Chapter 6 Graduation

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[Friday, 01/06/2021] 

High School Final Exam Report 

Student Name: Jace "Hakeem" Lyon 

Grade Level: 12 (Senior) 

Student ID: 24567893 

School Name: Crenshaw High School 

Academic Year: 2020-2021 

Final Exam Results 

Course/ Level/ Final Exam Grade/ Overall Grade 

AP Mathematics (Calculus AB)/ Advanced Placement/ 98%/ A+ 

English Literature/ Honors/ 85%/ B 

Physics/ Honors/ 92%/ A- 

U.S. Government/ Regular/ 88%/ B+ 

Economics/ Honors/ 91%/ A- 

Spanish IV/ Honors/ 80%/ B- 

Physical Education/ Regular/ 95%/ A 

Computer Science/ Regular/ 89%/ B+ 

Remarks from the Principal: 

Jace has shown outstanding growth in his senior year, especially in his advanced placement coursework. His success in AP Mathematics is a testament to his hard work and passion for learning. Congratulations on completing your senior year, and best wishes for your future endeavours! 

Signed: 

Dr. Elaine Harper 

Principal, Crenshaw High School 

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[Friday, 01/06/2021, Crenshaw]

"Man, I still can't believe those are your grades, you sure they ain't send you the wrong one?" Tariq exclaimed with a wide grin as he slung an arm over Jace's shoulder only to be quickly thrown off by him.

"Man, I don't even know, Yara had me studying so much shit was on autopilot as soon as I sat down. Plus, math is just common sense." Jace replied with a wide grin as he adjusted his green gown that was covering his 20-dollar tux.

Tariq laughed, shaking his head as he straightened out his own gown. "Man, if math is 'common sense,' then explain why half of us were praying to the calculator gods during that final."

"You mean you were praying to the calculator gods," Jason shot back, smirking. "I heard you whispering to that thing like it was a Magic 8-Ball."

"Magic 8-Ball is the whitest thing I've ever heard you say J-Street," Jace stated with a wide grin. "But he right Riq, you lucky they even offering you scholarships,"

Tariq rolled his eyes but couldn't help the grin creeping across his face. "Hey, it's not my fault they love a dude who can carry a football up the field. Besides, I'm the brains of the operation on the field. You're just jealous of this chocolate goodness."

Jace chuckled, shaking his head. "Man, we both know you'd run into a wall if we didn't draw out a route for you and even then you're liable to run in the wrong direction."

Jason laughed so hard that he had to hold onto his cap to keep it from falling off. "Bro, Tariq, don't even try to argue. Remember that time Coach had to stop practice to explain to you what a post route was—for the third time?"

"That was one time!" Tariq shot back, but the laugh bubbling in his throat betrayed him. "Y'all keep playin'. When I hit the league and y'all need tickets, don't come crying to me."

"League? Bruh, you better focus on getting that associate's degree first," Jace teased, slapping Tariq on the back. "But for real, we all made a plan, and we made it. Congrats brothers we managed to sneak into college with a bit of that Crenshaw swagger. That ain't no small thing with the year we had."

Jason nodded, his usual cocky smirk softening into something more sincere. "Real talk, though. I'm proud of us. Ain't too many kids from Crenshaw walking across this stage today with their heads high. We did that."

The three of them paused for a moment, looking out across the chaos of graduation day. The football field was packed with folding chairs, parents with cameras, and the faculty in their ceremonial robes. Somewhere in the distance, a baby cried, and someone's auntie yelled out, "That's my baby!" loud enough to make everyone laugh.

"Hey," Jason said breaking the silence, "we gotta take a picture before all this is over. I need something to look back on when we're all old and crusty."

"Old and Crusty?" Jace snorted. "Speak for yourself white boy I don't know, you know full well that Black Don't Crack."

Jason looked shocked as he took a step back, "It's like that? I thought we were brothers?"

Tariq only laughed at seeing his friend's shocked expression. "Hate to break it to you but you're actually white. I know we basically adopted you, but you still gone have to age like every other white person.

"Or get some bad hair dye to distract from it, seems to be your people's go-to move," Jace commented causing a few black and Latin students nearby to chuckle lightly.

"Yeah, we can't all go Kanye crazy once we start seeing the slightest sign of ageing. Y'know, I think you guys' invented crashing out in major ways, must be in your DNA." Jason retorted causing a few guys to exclaim.

"Now that he said it a brother do know how to take the ship down with em, like have you seen Uncle Joe from round the corner crash out on Walmart jam? That shit was off the shelves so fast cause white people thought they had done something offensive." Tariq commented now genuinely contemplating all the biggest crashouts he had seen on socials.

"Aight Street right, I've got a few good cashouts locked and loaded just waiting for an excuse to use em. Oh, and Riq if they keep making your cornrows so tight you gone be bald by thirty. You're not AI so stop it." Jace said with a wide grin not at all minding the betrayed look his friend was giving him.

Tariq clutched his chest like Jace had stabbed him in the heart. "Bald by thirty? Bro, you really gonna do me like that on graduation day? I thought we were family."

Jace smirked. "We are, but family gotta keep it real. You already got that little shiny spot trying to peek out. I'm just saying—get ahead of it now."

Jason doubled over laughing. "Man, y'all are wild. Can we at least make it through one day without roasting each other?"

"Nah," Jace and Tariq said in unison, and all three of them burst out laughing.

Nearby, a teacher waved them over to get in line for their diplomas. "Lyon, Spencer, Johnson—let's go!"

Jace adjusted his gown and cap, feeling the weight of the moment settle over him. His entire high school life was all sacrificed for this moment right here where he would walk across that stage and receive his diploma. His Mama and Pop would be in the crowd cheering him on along with his sisters as he completed a milestone. Now he was doing it without his parents, but he knew exactly that these few steps across the stage mattered more than ever for himself and his siblings.

He glanced at Tariq and Jason, who were both looking a little more serious now. For all their clowning, they understood how big this day was. Not just them but their entire year all looked nervous as if they were entering boot camp not knowing what they would face the moment they walked up those steps.

"Y'all ready for this?" Jace asked, his nearby classmates only to receive sporadic yes and head nods but most remained silent. "Cougars I said are yall ready!" he exclaimed again his voice travelling through the entire backstage.

"YEEES!" this time they exclaimed with a lot more enthusiasm sending a chill of excitement through everyone and causing those seated just past the thin curtains to stop chatting. After all, suddenly hearing roughly 200 students shout at the top of their lungs would cause most to turn and pay attention.

Before they could even crane their necks to see what had happened, they heard the voice of Jace from backstage at least those in the first few visitor rows did. "That's more like it, what are we?"

Again, an avalanche of students shouting "Strong!" rang throughout the field causing even those who wanted to continue their conversation to stop.

"What are we?" Jace once again called out and he got his response, "Strong!"

Followed by everyone shouting together, "Crenshaw Strong, Crenshaw Strong,"

Once they were done reciting that twice Jace voice once again was heard over the now excited students. "Class of 2021 peace out" What followed was the loud exhale of any lingering nervousness any student was feeling as they shouted it into the air like gladiators who had just vanquished their opponents. "Whooop," 

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To Be Continued...