Five Years Later
“Are you nervous?” Laura asked as she adjusted Harold’s cap.
“Nah,” Harold answered with a smile. Laura crossed her arms and gave him a look. “Okay, fine!” Harold admitted. “Maybe a little.”
Laura smiled.
“You’ll do fine. Now, go! They’re waiting for you,” she said ushering him toward the stage.
“And now,” said a man at the podium, “our August Martin High School valedictorian of 2020, Harold Chance!”
Harold smiled and waved at the audience in the auditorium as they applauded.
“Thank you, everyone,” he said into the microphone. The audience silenced and clicks of cameras replaced it. “Before I begin, I would like to say that what I’m about to say is something I’ve never told anyone before. Not because it doesn’t matter, but because I was waiting for the right time. I think now is that time.
“Six years ago, I was involved in a motor vehicle accident in Manhattan. And no, not caused by me.” He paused for laughs, and continued when it died back down. “For two weeks, I was barely responsive because of the amount of pain medicines I was given. When I finally came back to full consciousness, I was told there was a twenty percent chance of my walking ever again.
“I was devastated. The doctors offered physical therapy, and I only accepted because my mother and sister begged me to. For almost a year, physical therapy seemed to do nothing. I still couldn’t even pick my foot up off the ground. I thought it was hopeless and was coming close to demanding that therapy be cancelled for good. Then finally, I was sent a sign.
“I’m not going to tell you what it was, because sometimes I wonder if I really saw what I thought I saw or if the accident screwed me up worse than I’d thought.” He paused again for laughs. “Either way, I accepted it as a sign because I needed hope. And though I still have to use this blasted crutch, at least I didn’t give up, or I wouldn’t be standing here at all.
“The reason I’m saying this is because I wanted to make this point. Hope is a powerful thing, and if you can use this hope to fuel your determination, you can do anything. That is why I stand here today, and it can become where you all stand tomorrow, or next week, or even five years from now. Anyone can turn “what I can’t do” into “what can’t I do.” So, students of August Martin, what I want to advise you of today, is to never give up hope. If you can believe in hope, then you will discover that miracles can really happen.”
The audience applauded and Harold called a powerful, “Thank you, AMHS!” and hobbled offstage with his crutch on his right side.
Laura was still applauding as he came backstage.
“That was an amazing speech, Harold!” she said hugging him. When she pulled away, she said, “You know, you can tell me what that sign was. I wouldn’t think you’re crazy.”
Harold smiled and pushed some hair behind her ear.
“Don’t worry about it, Laura. You’re better off not knowing,” he said calmly.
Laura studied him curiously.
“Is everything okay, Harold?” she asked.
Harold laughed.
“I assure you, Laura, everything is just fine.”
Fin.
“Are you nervous?” Laura asked as she adjusted Harold’s cap.
“Nah,” Harold answered with a smile. Laura crossed her arms and gave him a look. “Okay, fine!” Harold admitted. “Maybe a little.”
Laura smiled.
“You’ll do fine. Now, go! They’re waiting for you,” she said ushering him toward the stage.
“And now,” said a man at the podium, “our August Martin High School valedictorian of 2020, Harold Chance!”
Harold smiled and waved at the audience in the auditorium as they applauded.
“Thank you, everyone,” he said into the microphone. The audience silenced and clicks of cameras replaced it. “Before I begin, I would like to say that what I’m about to say is something I’ve never told anyone before. Not because it doesn’t matter, but because I was waiting for the right time. I think now is that time.
“Six years ago, I was involved in a motor vehicle accident in Manhattan. And no, not caused by me.” He paused for laughs, and continued when it died back down. “For two weeks, I was barely responsive because of the amount of pain medicines I was given. When I finally came back to full consciousness, I was told there was a twenty percent chance of my walking ever again.
“I was devastated. The doctors offered physical therapy, and I only accepted because my mother and sister begged me to. For almost a year, physical therapy seemed to do nothing. I still couldn’t even pick my foot up off the ground. I thought it was hopeless and was coming close to demanding that therapy be cancelled for good. Then finally, I was sent a sign.
