Two - The Graduation Party That same day, Leo and I did some more work on our end-of-year projects. His end-of-year project was a presentation for next year’s freshman students. I have to say, Leo’s got a really nice homeroom teacher. But that was a few weeks ago. Just now, Mom dropped me off at Adrian’s place for the party. I heard an unfamiliar female voice coming from my left. “Mrs. Clarice! Long time no see, eh?” It was probably Adrian’s mom speaking. “Call me Martha,” Mom said. “Yeah, it’s been a while. Have you met Floyd yet?” Mrs. Turner called for Adrian to come over. Clearly, I was the first guest to arrive, since the area was still quiet. I had been standing by the curb, hoping not to get noticed. “No; is he your son?” Mrs. Turner asked. Mom said yes. “Floyd’s over by the curb,” she muttered. I turned around, in what I thought was the right direction. Clearly it wasn’t, because Mrs. Turner asked me to face the other way. “Hi,” I whispered. “I’m Elizabeth,” Mrs. Turner said. I held my hand out, and she shook it. “So, you’re in the Synergy class, right?” Mrs. Turner asked. Then I heard a new voice. “Then you must know my sister Reena,” it said. “By the way, I’m Adrian.” I nodded and introduced myself. I felt a tug. Max, my guide dog, was probably leaning in to sniff Adrian. I heard a car pull up and followed Max to the yard. “So the party’s gonna be here,” Adrian continued. “I’ll tell Reena you’re here.” The car door closed and I turned around. “Where’s Adrian?” someone asked. “Who are you?!” I exclaimed. “I’m Royce,” the voice said. “Adrian’s getting his sister, whom I know from Synergy,” I added. Then there was another voice. “Are you…” I just cut her off, knowing what she was about to say. “Blind? Yeah…” I mumbled. I heard Adrian’s front door close, and yet another car pulled over. I heard Adrian’s footsteps, and his ecstatic voice. “Miles!” I think those two hugged each other. Does Adrian… like… Well, I don’t want to think about that right now. Royce joined them and introduced Miles and Adrian to the girls, which brought me to realize that there were more people than I thought. I began associating voices with names: Tempest, Alana, Miles, Royce, Genesis, and Adrian, of course. Then I heard it. “Floyd! You came!” Reena was Adrian’s sister. Those two gave me a warm welcome, and Royce explained Synergy to the other girls. I ended up having to introduce myself, but it went well in the end. Adrian spoke next, with a shocked, troubled tone. “So, Floyd, you’re blind?” I nodded awkwardly. “It’s hard, but doesn’t Reena have things to worry about as well?” Reena sighed. “It must b-be harder to… not see anything than to be l-like me, right?” I love her stutter so much; it made Reena… Reena. I couldn’t imagine her without it. “She’s right, Floyd.” He whispered. “Miles!” Another guy’s voice came into view. “So you’re Floyd?” I nodded. This one’s Miles, I figured. “I’m Adrian’s crush…” Miles continued, sounding embarrassed. Oh. Adrian and Miles… do like each other. “It’s okay. That’s nothing compared to being in a Synergy class. Everyone assumes you’re crazy.” I remember Reena’s stories about elementary and middle school, and how she was originally going to be in a “regular” classroom. She had told me about how her stutter began to show in second grade, and she started speech therapy because of it. Third grade was worse for her, however. During an assembly, the noises had her a bit wound up for a while, and she was moved to a “special” class. That must hurt.
