Feathered Cap

This is a creative writing assignment I had back in high school that told the story of my high school graduation - from my mortarboard's perspective. I recently rewrote it to tell the story of my upcoming graduation from Sacramento State - once again, from my mortarboard's perspective.

Please enjoy!

As I fluttered in the air savoring the evening breeze, gazing through the sky as my friends joined me in this orchestra of flight, I looked back to the day when this all started … back to the day that made this all possible. I led a far simpler life, peering through the window of a small shop. I was the featured showcase of the local shop. This time of year the school kids would be looking at me and for me. Younger children would gaze upon me and imagine the day they would cross that final checkpoint to the rest of their lives. The college kids would also look upon me, and reminisce when they witnessed their brothers or sisters don me and the looks upon their faces would make my tenure at the window worth it.

Then he came in … a tall, dark-skinned fellow with a grin from ear to ear and one thing on his mind. He had told my shopkeeper a friend had told him to come in. He was looking for a certain item … one he could use at school. It was a one-night event, he mentioned, and the shopkeep understood. The other items he picked up, I paid no attention to, but one item – a golden tassel, caught my eye. The shopkeep then came in my direction and picked me up from my stand. At that moment, I knew I would be destined for greatness.

“Since you seem such a special fellow,” the shopkeep told the young man, “I will let you have this special item right here. Made from a fine fabric, this should fit your description – and the top of your head, just fine.”

I remember being taken into the back room where people admired the look of my friends atop their heads as I awaited my moment of glory. The shopkeep then placed me atop this young man’s head and turned us to face the mirror. As I looked at myself and this young man, I felt as if I would now experience for sure what the little children have said as they looked upon me. I know my tenure with this young man would be worth it.

After this young man voiced his approval, the shopkeep helped remove the robe he tried on and folded it neatly. He put the other items neatly into a paper bag and placed me into a round box. I had to admit, the box was quite warm, but I am claustrophobic. As I took a last look around the shop, I told my friends that I was going to a better place and I will see them again someday. Afterward, I remembered being placed into the backseat of a car and driving away. Where I was going, I did not know. I didn’t know what time it was, what road we were on, I didn’t even know the young man’s name – up until I overheard the conversation he was having with a lady friend of his.

“Ben, I know you’re looking forward to next month but why did we have to come all the way out to Burlingame to pick up this stuff?”

I then heard him say, “I thought you would enjoy the scenery. Besides, a friend of mine recommended that shop because the shopkeep is his uncle.”

“And you got a discount?” She asked him.

“No.”

“You’re hard to read sometimes, do you know that?”

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’ll try to publish a revised version of myself.”

As I sat in that box awaiting my fate and listening to these two people converse, I thought of the experiences I would have with this young man, whom I now know as Ben. I looked back to the days where those and those before me took the walk with those people with everything in the world going for them. Would I get that experience with him? I certainly hoped so. His event is next month and I looked forward to it with every fiber in my being. The wait would be worth it.

That fateful day finally rolled around and I was removed from the round box. I had come out a few times before when Ben went to have some photographs taken. I thought the pictures looked great, but he kept insisting on having some company in the shots. He brushed me off afterward and placed me inside the box until the day of his event. On this day I was fitted atop his head again but this time he attached to me the golden tassel I saw back in the shop. He dusted himself off, placed me back in the round box, and proceeded out the door. After he had completed the last finals of his college career, he was as relieved as I had ever seen him. While one year later than he planned, this event was nonetheless going to happen. He no longer snapped randomly or forgot what to say. Now he was focused and prepared.

As I heard him say to himself, “I’ve done it. I’m going to cross that stage and I’m done. What a relief!” I knew his experience would be worth it.

There I was, in a sea of colors in that hall. Reds, greens, magentas and other patterns (each representing a different degree, I suppose). I felt the buzz of anticipation as these young men and women heard their names being called and they headed toward the stage to receive the reward for which they had worked a great deal of their lives. With each name called, the cheers became louder. As these people stood on that stage, I bet my friends could see the looks on the faces of the parents and friends of these people who had strived so hard for the opportunity to have one of us atop their heads.

"Benjamin Restitotu Schilter,"

When Ben’s name was finally called, I felt a sense of relief that he was almost there. Seventeen years of work and all he had left was 17 paces to where he could close this chapter of his life. I was just glad I could be there to witness it.

Still others were called, made their way to the stage, until the entire class had been accounted for. At that moment, I looked over and noticed that Ben grabbed me. I also saw this happening with many of my friends. Was this the flight our parents and grandparents have told us about? Was this the moment we get to be one with the sky? All of a sudden, I felt a lurch and I was launched upward along with the rest of my friends. The Class of 2012 let out one big cheer and threw us in the air to show they had accomplished all that was asked of them, and more. And at that moment I knew that what those men and women must have been through was worth it.