Saving Grad by Karen Spafford-Fitz

Author:Karen Spafford-Fitz
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: James Lorimer and Company Ltd., Publishers
Published: 2017-08-25T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Safe Grad

Mandy had to be in the gym early, so I make my way to the assembly by myself. I pass the main office and see Caprice sitting with her arms crossed and a scowl on her face. Jasmine looks up and smiles at me, then she returns to her typing.

Jasmine has started dropping by Mom’s coffee shop after school. Mom says it’s nice to have someone to talk to. Without Duncan around, Mom can actually make some friends. She has the regulars from the coffee shop and the people she meets when she’s waiting for the bus. Mom is doing better in the friend department than I am. I just hope she hasn’t told Jasmine too much about us. All we need is for someone to put together why Mom and I had to leave Toronto. What if Duncan started looking for us and that got back to him?

I step inside the gym. Mandy waves at me from the front where she sits with the rest of the committee.

“Welcome to all of the Grade Twelve students and teachers,” Mr. Shah says as he takes the mic. “In a few minutes, I’ll turn the stage over to the people who will be organizing your grad party. First though, I need to say that our first priority is to keep our students safe. For that reason, we’re proposing some changes this year.

“Last year, we had some concerns about alcohol,” he continues. “We know that some of our graduating students are legally old enough to drink. But we need to make sure that nobody will be driving that night. So we’re going to model this year’s grad party on something called a ‘Safe Grad.’”

“Lame!”

“Oh my god !”

Kids are calling out from all areas of the gym. Mr. Shah raises his hand to try to settle them down.

“Right now, I’m going to call on Mandy Mok and Diego Rodriguez. They are the student reps, and they will explain about Safe Grad. I expect you to keep an open mind about what they have to say.”

Mandy steps up to the microphone. “Like Mr. Shah said, there will be some changes to the grad party this year. Just like other years, the party will happen the same night as the banquet. We’ll get dressed up and our families will be taking pictures and feeling proud of us. That part will be fun,” she says. “But then, we ditch the fancy clothes after dinner. And we party!”

The chant goes up around the gym. “Par-ty, par-ty, par-ty!”

Mandy smiles and waits out the crowd. “So there have to be a few rules,” she says finally. “Like, first of all, none of the grade twelves will be allowed to drive that night. It doesn’t matter if they’ve had anything to drink or not. Everyone who buys a ticket to attend Safe Grad will catch a bus at the school. The bus will take us to the party. Then we all take a bus back to the school afterward. Everyone will have a parent pick them up from school.

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