Chapter Five: Awards Night
Hello there lovely people living inside the pages of my journal! If I seem a bit odd today it's because I am so fan-freakin-tastic I'm literally bouncing off the walls. Side note: they recently changed the definition of literally to something like, "this word is used to acknowledge that something is not literally true but is used for emphasis or to express strong feeling. So... Literally now means... Figuratively... Yeah, that's confusing. Anyway, that is definitely not why I am bouncing off the walls, which I am not literally doing according to the old definition but I am literally doing according to the recent definition. Haha ok, jeeze, I need to stop being so confusing and get on with it.
I am currently in such an elated mood because I received a letter the other day inviting me to awards night, which is tonight, which is why I am so excited. Apparently the piece I wrote on my mom was good enough to receive a literary merit award! Isn't that AWESOME?! Well, I need to go get ready for tonight. Peace out, Journal.
"ADDIE!" Nathan's voice comes through my door muffled.
"Yeah, kid?" I call back as I slip my journal inside a desk drawer.
A messy mop of black hair appears through a crack in my door, "Mom wants me to tell you dinner is ready and you should come eat."
I stand up and walk over to the door, opening it all the way. "Thanks, Nate. Shall we eat?"
Nathan grins and runs in front of me bounding down the flight of stairs. I lazily follow behind.
Mom, Dad, and Nathan are all waiting for me when I get down there, along with two surprise guests.
"Grandma! Grandpa! What are you guys doing here?" I haven't seen my grandparents since my sweet sixteen party. I give them both hugs before I sit down.
"Well, we heard that our little Addie was nominated for the Literary Merit Award and we just couldn't miss the ceremony. Your mother also invited us over for dinner." Grandma shares smiles with everyone at the table and Grandpa nods his head.
"Shall we eat then?" My dad grabs the plate of salmon first and then we all begin to eat.
As dinner is winding down my mom suggests that I excuse myself to get ready for the ceremony. I guess I'm the only one who isn't ready...I say thank you to my parents for dinner and give my grandparents another warm smile before running up the stairs, taking two at a time.
"Alright." I say out loud to myself, "What should I wear tonight?" After a lot of searching I finally settle on a floral patterned skirt and a black halter top.
"That's not too revealing... I hope. Note to self: buy more award ceremony appropriate attire." I pick out a simple black bracelet and some black sandals while I continue to talk to myself. "Alright, I have just enough time to do my hair." I head to the bathroom where I curl my hair and put half of it up. I finish with a touch of lip gloss and then make my way back downstairs.
"You look wonderful sweetheart!" My mom smiles at me as I walk into the living room where everyone has been waiting on me.
"Ok people we need to get moving." Dad ushers everyone towards the door, where we then pile into two separate cars and head towards the school.
As dinner is winding down my mom suggests that I excuse myself to get ready for the ceremony. I guess I'm the only one who isn't ready...I say thank you to my parents for dinner and give my grandparents another warm smile before running up the stairs, taking two at a time.
"Alright." I say out loud to myself, "What should I wear tonight?" After a lot of searching I finally settle on a floral patterned skirt and a black halter top.
"That's not too revealing... I hope. Note to self: buy more award ceremony appropriate attire." I pick out a simple black bracelet and some black sandals while I continue to talk to myself. "Alright, I have just enough time to do my hair." I head to the bathroom where I curl my hair and put half of it up. I finish with a touch of lip gloss and then make my way back downstairs.
"You look wonderful sweetheart!" My mom smiles at me as I walk into the living room where everyone has been waiting on me.
"Ok people we need to get moving." Dad ushers everyone towards the door, where we then pile into two separate cars and head towards the school.
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I can't really say that the auditorium is packed... I guess not everyone finds Awards Night as interesting as my family and I. See, the weird thing about our school's auditorium is that there aren't chairs... There's just benches. Yeah, like park benches and they only seat two people. Due to this fact my grandparents are sitting on a bench in the first row and the rest of my family almost takes up the entire second row.
"Addie! Hey!" Avery whisper yells as she walks down the isle towards the row I'm sitting in.
I smile and half hug her when she sits down. "You seriously didn't have to come."
"Are you kidding me?! I wouldn't miss this for the world. My best friend is receiving the Literary Merit Award. You know you're the first person from our school to receive this award!"
"Yes, I know silly." I blush from feeling important. "Thanks for coming Ave. It really means a lot to me."
Avery's eyes get really wide for a moment before a huge grin spreads across her face. I look over my shoulder to see what she's staring at and my eyes lock with Tyler.
"Good lord! What is he doing here?!" I whisper to Avery.
She slaps my arm and whispers through her smile, "He liiiiikes you! Smile and act normal."
