. Especially when she struggled to complete her math assignments, her math teacher somewhat begged her to focus on her lessons. In addition, she met later on in her high school career her soon to be former basketball coach William Howard who in Janice's mind was her knight in shining armor. That is until her mentor Maddie Sawyer along with her mother told her otherwise. As a result afterwards, Janice would go on to become valedictorian of her class after her much needed motivation! After the singing festivities was completed, Janice would go on to deliver her speech to the audience in which she reflected on her secondary education career, some words of wisdom to the graduating class, and how meeting Maddie changed her perspective. "...You know, if it wasn't for Maddie, I would've done some things that I would've regret such as hurting people and indirectly their families. Some people like myself don't have an easy life to live and in some cases, we wear a 'mask' of someone loving someone who has little to no interest in dating. Inside that mask, there's a lonely boy, a girl, or someone in between. When it gets down to it, there's people in this world that care about us." said Janice. "And now let's welcome back a very special guest who's going to say a couple of words to the graduating class." said the principal. "They used to go to this high school several years back and some say, they were literally a STAR athlete. Later on, they would go on for a memorable career in soccer and would later instill the same principles he had learned on the field to a new generation of athletes everywhere. Ladies and Gentlemen, it's my privilege and honor to introduce the guest speaker: Mr. Dominic Antol!" A thunderous applause commences as soon as Dominic walks the stage to the podium. He's dressed in a dark red graduation gown on his body along with a dark scarf on his shoulders. He has short dark hair on his head and on his chin, he has a short beard that has the same color as his hair on his head. Janice is surprised to witness Dominic Antol literally right in front of her. The same man that her mentor had pursued a couple of years back. The same man who he and his now wife Kelly almost had their lives ruined as a result of Maddie's actions. The same man who would go on to mentor the young soccer upstart Amber Halligan. "Thank you Mrs. Graham, how's everybody doing today" asked Dominic as the crowd goes wild and crazy for him "You made it, you reached the end of the road of educational race. But first, why don't we take a little pit stop so you can hear some words of encouragement and wisdom. I'm kinda a bit of a racing fan *chuckles* soccer ain't the only cup of tea I drink" "As Mrs. Graham had mentioned during the intro, I used to go to this very school years, and years ago before you ever walked those doors. I had to admit, I used to slack off on my school work and would rather much go to parties, play some arcade games at the game room and join soccer clubs around my community. However even though I had a lot of fun, my learning skills were shrinking and I was failing. Consequently, I had to repeat a couple of my grades and the cool thing about it is, is that I learned that achieving your goals in this world is like a marathon, not a sprint. To the parents, I bet you're wondering what happened to the years you spent raising your children to be good students. In the beginning, you witnessed them heading off to kindergarten to begin their voyage into learning. In the years ahead much like my soccer career, some of them have their greatest hits and some of them have their greatest misses. The most important thing that they did is that they learned to play and later beat the game." said Dominic to an applause. "All of you are the natives in a digital, economical, and wonderful world that would go out to make a difference in the community. When it's all said and done, only you can write your own story...and speaking of new beginnings, I've been married to my loving and caring wife Kelly Halligan-Antol for a while now and I'd been a student here at this school, an athlete, a soccer coach and now....a Father." as soon as he announced the good news, the audience cheered really loudly. "With that being said, I wish all of you luck in your future endeavors in life and love" said Dominic as he exited the stage "That was one great speech and once again congratulations to Dominic Antol who's going to be a new daddy!" said Mrs. Graham. "And now, lets deliver some diplomas to these deserving students"
From there, the class of 2021 would go form a line to the stage to receive their diplomas. As minutes go by, Janice is one step closer to getting her diplomas. "Janice Virginia Hayley" said the loudspeaker as Janice would walk the stage and get her diploma from her principal as well as a bouquet of flowers and an impromptu photo op. After the students get their diplomas, the graduation ceremony is complete! And since the graduation ended earlier than expected Janice would pull out her phone to look up visiting hours for Maddie's prison because Janice wanted Maddie to see what she has accomplished! As well as letting her know about Dominic's new 'position' in his family.
END ACT II