Chapter 23: Cycles
Cycle of a Circle, by Katelyn Wells
A circle is separate than its cycle.
The route is round:
Hands wind, numbers flip and time passes.
Yet time frees what is locked together by nature.
Each spin is hope, choice, and life.
Only the looping path is determined, each round is new.
Change your clothes, plant some flowers, bring a friend;
The alternate journey undiscovered begs another turn.
"Can we go now?" Kayla slouched next to Katelyn on the metal chair. Her whine made the woman on the opposite side of Kayla glance over in disapproval. Jacob sat content on Katelyn's lap playing a simple slashing game on her phone. "You said we could get ice cream."
Katelyn sighed and leaned down to whisper to her niece. "The good part is coming right up. I promise. We'll go to Scoops right after."
Kayla gave her own sigh and slouched down.
Katelyn didn't blame the girl for her whining. The current speech was bad, a smart kid talking about not closing doors to the future. All of that studying and racing to get to be Valedictorian and this was the best he could do? Plus, it was hot in the school gymnasium. Even from the back row seats, Katelyn could see the sweat shine on the principal's bald head. He was stuffed into a suit for the occasion, one that apparently hadn't aged with the health of his gut.
After a few minutes, a round of applause announced the end of the scholar's speech. A quick check of the crumpled Commencement Ceremony program confirmed that the awarding of the diplomas was up next. Others also pulled to attention around her as the first of the names were called and graduates lined up alphabetically next to the stage. Katelyn looked at the list of names. All of them were Ames High School students unknown to her. She didn't know Angel's last name and panicked as she didn't find even her first name within her second check through the list. She said she'd be here!
Katelyn watched a few more students cross the stage, one getting a round of laughs as he strutted a short performance in flip flops, took his diploma, and then addressed the crowd with a deep bow.
"Where's Angel?" Katelyn voiced her concern. Kayla, who had become curious as to the cause of the laughter now kneeled up in her chair to see above the heads in front of her.
"There she is," Kayla's youthful voice said with pride at having the answer. She pointed to a new line of students now walking to refill the alphabetical line up. Sure enough, Angel, her long dark hair curled to perfection extending from under her cap, was about 15 students back. Katelyn ran her finger down the list again.
Angelica Maria de Angelo
Wow, thought Katelyn, I guess just "Angel" seems modest now.
Katelyn waited patiently as the students in front of Angel were called. The family members watching had started to loosen up, though. An air horn had made an appearance twice now and proud cheers from students and sometimes parents would burst out with pride.
"Angelica Maria de Angelo."
Katelyn stood to get a full view, dropping Jacob on the seat, and Kayla jumped up to stand on her own chair. From somewhere on the other side of the gym a hoot echoed. Katelyn added her own. "Go Angel!" And Kayla echoed her in a smaller voice.
"Go Angel!"
Angel paused at the top of the riser stairs, took a deep breath, and then held her head high as she sailed on three inch high heels across the stage. A smile stayed on her face as she shook the principal's hand and made her way off.
Katelyn picked Jacob back up and sat down, staying still until the goose bumps left her arms. Her niece's small hands grabbed her free one.
"Katelyn, can I do that someday?"
Katelyn turned to the beautiful wide eyes of her niece and smiled.
"Sure, Kiddo. You bet." Kayla beamed in response. Katelyn put her arm around Kayla and held her to her side. She turned her face into the top of Kayla's head and said her own words of encouragement to herself. "Me first, Kiddo, me first."
Acknowledgements
Katelyn’s story, although fictional, is based on the determination I witnessed in the lives of youth I admired. Each of us is determined by our reaction to circumstances. As a teacher, I learned a great lesson from students who overcame adverse conditions or great traumas. They took on the challenge to change and succeed. Special thanks to Courtney, in particular, for your determination.
At the time of this writing, 25% of students in the United States drop out from high school. A story exists behind each of those cases.
Special gratitude goes out to all who encouraged the writing and publication of this story: Mike, for reawakening the words; my family, who read and encouraged me; and my friends, who critiqued and shared a belief in reaching goals.
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