He finally is in front of Avery and I, and is saying, "I totally came in on the wrong side. I feel bad for making everyone in the row get up. How's it going ladies?"
"Oh you know, it's going." Avery replies. I blush even though he wasn't directly talking to me. Avery kicks my shin and quickly whispers, "Switch spots with me!"
I smile at Tyler as Avery and I switch seats. God, we must look like morons. Now we're sitting on the same bench. Just the two of us. Eeep!
"So, congratulations are in order." Tyler smiles at me and places his arm on my shoulder. I hope he doesn't feel me shiver from his touch. "This is unbelievable Addie! You must be so excited."
"Yeah, it's pretty great. Honestly, I'm just really honored that I was even considered for this."
"Well you wrote a great piece. Really, it was one of the most moving things I have ever read. And that's saying something."
I blush again and then turn to look at my mom. I catch her eye, smile, and mouth the words I love you. Without her, none of this would be happening. None of it would even be possible. If you think about it really, her story, or a piece of it anyway, is what is winning the award. I simply put it out there for the world to know.
The lights dim and the ceremony starts. It's quite long, and undeniably boring, but finally my name is called.
"And last, but most definitely not least, we would like to honor Adeline Gray, with the Literary Merit Award, for her moving short story about a young woman's life journey battling tragedy and misfortune, and showing the world that though she may appear weak, there is nothing but strength within her."
The auditorium is filled with applause as I stand up and walk towards the stage. I am smiling from excitement and joy at the way Principle Rowan described my story and Mom's life.
I shake the principle's hand first and then she hands me a small trophy made to look like a pad of paper and a pen, and an envelope which contains scholarship money. She smiles at me one more time before gesturing for me to return to my seat.
I sit down in my seat and my family and friends all turn towards me with proud and excited smiles on their faces. I smile back an can barely hear Principle Rowan thank everyone for coming, all I can hear is my happiness - and it's pretty freaking loud.
"Addie! Hey!" Avery whisper yells as she walks down the isle towards the row I'm sitting in.
I smile and half hug her when she sits down. "You seriously didn't have to come."
"Are you kidding me?! I wouldn't miss this for the world. My best friend is receiving the Literary Merit Award. You know you're the first person from our school to receive this award!"
"Yes, I know silly." I blush from feeling important. "Thanks for coming Ave. It really means a lot to me."
Avery's eyes get really wide for a moment before a huge grin spreads across her face. I look over my shoulder to see what she's staring at and my eyes lock with Tyler.
"Good lord! What is he doing here?!" I whisper to Avery.
She slaps my arm and whispers through her smile, "He liiiiikes you! Smile and act normal."
He finally is in front of Avery and I, and is saying, "I totally came in on the wrong side. I feel bad for making everyone in the row get up. How's it going ladies?"
"Oh you know, it's going." Avery replies. I blush even though he wasn't directly talking to me. Avery kicks my shin and quickly whispers, "Switch spots with me!"
I smile at Tyler as Avery and I switch seats. God, we must look like morons. Now we're sitting on the same bench. Just the two of us. Eeep!
"So, congratulations are in order." Tyler smiles at me and places his arm on my shoulder. I hope he doesn't feel me shiver from his touch. "This is unbelievable Addie! You must be so excited."
"Yeah, it's pretty great. Honestly, I'm just really honored that I was even considered for this."
"Well you wrote a great piece. Really, it was one of the most moving things I have ever read. And that's saying something."
I blush again and then turn to look at my mom. I catch her eye, smile, and mouth the words I love you. Without her, none of this would be happening. None of it would even be possible. If you think about it really, her story, or a piece of it anyway, is what is winning the award. I simply put it out there for the world to know.
The lights dim and the ceremony starts. It's quite long, and undeniably boring, but finally my name is called.
"And last, but most definitely not least, we would like to honor Adeline Gray, with the Literary Merit Award, for her moving short story about a young woman's life journey battling tragedy and misfortune, and showing the world that though she may appear weak, there is nothing but strength within her."
The auditorium is filled with applause as I stand up and walk towards the stage. I am smiling from excitement and joy at the way Principle Rowan described my story and Mom's life.
I shake the principle's hand first and then she hands me a small trophy made to look like a pad of paper and a pen, and an envelope which contains scholarship money. She smiles at me one more time before gesturing for me to return to my seat.
I sit down in my seat and my family and friends all turn towards me with proud and excited smiles on their faces. I smile back an can barely hear Principle Rowan thank everyone for coming, all I can hear is my happiness - and it's pretty freaking loud.
