The Revenge

Time to wake up, my beautiful sunshine. Let’s get your beautiful smiling face out of bed. Let’s make today a good day. The phone went off a couple of times. Till I sit up in bed and shut it off. Then I lay back down in bed. I turned around and was going to go back to sleep. But then a couple of minutes later, there was a knock on my bedroom door. Come in, I said, setting up and rubbing my eyes. My mom, stepdad, my half-sister, and half-brother. (My brother and sister are twins. Watching the two of them can be amusing at times.) They walked into the room. Happy graduation, they all yelled at the same time. Thanks, I said as I got out of bed and hugged every one of them. Mom looked at the twins and said Time to go grab it. They ran out of the room. It took them a couple of minutes, but when they came back in, one kid had a gift with a card taped on it, and the other kid had six pink and six green roses. I took the flowers, smelled them, and put them down on my bed. I love them, they smell so good. They handed me the gift with the card. I said thanks. Then I opened the card. Inside, I read the card, which said, Tara Congratulations on graduating from high school and getting into college. Not just any college, but into Harvard Law. We are so proud of you and know you will do wonderful things in life. Here is a visa card to help you get school supplies. It is six hundred dollars, and we hope that it helps you out. We love you. Love the whole family. Mom, stepdad, and twins. Oh, thanks, guys, I said. You're welcome, they said. Then the twins yelled, “Open the gift. Ok, I said. I picked up a gift in green wrapping and a hot pink bow on it. I opened it, and there was a custom HP laptop. It’s candy apple green with hot pink hearts on it. No way, I yelled. There is no way you got this. I ran around and hugged them all again and jumped up and down for joy. Then she said, Should we go so Tara can get ready for her big day? Yes, they all said at the same time. Come out when you're ready. Breakfast is almost ready, my mom said. Ok, thanks again I said as they all walked out the door and closed it. I went to my closet and grabbed clothes, then went and took a shower. Hello all, I said as I walked out to the kitchen. Hello, my mom said I got your favorite breakfast. She walked over to the stove and dished up a plate. She walked over to the table and set down a plate, and there was sausage, bacon, biscuits, and gravy. Omg, delicious, I said as I picked up my fork and began eating. So, you are excited about graduation, as my stepdad asked me? Yes, I said I cannot wait, and then I am going to college, it is going to be great, I said. “I am so proud of you for getting into that school, darling. You know neither of your parents has gone to college or graduated. And I am so proud that you are breaking that cycle,” my mom. Thanks, Mom, I said. Then we had the rest of breakfast. Out of nowhere, I heard a knock on the door. My mom looked at me and said, “You might as well get it; it is most likely your dad. I got up and ran to the door and swung it open, and of course, it was my dad. Dad, I yelled as I gave him a big hug. Then my brother popped up from behind him and said, "What am I, chopped liver?" I stopped hugging my dad and hugged my brother. Hey bro, what's up? Nothing much, and you? I just got ready for graduation, I said. Nice, speaking of that, we have something for you, but we cannot bring it up here, you must come to the driveway, but first you must put this blindfold on, my brother said. You know I hate surprises, I said. Dad looked at me and said I know, but you will like this one. As my brother tied the blindfold around my eyes. They walked me down to the driveway. Are you ready, they both said. Yes, I almost screamed. Ok, one, two, three, they said, then my dad took the blind fold off. There was a 1991 Mustang SEC10 apple green candy with two pink stripes going down the middle. You did not do that, I yelled, so loud that my family came running out to see what was going on. “What is this? My mom asked with hatred in her voice. It is my graduation gift, Mom, I said as I ran over to my car, and then I lay on top of the hood and took some more pictures. Ran over and hugged everyone, and said thank you all for the gifts. I love all of them, and then I ran to get my purse, and then I needed to leave to go to school, I said as I ran to the front door. I grabbed my purse and ran out the door. They all gave a hug again, and as I was getting in the car, I heard my mom start yelling at my dad. OMG, here we go again. I got out of the car and walked over. I have never raised my voice before. But this is one of my 3 days. So, stop all your crap