Chapter 89
Griffith Gym, the site of the Commencement Ceremony for the LAHS graduating class, was packed to near capacity. Heather didn’t particularly like graduation ceremonies of any type. Why Mark had been so keen on having their families attend this one was another of the mysteries that came together in the person of Marcus Aurelius Smythe.
As far as she knew, the only seniors Mark knew were the ones who had tormented him during the year. But when she and Jennifer had quizzed him, he merely laughed and shrugged off those antics as an age-old high school rite of passage. Perhaps he was growing up after all.
As the graduation speaker droned on endlessly, Heather smiled to herself. Considering all she had been through, all they had all been through, she was glad this year was coming to a close. Even the fact that she had missed the junior-senior prom could not dampen her mood.
Mark’s elbow brought her focus back to the stage. The top scholastic leaders of the senior class had just been recognized, and the senior athletes and cheerleaders were next. Heather recognized Colleen “All Cars” Johnson along with the obnoxious quarterback, Doug Brindal, and his buddies.
The group on stage raised their awards above their heads. As they did, Heather noticed Mark fiddling with something in his hand, a devilish grin on his face.
A sudden gasp from the crowd snapped Heather’s head back toward the stage.
“Oh my God!” Jennifer gasped.
The graduation gowns of Colleen Johnson, Doug Brindal, and two of the other athletes came apart at the seams, the separate pieces fluttering to the ground beside them, revealing that none of the four were wearing pants or underwear.
As they recovered from their stunned silence, the students in the crowd erupted into a wild fit of laughter. The objects of that laughter scrambled to cover themselves with the pieces of their robes before fleeing from the stage. Bedlam descended upon the graduation ceremony, lasting several minutes as the principal and teachers struggled to restore order.
In an effort to get things over with, the remaining seniors were called across stage in near record time, although they received their rolled diplomas without further incident.
As the ceremony concluded and the crowd made its way out of the gymnasium, there were some expressions of outrage, but the bulk of the audience thought it was the most entertaining graduation ceremony ever.
Once in the parking lot, Heather turned to stare at Mark. Jennifer joined her.
“How in the world did that just happen?”
“Well, let’s just say that a few weeks ago I happened to overhear those four planning to moon the crowd after graduation ceremony. Anyway, I thought to myself, why should they go half ass when I can help them achieve the full monty?”
“Happened to overhear? You planted a bug, didn’t you?”
“‘Planted’ is such an unpleasant word. I think I’ll stick with my original description.”
“But how did you get their gowns to come apart like that?”
“You know, it’s amazing how a remotely directed heat source can affect certain thread types. Combine that with just the right stitching modifications, and the sky’s the limit.”
It was Heather’s turn to gasp.
“The old ladies’ sewing club! So that’s what you were learning.”
Mark’s grin spread to epic proportions.
“Viva POOTNAS!”