------
Everyone was invited back to our house for desserts and drinks. My mom had insisted. As everyone filed inside the house Tyler lightly grabbed my arm and pulled me around to the other side of the porch.
"Hey, I never got to thank you earlier. But really, thank you for coming! It means so much to me to see you there. Well, I mean, it meant a lot to see everyone there. I wasn't just exceptionally happy that you - "
Tyler grabs my hands and cuts off my rambling. Mercifully. "Addie, I have a question. And you don't have to answer right away. You can take your time to think about it." He pauses.
"Okay...?"
He takes a deep breath and then looks me directly in the eyes, our hands interlocked between us, and asks, "Will you go to prom with me?"
My jaw drops and I just stare at him with my mouth hanging open. His question catches me off guard. It's wonderful. Amazing. Fantastic. Unbelievable, but magnificent nonetheless. Tyler wants to go to prom with me! Oh my giddy god. My mouth finally remembers that it should not hang open like a complete idiot and forms itself into a smile.
Tyler smiles back and then asks, "So, um, does that smile mean yes?"
Oh crap! I haven't answered him yet! I nod my head not losing my perma-smile, "Yeah, I mean yes, of course! I'd love to!"
Tyler lets out a breath. I can't bring myself to believe that Tyler might actually be nervous around me. "Wow. That's great!" He squeezes my hand once before pulling me towards the front door. "Alright, let's go have some dessert."
I am privileged enough to receive one of his heart-melting, knee-wobbling smiles before he drops my hand and opens the door.
When we get into the house I immediately notice all of the desserts. Mom made tarts and cobbler and cupcakes. Then I notice my trophy being showcased on the center of the fireplace mantel.
Mom is the first to smile at Tyler and me, her smile almost makes me think that she knows what happened. Then she clears her throat and says loudly, "I have something I'd like to say now that everyone is here."
Silence falls over all of us and Mom begins again, "I didn't want to say this earlier and take away from Addie's big night but now that we're back from the ceremony I can't keep it a secret any longer..." Mom smiles the biggest smile I have ever seen on her. "I got the promotion! I did it!"
My mouth falls open as Dad starts hugging my mom and screaming, "NO WAY!! NO FREAKING WAY!"
Once upon a time my mom's biggest work related goal was to become the division manager of her company. For as long as I can remember though, she's been working towards one thing. CEO of Doo Peas Corporate Tower.
"Mom?! You're the CEO? You're actually THE CEO!?" Now I'm screaming and jumping too as my mom smiles even wider and nods her head.
Grandma and Grandpa join the now hugging/jumping/screaming circle that our family has created. Avery and Tyler aren't far behind them. Our entire house is filled with laughter and excitement as we share in the joy that my mom's news has brought.
My wonderful family, and two of my closest friends are surrounding me in their love. Showing me again, how blessed I truly am. And proving once more how some of the greatest things, like this caring family, can come together even after the darkest of times. There is no tragedy happening in this family right now. No. My mother, and father alike, have made it through those times, and they are standing before me today strong as ever. Overcoming their tragedies so that my brother and I, as well as them, may be blessed with happiness.
When we get into the house I immediately notice all of the desserts. Mom made tarts and cobbler and cupcakes. Then I notice my trophy being showcased on the center of the fireplace mantel.
Mom is the first to smile at Tyler and me, her smile almost makes me think that she knows what happened. Then she clears her throat and says loudly, "I have something I'd like to say now that everyone is here."
Silence falls over all of us and Mom begins again, "I didn't want to say this earlier and take away from Addie's big night but now that we're back from the ceremony I can't keep it a secret any longer..." Mom smiles the biggest smile I have ever seen on her. "I got the promotion! I did it!"
My mouth falls open as Dad starts hugging my mom and screaming, "NO WAY!! NO FREAKING WAY!"
Once upon a time my mom's biggest work related goal was to become the division manager of her company. For as long as I can remember though, she's been working towards one thing. CEO of Doo Peas Corporate Tower.
"Mom?! You're the CEO? You're actually THE CEO!?" Now I'm screaming and jumping too as my mom smiles even wider and nods her head.
Grandma and Grandpa join the now hugging/jumping/screaming circle that our family has created. Avery and Tyler aren't far behind them. Our entire house is filled with laughter and excitement as we share in the joy that my mom's news has brought.
My wonderful family, and two of my closest friends are surrounding me in their love. Showing me again, how blessed I truly am. And proving once more how some of the greatest things, like this caring family, can come together even after the darkest of times. There is no tragedy happening in this family right now. No. My mother, and father alike, have made it through those times, and they are standing before me today strong as ever. Overcoming their tragedies so that my brother and I, as well as them, may be blessed with happiness.
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