please. I don’t want to hear all this bull crap on my day. I got to the school and called my best friend, Meredith. Hey, I said, come out to the student parking lot. She asked, and I said Just come out here, you will see. I saw her walk out of the building, so I waved my arms up in the air, calling her name to get her attention. She walked over and said, “Wtf, what is this? When did you get this? It is my graduation present for my dad and brother. I explained I got it just a few minutes ago, and the first thing I wanted to do was show you, and I also got this as I pulled my laptop out of the car. OMG, you got a custom laptop too. Yes, the car from Dad and the laptop from Mom. Can you believe we are both about to graduate? she asked. No, I said I cannot believe it is finally here. We both jumped and gave each other a big hug. “Ring,” goes to school bell will time to go to the cafeteria so we can get our stuff for graduation, said Meredith. We walked into the cafeteria. There are tables with letters on them and a sign above them with a letter. Find your last name, we were told as we walked in. We walked over to the spot we needed to go to. I finally got up there. Name, the lady said. Tara Gray. Thanks, she said, then she gave me my graduation cap, graduation gown, and a box of stuff my mom and dad ordered me. Thanks, I said as I walked away. We walked over to where everybody else was and started fixing our hair and makeup. What did you get in your box, asked Meredith. I don’t know, let’s look, I said. We opened the box and looked. There were a lot of random things. I don’t want to pull all this out here. I said, “Can we look later? Yeah, she said. Then we closed the box lid and started to get ready again. About an hour and a half later, the principal came back on the mic. Is everyone ready, she asked. Yes, the students all yelled back at her. All right, let's line up like we have practiced alphabetically by the last names A through Z. We got up and got in our spots. We walked out of the cafeteria and down the road to the gym. Down the middle to our chairs. Splitting down the middle between the left and right sides. The principal walked out on stage and then said. “Ladies and gentlemen, thanks for coming to celebrate the seniors who are about to take the next step in life. Let us all give them a big round of applause, and she began to clap. Everyone joined her. Then she said that the Valiant Victorian has a few words to say. Tara Grey, I got up and walked up to the front of the stage and went to the podium, and looked at everyone. They were all clapping. I waited till they stopped. Thanks everyone. I would first like to say welcome to everyone and to say thank you for coming and joining us on this day. I would love to say that I am proud of every one of you for making it here today. No matter what way our path takes us, whether it be to school, work, or travel. You should be proud of yourself for making it here today. I would like to thank our principal for the wonderful job she has done, and now let us get this started. I walked off stage and then went back to my seat. They all began to clap. The principal walked back onto the stage. Thanks, Tara, the principal said. Now we will begin calling you one by one to come up, she said. Then she started calling names. Finally, she got to me. Tara Gray. I walked up on stage, put my hand on the diploma, and then paused, looked at the camera for a pitcher, and then she said Congrats, let go of my hand. Then I walked off and went to my seat. She called the rest of the class. After we were all in our seats, she told us to stand up. Now turn your tassels left to right. I announce that you are all graduates. We all throw our hats in the air. You all may walk out in a single line and find your friends or family. Enjoy life, she said, then walked off stage. We all got up and, one row at a time, left till we were all outside. Tara, over here, I heard my family say. As I was walking over, I noticed a group of bikers walking over to them, too. There is nothing bad about seeing bikers or having them come and talk to us. My dad and brother are in a biking group called California O.G. Then I noticed who it was. It was my dad, brother, and my dad’s right-hand man, Derek. Derek is my brother's best friend and someone he has grown up with his whole life. I have something for Derek, but he does not see me that way. At least I don’t think he does. I walked over to my mom and gave me a big hug. How come you did not tell me that you were a Valiant Victorian? I wanted to surprise you, I said. Will you sure did just that, I heard my dad say. I turned around, and they were all standing there. Hi Dad, Jackson, and Derek. Thanks