I stepped out to the student lobby, a place I rarely went. I’d found out quickly (by quickly I mean after a couple months) that it’s better to keep to yourself at Reynard’s. Less confusion, less temptations. I couldn’t tell you how many times I had gotten in trouble for someone else’s feelings and curiosities. I looked around the lobby. This graduation class was bigger than usual. About thirty boys. Everyone kept their eyes to the ground, like they were trained to do around each other. I entered the room and everything felt tense. They knew who I was. I had quite a reputation around here. I was considered pretty dangerous meat. They knew I had stayed here for so long and some even knew the things that had kept me here. They all pretty much alienated me because they didn’t want to stay more than the allotted time.

I understood this. I agreed with this. It was just easier for me not to be around people. It’s probably what got me a graduation date. I sat down in a chair in the corner and read over the speech. It wasn’t long before one of the guides came in a directed us towards the seminar room. It was the only room that was large enough for this event. It was the place where they held the induction meeting. The starting and stopping point for all students.

They sat us in a large seating section in the front of the room while the parents sat more towards the back. I got a glimpse of Mom and Dad, but I was too scared to really look at them. I knew their looks would be returned with smiles and happy eyes, which I wasn’t really interested in. I just wanted to get this over with.

Dr. Klause stepped up to the front podium with the school emblem on it. A ram surrounded by books and doves and white flowers. “Welcome parents and graduates to the Spring Term Graduation Ceremony.” Everyone gave a polite applause and Dr. Klause gave a proud grin. “I would like to thank all of the parents in the audience who could be with us today to wish all of our graduates off. These boys have made so much progress over the time they have been here and I am proud of each and every one of them. This institution was founded on the principles that everyone has the opportunity to live the happy, normal lives that our society smiles upon. I am happy to say that we have made that into reality for hundreds of boys over the last ten years and I want to introduce to you one of those success stories. Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Gerard Way.”

I could hear Mom holler and the other parents clap with heavy smirks on their faces. Sounds like they’ve heard of me too. I stepped out of my front row seat, speech in hand, and up the stairs, on stage. Dr. Klause patted my back and I took to the podium. The applause died down and I lye my speech against the edge of the podium.

“Good morning,” I began just wanting to get this over with. “Two years ago, my parents sent me to Reynard’s with the hopes to make our household a safer place. I was fifteen years old and I didn’t know what I wanted in life. I didn’t have many friends or activities to keep me grounded to my morals and I veered off the path. Originally, I was only suppost to be here for three months, but I was stricken with the same ideas that had gotten me here. Then, Dr. Klause took me under his wing and showed me the consequences to my actions. He showed me why the life I was trying to live was wrong and how the life I could be living would benefit me in the long run. He was the shaking I need to get me back to the person I was meant to be. Without him, I wouldn’t be standing here today, ready to start my new life. I can’t thank him or my parents enough for the opportunity to start over. I have earned my high school degree here, a year earlier than most, and I plan to take a year off before I start applying to colleges. I can’t wait to begin a new chapter in my life and I can’t thank Reynard’s enough for helping me do that.”

The room clapped and the boys looked around with lazy eyes. They were embarrassed by my speech, but so was I. I didn’t believe a single word of it. I was nothing that they wanted me to be. I was a pretender. I smiled brightly to the crowd, but inside I just wanted to run out and go home. I took my seat in the front again and watched the rest of the ceremony take place.