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senior class. Those unfortunate students, whose parents had
caught them, suspiciously fell off the social radar for the
remainder of the school year.
Graduation day was bright and sunny. The student council
officers from the lower three grades set up the decorations
along the football field and lined up the chairs for the
graduating senior class. As custom dictated, the lower grade
student council members attended graduation. The senior
class usually selected a gift for the school, presenting it to the
junior who would serve as the president the next year.
The seniors sat alphabetically by their last names, so
Derek and Scott sat next to each other, Derek walking across
the stage right behind Scott. As each student received their
diplomas, their families stood and cheered, mothers tearful
and fathers holding them. The seniors were beaming and
ready to put high school behind them; excited to begin their
new lives as college students. A big reception after graduation
took place on the soccer field next to the football bleachers
and families gathered to eat and socialize. The entire affair
lasted about two hours.
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Wrestling With Desire
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Over the next couple of weeks, several smaller graduation
parties took place, parents having to coordinate with one
another so their parties didn't overlap. These end-of-year
parties were a big deal and no one wanted to miss a single
one. Derek's parents threw his party the weekend following
graduation. The wrestling team had been invited along with
Beck. All of the fathers drank beer and surrounded Henry by
the grill, offering their suggestions about grilling technique.
The mothers gathered on the porch or in the kitchen chatting
about their children and their summer plans.
Derek gazed around his yard and laughed at how 1950's it
all seemed. He was distracted by Scott and Beck who
appeared at his side. "Can we talk to you for a moment?"
Scott had been the one to speak, but they both had
conspiratorial grins on their faces. Derek paused, distrustful
of the expressions on their faces.
Reluctantly, Derek allowed himself to be led through the
kitchen, down the hall, and up the stairs to the attic. "Okay,
you have to close your eyes." Beck spoke this time.
Scott stood behind Derek covering his eyes before they
entered the attic. Derek heard something sliding across the
floor. He also heard his mother and Shannon's voices as they
entered the attic as well. Finally, Beck spoke up. "Okay, I
think it's ready. You can let Derek see again."
Scott removed his hand from Derek's eyes. The sudden
brightness of the room blinded him for a minute. When his
eyes adjusted, he saw it sitting in the middle of the room with
a huge red bow on top. The TASCAM M-164FX 16 Channel
Mixing Board with Digital Effects Derek that he had wanted to
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Wrestling With Desire
by D.H. Starr
buy when he, Scott, and Beck had gone to Best Buy at the
Copley Place Plaza. "Oh my God. I can't believe it." Derek
walked over to the mixing board and ran his fingers over the
controls. "Mom, did you get this?"
His mother shook her head. "Nope, this is from those two."
Derek turned to Scott and Beck in disbelief. "I can't...This
is too much. I can't believe it."
Scott and Beck exchanged amused glances, and then Beck
walked up to Derek. "Well, we could always bring it back."
Derek stood protectively between Beck and his new mixing
board. "No way. This is awesome. But I didn't get you guys
anything." Derek's mother and Shannon, clearly only wanting
to see Derek's reaction, said they needed to return to the
party and left the attic. Beck's grin spread from ear-to-ear.
"So you love it?"
Still in shock, Derek spluttered a reply. "Yes, I love it.
Thank you both."
Beck gave Derek a hug. "Good. I'm glad." She gave him a
small peck on the lips. "Now, what I want for my present is
acting lessons. Here." She pulled out a neatly folded piece of
paper from her front pant pocket. "I want to take acting
classes which will be offered through community college. My
parents say the tuition to Brandeis is graduation present
enough. Well, that and the car they bought me so I could
come home. I'm still convinced they bought the car more as a
gift to themselves. My mom still hasn't stopped crying about
me moving away from home."
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Wrestling With Desire
by D.H. Starr
Derek smiled. Only Beck would find a reason to complain
about receiving a car as a present. "Sure. I'd be happy to pay
for your lessons as your graduation gift."
Beck's face lit up. "Excellent, because I've already filled
out the application form. All you have to do is write a check
and "
Derek gave her a hug, making sure his embrace forced
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