for coming to my graduation. You’re welcome, would not miss it for the world, and thanks for inviting us, they said. I hugged them all. We all talked for a few minutes. Then my mom said, “Are you ready to go do our shopping and then have lunch?” Yes, I said, and then I hugged everyone, and then my mom said Meet you at the house, take your car there, and I will drop off your car and take mine. Then I walked to my car, got in, and drove to the house. My mom pulled up, I grabbed my purse, and left everything else in the car and locked the door. I got into my mom’s car and asked where we were going. Do not worry about it; my mom said it is a surprise for you. We started to pull up to the mall. No, not here. I started to think to myself. I hate the mall, it is always crowded, my size is hard to find, and it’s hard to find the right color. Good luck trying to get me to enjoy this, but then I saw I signed that said mall closed rest of the day. Oh, I am sorry, Mom, we cannot go in, darn, I said with a little smirk on my face. You will see, said my mom as she parked the car in the front row and got out. I got out and walked up behind her. We walked up to the door, and a security person was sitting there reading the paper. “Sorry, we are closed,” he said. Oh, too bad, Mom, let's go I said as I pulled on her arm. Hold on, she said I am Christen Malone, and this is my daughter Tara Grey. Oh yes, he said we have been waiting for you two. Let me let you in, he said as he folded his paper, got up, and unlocked the door. We walked in, and a lady walked up and said hi, Christen and Tara. My name is Molly, and I will be the one helping you throughout the day today. Thanks, my mom said. What store do you want to start with? My mom was asking when, out of nowhere, the doors opened again. Jackson, Derek, and a few other bikers walked in. Yes, there you guys are at just in time the lady said as they walked over to us. They are here to take what you all buy out, so you do not have to, and can pay attention to what you want to get. Thanks, I said when I looked at the boys. Then Derek locked eyes with me for a minute. I turned red. I was blushing. I hoped that no one noticed. Then we both hurried and looked away. My mom came over and locked arms with me and said, “Are you ready to shop till we drop. Yes, I said, with what the hake look on my face, and then off we went. We went to Forever 21 first. As I was shopping my mom walked over and said “you and Derek are never going to happen. I do not know what you are talking about. I said it fast. Ok, she said, just remember what I told you, they come from opposite parts of the world. You will never work out. I know, Mom, I said, then walked away to look at a dress I had seen sitting on a mannequin. This would be perfect for the party at my dad’s, I said to myself. I grabbed the size I needed off the rack and took it to the front, then went to find something for Mom’s party and shoes, and something extra for both parties. My mom walked up and said, “Do not forget clothing for college and having a fun time out my mom said elbowing me. Ok, I said, and then we shopped at every store in the mall. Finally, my mom said, “Are you ready for lunch? Yes, I am starving, I said. Let’s go as we started to head to the door. We got back in my mom’s car and looked at my mom and said Let me guess, it is a surprise where we are eating. Yes, she said, and off we went. We pulled up to Red Robin. Yes, I said, super excited, I love this place. We both got out of the car and walked into the restaurant. As we walked in, I knew from the start which table was ours. It had a banner that Congrats / Happy birthday. See, tomorrow is my 18th birthday, and I am celebrating it with my dad this year. There were green and pink balloons hanging off one of the chairs. That is where you are going to sit, said Mom as she pointed to it. Then I noticed the whole family was there. My mom’s sister, her husband, my stepdad, and the twins. We walked up to the big table, and I sat down in my chair. We all ordered food, and as we waited, they let me open my gifts. I got the gifts earlier, and then another Visa card from my aunt and uncle. Thanks, guys, I said, walking around the table giving hugs. Our food came out, and we all ate and talked for about an hour and a half, two tops. We all went to the house, and my friends from school all jumped out and screamed Congratulations," and Happy birthday to me when we walked through the door. Mom, I said under my breath as they all started coming up to give me hugs. One by one, they all hugged me. After that, we parted with cake and even more gifts for the rest of the night. I finally went to bed at about 1:30 A.M.