The Speech

Peter approaches the raised podium with a heavy heart. He looks around at what yesterday was a gym, now a beautifully decorated graduation ceremony after it receives a total transformation. Rows upon rows of folded-up chairs, their seats a deep ruby colour are beginning to disappear, replaced by the loved ones of the students he so desperately doesn’t want to say goodbye to! There are ten chairs on either side of the red carpet that spans the length of the room. He takes a deep breath in, holds it for three seconds, before exhaling slowly. He has been dreading this day for six years now yet looking forward to it at the same time! As he continues to do his deep breathing exercises, waiting for everyone to settle. As he adjusts the microphone, all eyes fall on him!

‘When I look to my right, I feel like a proud father, as I see thirty of the brightest faces, both visually and academically, beaming up at me. I must admit that tears are forming in my eyes! They are tears full of great sorrow as I’m losing the first class I had the pleasure of watching transform through their six-year journey since I became principal. But, as I look at the thirty boys sitting on the three rows to my right, I say to you that your future will be brighter than you can even hope!’ Peter brings the tissue to his eyes and dabs at them, removing the teardrops that have accumulated. ‘I honestly don’t know how I am going to cope with the fact that you elite boys, will, after today, officially be men! Each and every one of you has touched my heart in a different way! I have come to feel like you’re my own! There is only one thing that I definitely won’t miss! The way the thirty of you, collectively, managed to plot and plan your way through the years, trying to cause as much destruction as you could muster! I’m certain you all have informed your junior classmates how to create havoc, leaving a part of your legacy behind!’

Peter turns his body to the right of the podium, and smiles.

‘When I met you, you were boys, always frolicking around the classrooms and corridors causing mayhem. I will never forget the incident with the fireworks on the last day of term before Halloween. I believe you were all in first year and I can put my hand on my heart, now anyway, and sincerely thank Justin in particular, for giving the minister of education no choice but to fund a much-needed paint job!’ Peter smiles.

‘My father sourced them!’ Justin bellows from the third row, three seats in from the aisle. Peter bows his head, recalling the night Justin’s mother informed him of her husband's passing. Sadly, he was hit by a drunk driver, taken at the pinnacle of his life. As he looks at Justin, he can see his father sitting there, waiting for the then principal of the school to give him his own graduation scroll.

Peter had taken Justin under his wing after the death of his father, a man Peter was best friends with since the first day he stepped foot onto the grounds of the campus! Tears encapsulate the feeling that he is experiencing as he is shocked that the once very troubled Justin turned his life around, with the aid of Peter, and got himself back on the straight and narrow. Justin was not only graduating…he was graduating with honours! Peter looks at him, pride exuding from his pores!

‘To attend this graduation ceremony is an honour, but to hand each of these thirty young men their commemorative scroll, is a privilege! I have mine framed, proudly hanging on the wall of my office. I hope you all see this achievement as a testimony to all your hard work over the past six years. My message to you, is to make the most of your lives!’

‘The day I got married, I was so hopeful to experience fatherhood. Unfortunately, my wife and I weren’t blessed with the pleasure! The very first day I walked up to this podium, I felt a tug on my heartstrings as I saw thirty very small, pre-pubescent boys in front of me. I knew then how much you all would mean to me. I want you to go forth and have some fun in college, if you happen to be going, and settle down and have a family! I guess I’m one of the lucky ones, because I can call each and every one of you, family! So, I’m going to stop hammering on now, and get down to business and present the class of 2023 with your official letter to get you out of class…forever.’

As Peter calls out every one of the thirty names, the now men collecting their scrolls in alphabetical order, tears stream down his face. It gets to the stage where he just lets them flow as his tissue is saturated!

As they take their seats once more, their scrolls in their hands, Peter beams with pride as he sees them congratulating each other and knows then that, one way or another, they will all be ok! He stood up on the raised podium for the last time that year.

‘I hope you all heard the joy you have brought to your loved ones as they cheer for each of you! I certainly will never forget the class of 2023, and, no matter where you end up, I expect each and every one of you to call in, whenever you get the chance that is, as I would love to follow your lives and be a witness as to how you grow! Thank you!’ Peter manages to relay before he breaks down officially.

As Peter gets off the raised podium, both the students and their loved ones stand and cheer loudly for him. The infamous thirty standing with tears in their eyes as they show their true appreciation for the best headmaster the school has had to date! The cheering exceeds well over a minute, Peter, finding it hard to cope with their gratitude.

As he blows his mucus filled nose with the wet tissue Justin appears on the stage, offering Peter a packet of tissues, and embraces his headmaster in a hug.

‘Thank you!’ Justin whispers in Peters ear.

Peter is flooded with student after student, each wanting to show him that they think ever so fondly of him. This shows Peter just how important his job is.

He is asked to stand beside his students, by their loved ones, to pose for a picture. These are photographs Peter asks whoever took it to email him the photograph.

Three months later:

Peter stands up to the raised podium in the transformed gym to welcome students, both old and new. He takes in the view of the one hundred and eighty pupils looking up at him as fresh as daisies after the summer break, excited for the school year to begin. He is transported back to when he did this for the first time. He looks at the small, innocent first years and sees the class of 2023 staring back at him. He smiles.

When the ceremony is over, he retreats to his office. He stands looking at the picture of the thirty students he came to love, him in the middle, and nostalgia washes over him. He straightens the picture ever so slightly, and his eyes are drawn to the scroll he received on his final day as a student beside it. He will always, no matter what, be proud of those thirty boys, who he has received correspondence from all through the summer. He doesn’t see it, but he meant just as much to them boys…now men!