breaking down every second of the dance, where we’d been nervous about not making a particular kick, where we’d gotten a little dizzy coming out of a spin.
Before dinner was served, Dr. Jansen, the headmaster of the school, gave a short speech thanking everyone for coming to the benefit, and then asked Mrs. Atanabi, as well as the choir teacher and the jazz teacher, to stand up for another round of applause. Ximena, Summer, and I cheered as loud as we could. Then he talked about other things, like financial goals and fund-raising, and stuff that was so boring I couldn’t wait for him to stop. Later, after we’d finished our salads, Mr. Tushman made a speech about the importance of supporting the arts at Beecher Prep so the school could continue to nurture the kind of “talent” they’d watched tonight. And this time he asked all the students who had performed tonight to stand up again for another round of applause. Around the room, the kids from the jazz ensemble and choir stood up with varying degrees of willingness and shyness. The three of us, though, weren’t the least bit shy about standing up for another round of applause. Whatl I can say?
Bring it on!
By the time coffee was being served, all the speeches were over, and people had started walking around and mingling. I saw one couple come over to our table, but I couldn’t remember who they were until Summer jumped out of her seat to hug them. Then I knew. Auggie’s parents. They kissed Summer’s mom and then circled around to me and Ximena.
“You guys were so amazing,” Auggie’s mom said sweetly.
“Thank you so much,” I answered, smiling.
“You must be so proud of them,” Auggie’s dad said to Mrs. Atanabi, who was next to Summer.
“I am!” Mrs. Atanabi said, beaming. “They worked so hard.”
“Congrats again, girls,” said Auggie’s mom, giving my shoulder a little squeeze before making her way back to Summer’s mom.
“Say hi to Auggie for me,” I called out.
“We will.”
“Wait, those were
Auggie’s
parents?” Ximena. “They look like movie stars.”
“I know,” I whispered back.
“What are you guys whispering about?” said Summer, coming between us.
“She didn’t know they were Auggie’s parents,” I explained.
“Oh,” said Summer. “His parents are
so
nice.”
“It’s really ironic,” said Ximena. “They’re so good-looking.”
“Have you ever seen Auggie’s big sister?” I said. “She’s
super
-pretty. Like she could be a model. It’s crazy.”
“Wow,” said Ximena. “I guess I thought, I don’t know, that they’d all kind of look like Auggie.”
“No,” Summer said gently. “It’s like with your brother. It’s just how he was born.”
Ximena nodded slowly.
I could tell, smart as she was, she’d never thought of it like that before.
How I Fell Asleep—Finally!
We didn’t get home until pretty late that night. I was super-tired as I washed all the makeup off my face and got ready for bed. But then, I don’t know why, I couldn’t fall asleep. All the night’s events kept crashing over me like soft waves. I felt the way you feel like when you’re on a boat, rocking back and forth. My bed was floating in an ocean.
After about half an hour of tossing and turning, I picked my phone up from where it was charging on my nightstand.
Anyone up
,
I texted Summer and Ximena.
It was after midnight. I was sure they were asleep.
Just wanted u guys to know that I thnk ur the two most amazing people in the world and Im glad we got to b such good friends for a while. Ill always remembr this night. Its the shingaling, baby!
I put the phone back on the nightstand and karate-chopped my pillow to make it comfy. I closed my eyes, hoping sleep would come. Just as I felt myself finally drifting off, my phone buzzed.
It wasn’t Ximena or Summer. Weirdly enough, it was Ellie.
Hey, Charly, Im sure ur sleeping but my parents just came home from the gala and said you guys were absolutely
Before dinner was served, Dr. Jansen, the headmaster of the school, gave a short speech thanking everyone for coming to the benefit, and then asked Mrs. Atanabi, as well as the choir teacher and the jazz teacher, to stand up for another round of applause. Ximena, Summer, and I cheered as loud as we could. Then he talked about other things, like financial goals and fund-raising, and stuff that was so boring I couldn’t wait for him to stop. Later, after we’d finished our salads, Mr. Tushman made a speech about the importance of supporting the arts at Beecher Prep so the school could continue to nurture the kind of “talent” they’d watched tonight. And this time he asked all the students who had performed tonight to stand up again for another round of applause. Around the room, the kids from the jazz ensemble and choir stood up with varying degrees of willingness and shyness. The three of us, though, weren’t the least bit shy about standing up for another round of applause. Whatl I can say?
Bring it on!
By the time coffee was being served, all the speeches were over, and people had started walking around and mingling. I saw one couple come over to our table, but I couldn’t remember who they were until Summer jumped out of her seat to hug them. Then I knew. Auggie’s parents. They kissed Summer’s mom and then circled around to me and Ximena.
“You guys were so amazing,” Auggie’s mom said sweetly.
“Thank you so much,” I answered, smiling.
“You must be so proud of them,” Auggie’s dad said to Mrs. Atanabi, who was next to Summer.
“I am!” Mrs. Atanabi said, beaming. “They worked so hard.”
“Congrats again, girls,” said Auggie’s mom, giving my shoulder a little squeeze before making her way back to Summer’s mom.
“Say hi to Auggie for me,” I called out.
“We will.”
“Wait, those were
Auggie’s
parents?” Ximena. “They look like movie stars.”
“I know,” I whispered back.
“What are you guys whispering about?” said Summer, coming between us.
“She didn’t know they were Auggie’s parents,” I explained.
“Oh,” said Summer. “His parents are
so
nice.”
“It’s really ironic,” said Ximena. “They’re so good-looking.”
“Have you ever seen Auggie’s big sister?” I said. “She’s
super
-pretty. Like she could be a model. It’s crazy.”
“Wow,” said Ximena. “I guess I thought, I don’t know, that they’d all kind of look like Auggie.”
“No,” Summer said gently. “It’s like with your brother. It’s just how he was born.”
Ximena nodded slowly.
I could tell, smart as she was, she’d never thought of it like that before.
How I Fell Asleep—Finally!
We didn’t get home until pretty late that night. I was super-tired as I washed all the makeup off my face and got ready for bed. But then, I don’t know why, I couldn’t fall asleep. All the night’s events kept crashing over me like soft waves. I felt the way you feel like when you’re on a boat, rocking back and forth. My bed was floating in an ocean.
After about half an hour of tossing and turning, I picked my phone up from where it was charging on my nightstand.
Anyone up
,
I texted Summer and Ximena.
It was after midnight. I was sure they were asleep.
Just wanted u guys to know that I thnk ur the two most amazing people in the world and Im glad we got to b such good friends for a while. Ill always remembr this night. Its the shingaling, baby!
I put the phone back on the nightstand and karate-chopped my pillow to make it comfy. I closed my eyes, hoping sleep would come. Just as I felt myself finally drifting off, my phone buzzed.
It wasn’t Ximena or Summer. Weirdly enough, it was Ellie.
Hey, Charly, Im sure ur sleeping but my parents just came home from the gala and said you guys were absolutely
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