Tangled in South Park

The Last Day of High School

*Multiple Days Later*

"Alright class, settle down," Miss Woods calls out to quiet the hum.

It is finally the last day of school, and all of us are abuzz. We've all finished our finals and would like to be released early to go out and do whatever the hell we desire. It isn't every day that you graduate from high school, so might as well let us enjoy this last day while we have a chance.

"I don't want to keep you for that long, so I'll try to keep this short. I know that I only got to teach you kids for one year, but you were all such a delight to have in class. Each of you brought something fresh and exciting to the table that really made teaching fun. I hope that you were able to enjoy this last year with me. That you were able to learn something, maybe not so much in terms of school learning, but maybe about yourself. I know that I am going to take all that I learned teaching you kids with me for the next group of kids that I get to teach. That I will be a better teacher thanks to all of you being such a great class. I hope that you all enjoy your summer, and I know that you will all achieve wherever your path in life is going to take you next. I'll see you all at graduation. Now, go out and enjoy finishing high school," she widely smiles.

We all clap, letting out some form of cheer for having made it to this day. For finally completing high school that seems to have taken forever to reach. I know that we are all ready to start that new chapter of our lives.

In the next couple of minutes, we all gather up what little we had to bring to class today, and head out of the room. All of us chattering away as we make our way to our lockers to collect whatever we left for today. Then we are all leaving the school, getting with someone who drove today, and then we are all heading home to change into our bathing suits before heading to Stark's Pond for a mid-day swim because we have nowhere else to be. The boys have taken this entire week off from baseball practice to rest their muscles, and to be able to have a little fun with the rest of us.

"I feel like it has been forever since we've had a swim day at Stark's Pond," I smile as I turn out of the parking long, heading for my house. "I mean, I remember my first swim day there, but we haven't had many since that day."

"Too busy with all kinds of other things, and it is hard to get everyone to agree on a day and time," Kenny says, leaning back in his seat. "No one can say no today since we all know that there is nowhere else for them to be. This was all our last day of school, and if they hadn't been so nice as to let us out early, we would still be in school. There was nothing else to do, so this seemed like the best plan."

"And Wendy was getting the food, so might as well follow her wherever she decides to go."

"Her big graduation party slash celebration for ending school is tomorrow. It is Wendy, so I'm not surprised that she had something like that planned. I'm sure she's ready to go all out for that last party of her high school career."

"She'll keep having parties for a long time, I know that for sure," I chuckle. "I don't know why she's so good at hosting parties, but she just is. She wants to bring us all together sometimes, which she certainly doesn't have to do, but she really enjoys doing it. I think there's a reason that I got so close to her so quickly when I lived here before. She just cares so much about everyone, and I love that."

"You're just so open and welcoming of everyone you meet, even if you aren't acting like your true self, and I think that is beautiful. You are willing to give everyone a chance, no matter who they are."

"I really wasn't myself when I first met all of you," I sigh. "I think back to how awkward I must have been. The remnants of the mask I was wearing was still heavily present in my mind, and I couldn't help it."