Desert Quest

Invitation

CHAPTER ONE
INVITATION

My heart pumped harder as the Grade 12 Roll Call came close to my name: Jordan Kight.  The tears ebbed closer to spilling out of my bottom eyelids, and a sob escaped my mouth. 

“Emily Istabel,” said the Principal from the podium.  I could tell he was near crying, because his voice sounded shaky with the emotion.  “Henry Istabel.  Caleb Istabel.”  All of these students were triplets, but you would never guess from a first impression.  Emily had brunette ginger hair, and had a slim figure.  All the guys liked her, but she was too much like a sister to me.   Henry was a bit chubbier, but his jaw line was still strong.  His hair was short, nearly shaved bald, and was a blondish colour.  His build was wider around the middle, but still a slim guy.  Caleb, on the other hand, was more like a stick.  His orangey hair was longer than Caleb’s, but not overly long for a guy.  His jaw line was incredibly sharp. 

“Veronica Jispen,” the Principal, Mr Rockford, continued.  “Shauna Jason.  Peter Jacobs.” 

My name was next, but Mr Rockford paused to allow Veronica, Shauna and Peter to walk onstage and receive their graduation certificates.  A tear rolled down my cheek at the thought of leaving my school and all my friends behind.  I looked into the crowd sitting before the stage, and found that Georgia and Kate, my two best friends, staring at me, their faces streaked with the trails their tears left behind.  Even though I was ecstatic to leave school, it tore me apart to leave my friends. 

Veronica, Shauna and Peter took their places in the assembly of the Grade 12 class, and stood wiping tears from their faces.  My name was next, and my muscles couldn’t move.  I was too sad to move, to sorrowful to take even a step. 

“Jordan Kight,” Mr Rockford said, and glanced quickly at me.  I forced my leg muscles to move, and I strolled lazily up onto the stage, and received my graduation certificate, tears spilling over from my eyelids and landing wetly on the piece of laminated paper in my hand.  I took my place in the class assembly, still wiping tears from my face. 

Next, Mr Rockford called out, “Sean Kline.  Pierce Lupher.  John Pulp.  Samuel Pipe.  Cameron Quizzick.  Emma Reale.  Jasmine Race.  Michael Stanfold.  Rochelle Trent.  Amanda Webertzem.”  When the whole Grade 12 class was assembled onstage, Mr Rockford finally announced, “I present to you…” he held back a sob, “the Grade 12’s of Twenty-Thirteen.”            

The crowd before us stood on their feet and cheered.  I could feel the vibrations of their honour and pride of us in my chest, and more tears rolled down my cheeks, leaving behind trails that glistened in the lights of the school hall. 

Mr Rockford quietened the crowd by raising his hands on pushing them down repeatedly.  Soon, the crowd’s noise had reduced to only a few murmurs and whispers.  I spotted Georgia and Kate wiping tears from their eyes.  I didn’t think they were crying for me this time, but something told me they were. 

Mr Rockford spoke shakily into the microphone stuck to the podium.  “I would now like to invite the School Captains to the podium.”

Heads were turned in my direction, and I casually left my post and followed Emily to the podium, letting her speak first.  She smiled appreciatively at me, and spoke into the microphone with a shaky voice.  “Um,” she started, and a tear dropped from her cheek onto the podium.  “This school is where I made my best friends.”  She sobbed a little, but not too deeply.  “This is by far the best school I’ve ever been to – well, the only one really – and I would never betray any of you.  This school allowed me to achieve my goal as an accountant, and I’d like to thank,” sob, “all my teachers and friends and family for supporting me.”  She turned to the assembled Grade 12’s and said, loud enough for her shaky voice to reach the microphone.  Tears streamed down her face as she spoke through deep sobs, “I just feel so blessed to have you guys as my friends.  Thanks for being there for me.”  Emily took her place back in the assembled group of Grade 12’s, continuing to wipe tears from her face.