“You alright?” she presses, worry thick in her tone.
“Yes… mi just want some water,” I say.
Nickoi takes the phone from me, talking quietly with her as I try to steady my breathing. Two minutes pass, and then I see them. Mama, Grandma, and Gavin coming towards me. Nickoi finally loosens his arm around me when my mother arrives. She immediately fans me with her hand before handing me a bottle of water. I drink, slowly. Minutes pass, and the sickness starts to ease. Thank God for them, I really felt awful.
“Thanks,” I smile softly at them.
My mother and Gavin walk with me toward the building where I’m to put on my gown. Mama stays behind, and I glance back, seeing Nickoi and her laughing easily, comfortable. I turn and focus on my gown.
“All graduates should be lined up… the ceremony is starting now!” the director’s voice echoes, sharp and urgent. Why he sound so stressed?
“You look beautiful, love,” my mother pecks my jaw. Gavin straightens my gown and cap, then pulls me into a hug.
“We affi go tek we seat now ‘cause we affi video when you march in… so wull up your head, girl, and do yuh thing. Mi proud a yuh!” Gavin smiles before he and my mother walk off.
I spot Suzanne across the hall. She waves, smiling wide.“Zara!” she whispers loudly.
I smile back, ready to greet her but before I can, the director’s voice cuts through the air. “Where is Miss Williams?! Do you think I have time to waste?” he demands aggressively, making my heart skip.
“Bredda, who you a deal wid so?” Nickoi asks, his tone sharp and just as aggressive.
The director looks around, ready to argue, but then his demeanour shifts. I guess he realizes arguing with Nickoi isn’t the best idea. “S-sorry about that, sir. It’s just that I have to get this going before time runs out,” he says, forcing an awkward smile.
Nickoi keeps his glare fixed on him. I cough to get his attention, flash him a small smile. “Mi a go inside,” I say. He nods and walks away.
I catch most of the females gawking at Nickoi as he leaves. I hiss under my breath, damn, they’re pissing me off. The music swells and we start marching inside the building. We take our seats on the right; families fill the left side. The ceremony begins with the chancellor talking about Covid and how it impacted us, but that despite it all, we completed the academic year successfully. I don’t catch much of the speech, I drift off, only to be jolted awake when Suzanne touches my arm.
“Zara,” she whispers. I blink up, realizing the Registrar is now on the platform. A so long mi doze off for?
“…family and friends of our honorary graduates, our colleagues, representatives of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association, schools, colleges, and examination bodies, welcome to you all,” the Registrar announces.
I glance over at my mom and spot Mama chatting with Nickoi. A wah them a talk bout? I smile, then see my father. My smile grows, he’s here? Well, mi never see that coming. Nicki is here too, and the twin because I invited them. Then, out of nowhere, I spot Sash sitting beside Gavin. Wah she a do here? Kiss mi teeth.
I turn back to the ceremony, trying to calm myself. The speeches are killing me, or maybe it’s just that I want to sleep but can’t, not with me being valedictorian. I sit through the longforty minutes speeches, my patience thinning with every minute. Finally, when the speaker finishes, I applaud with the rest, mostly because it’s over.Jesus Christ, man.
Zara, mi cyaa tek yuh enuh.
The Registrar returns to the stage. “Chancellor, the persons whose names will be called studied at St. Joseph’s Teacher’s College and will be presented by the deans of their respective faculties,” she says. All the graduates look a little happier, maybe because they know this means the end is near. They start presenting the Bachelors of Education in Early Childhood, Primary Education, and Special Education.
When they get to Secondary Education in Mathematics, the guy who flirted with me goes up and gets First Class Honours. I applaud quietly. Next, they present Bachelors in History and Culture, and I cheer when Suzanne’s name is called. She takes her picture and walks down. Now it’s almost my turn.
“Zara Williams, First Class Honours!” the announcer calls. The crowd erupts in cheers. I fix my hair and walk to the front, smiling. I glance at my man, applauding slowly, his lip tucked in.Ouuu.
After I return to my seat, another speaker takes the stage. Then it’s my time. Nervous but determined, I slowly make my way to the podium, silently praying. The cheering dies down. Everyone is quiet, waiting. I spot Mom and Mama beaming, their smiles wide, pictures of my faces on their little fans.
I sigh and glance at Nickoi. Again. He’s staring, then gives me a small encouraging smile then I begin. “Doctor R. Goulden, Chancellor; K. Sanders, Pro Chancellor; present and past members of the board of directors; ministers of education and their representatives; the graduating class; and the entire St. Joseph’s College family… Good afternoon,” I begin.
With each word, I grow more confident. A few laughs come as I reflect on our experiences and the times I switched to patois.I’m not nervous anymore, I’m owning it. My professor nods approvingly as I finish.Prada you!
NICKOI
“The gyal brilliant enuh,” Mama says, and I smile.
“No joke,” I murmur, listening to Zara’s speech. No one could guess she barely got to prepare, she sounds confident, calm, like she been rehearsing all week. Her tone so sweet, it’s like a white noise that could put me to sleep.
“Mi really proud a har, man.” Mama chuckles. I nod, eyes still on Zara. Then my phone vibrates. I check the screen and see a new WhatsApp message: ‘Mario is on to you and says he’s going to talk to Lorie tomorrow. Just giving you a heads up.’
Mario? I type fast:‘Respect, fam.’
