Sunny

         Sunny entered the side door of the local civic center. She looked around, but she was too late. Her fellow graduates had already assembled. She followed the hall to the auditorium where she would receive her diploma and peeked inside. Everyone hadn't sat down yet, so she bolted into the room.

Sunny was determined to walk across the stage. As she caught up to the end of the line and sat down last, she realized she was not seated near the students in her class. Oh well. She would just have to make this work.

The first row of graduates stood up. She should have been with them; they were all getting the same degree. They began calling the students' names alphabetically. When a Brown and a Cameron had been called, she stood up and eased toward the front. Many of the students she passed stared at her. She whispered to one girl in line, "What's your last name?"

"Caplan," was the hushed answer.

I must be next, Sunny thought.

"Hey!" came a voice from behind her. She turned, and a pale young woman with bright red hair was glaring at her. "I'm next! I'm a Carter."

Crap. She let the girl in front of her to climb the stairs.

"Sunny Renee Carter, Associate of Arts in General Studies." Sunny was next after all! She climbed the stairs in her three-inch scarlet stilettos, pushing the red-headed girl out of the way.

"You're making a fool of yourself with those stupid heels and not knowing your place in line!" The girl taunted.

         Sunny whirled around. "Go to hell!" Then she strolled across the stage, pausing only to accept her diploma from the college president and to pose for the photographer at the end of the stage.

         She had made it!