I couldn't believe it was finally happening. Graduation! It was a sunny, sweltering day and I was just waiting for the moment when I could take off my heavy graduation robe and hang out in the shade with Pamela, Elizabeth and Gwen—my three best friends in the world.

One of the things that happened during graduation was that Concert Choir sang the Graduation Song and our school song. It was impossible for me to be part of the choir, though, since I couldn't carry a tune to save my life. You can teach someone to dance, you can teach someone to act, but you can't teach someone to sing.

I could see Dad, Sylvia, Aunt Sally, Carol, and Uncle Milt all watching me, and I waved, even if they couldn't see me. I waited for them to call my name.

"McKinley, Alice."

That was me! I stood up, dignified, and walked towards the stage, the same way I had in eighth grade when I was a bridesmaid at Crystal Carey's wedding. I grabbed my diploma and went on, waiting for the others—the boys dressed in silver, the girls dressed in gold.

But then, after the ceremony, I had the biggest surprise of all. The person I saw running towards me was the person I loved the most in the world, my soul mate.

"Patrick!" I cried, running into my arms.

"Alice," he said, and kissed me. He had always been much taller than me. I knew Mrs. Plotkin was looking down on us from heaven, just like my mother, as we kissed, and I knew we would spend the rest of our lives together.

-the end-