I hope we are all still here long enough to see what wonderful things Helen gets up to as she hits her stride. I get the feeling your children are going to make mine look boring and slow. Even CW never tried to examine a CD player with a rock.
Last night was Awards Night at the high school. This is an endurance contest that is only tolerated by parents and kids becuase it marks the end of high school. It ran 3 1/2 hours last night.
They announce every scholarship, every achievement, every award won by every one of the 460 seniors. ANd each one has to walk across the stage and get a certificate or a medal or whatever. There are the really big things- like the academy appointments, the valedictorian and the Merit Scholars. But some of the awards come in large quantities and recognize a lot of kids- like Texas Scholar- which includes maybe half the class. Ammo got that one and Dan dutifully snapped his picture as Ammo walked across the stage, shook hands with Dr. Presley, and took a certificate. Then he got one for volunteer hours, and UIL mention for the one-act. We were pleased.
However, we were a little surprised as they were announcing Recommended Scholars to see him marching up on the stage, shaking hands with the principal and getting a certificate.
"Dan," I hissed. "Did they call his name?"
"I didn't hear it," Dan said doubtfully.
"Well, he's not supposed to get that. He dropped Physics and that means he didn't earn it."
"Maybe they forgot to take his name off the list," Dan said.
The next big group was some kind of leadership thing.
People are trooping up there, and there goes Ammo again, marching across the stage, shaking hands, and taking a certificate.
Now this time I KNEW they hadn't called his name.
My child was up there taking awards he hadn't earned.
Dan is rolling on the floor. He thinks it's funny.
Especially when Dr. Presley pats Ammo on the shoulder, like,"Damn, you sure did do great! All these awards! I'm so proud."
Do you remember when CW almost didn't graduate because of his website? WHere he made fun of the entire teaching staff, the cheerleaders, football players and drill team, not to mention Dr. P. himself?
All I could think was SHIT- Dr. P's going to figure this out and accuse Ammo of stealing certificates and he won't graduate and all the school will wonder what the hell is wrong with the immoral, uncontrollable Westbrook boys.
The next group awards started and we turn around and Ammo is getting up again. I pin him to his seat with the nastiest look I could summon from across the auditorium and he hesitates. I point a finger at him and he KNOWS that means he is in trouble if he so much as takes a step toward that stage.
The funniest thing is when they get to Presidential Scholar and call his name, we turn to look and he's just sitting there fooling around with his friends. Never even heard his name called. |