“I’m not going to tell you what it was, because sometimes I wonder if I really saw what I thought I saw or if the accident screwed me up worse than I’d thought.” He paused again for laughs. “Either way, I accepted it as a sign because I needed hope. And though I still have to use this blasted crutch, at least I didn’t give up, or I wouldn’t be standing here at all.
“The reason I’m saying this is because I wanted to make this point. Hope is a powerful thing, and if you can use this hope to fuel your determination, you can do anything. That is why I stand here today, and it can become where you all stand tomorrow, or next week, or even five years from now. Anyone can turn “what I can’t do” into “what can’t I do.” So, students of August Martin, what I want to advise you of today, is to never give up hope. If you can believe in hope, then you will discover that miracles can really happen.”
The audience applauded and Harold called a powerful, “Thank you, AMHS!” and hobbled offstage with his crutch on his right side.
Laura was still applauding as he came backstage.
“That was an amazing speech, Harold!” she said hugging him. When she pulled away, she said, “You know, you can tell me what that sign was. I wouldn’t think you’re crazy.”
Harold smiled and pushed some hair behind her ear.
“Don’t worry about it, Laura. You’re better off not knowing,” he said calmly.
Laura studied him curiously.
“Is everything okay, Harold?” she asked.
Harold laughed.
“I assure you, Laura, everything is just fine.”
Fin.
Hey this is my first fanfic so plz no hate! :)This fanfic is about a girl penguin that comes to the zoo and falls for Skipper.
My name is Kat, but I'm not a cat, I am a penguin, from Antarctica. I have one problem with my home: it's too cold. I knew one day I would escape that horrible snow land, and that day was yesterday, when that weird man came and put me in a crate, and for once in my life I felt comfortable and warm.
Today I am traveling to a new home, hopefully a warm one.
I don't know how long I was in that crate but all I know now is that I'm here at my new home...a zoo? cool!
Am I alone in this penguin habitat? Just then I hear waddling coming from under the platform, okay good I'm not alone.
Skipper pokes his head through the hatch hole and spots Kat, then calls the the rest of the team. Is our new penguin here yet Skipper? Private asks. Yes Private, she's here.
Oh hi I'm Kat, I'm new here I said cheerfully.
My name is Kat, but I'm not a cat, I am a penguin, from Antarctica. I have one problem with my home: it's too cold. I knew one day I would escape that horrible snow land, and that day was yesterday, when that weird man came and put me in a crate, and for once in my life I felt comfortable and warm.
Today I am traveling to a new home, hopefully a warm one.
I don't know how long I was in that crate but all I know now is that I'm here at my new home...a zoo? cool!
Am I alone in this penguin habitat? Just then I hear waddling coming from under the platform, okay good I'm not alone.
Skipper pokes his head through the hatch hole and spots Kat, then calls the the rest of the team. Is our new penguin here yet Skipper? Private asks. Yes Private, she's here.
Oh hi I'm Kat, I'm new here I said cheerfully.
The first piece of paper they found.
when a knife came crashing through the window. Skipper picked up the knife. It had a screen with decreasing numbers on it.
He asked Rico what it was. Rico said, "uh-oh."
Rico took the knife from Skipper and threw it. They all jumped topside. The knife exploded. They saw a piece of paper. Skipper picked it up. It had a picture of Abigail on it. Skipper looked up. Abigail was gone.
Kowalski and Skipper sat in the base. Kowalski was crying and Skipper was trying to figure out how the DNA tester worked. Private walked in "whats going on?" he asked.
"We don't know where Abigail is," Skipper said.
"Would this help?" Private asked, holding out a piece of paper.
Skipper grabbed the piece of paper from him. It said: to be continued.
Kowalski was sitting in his bed when he heard the transporting truck. He went topside. His girlfriend, Abigail, was there.
Abigail had green eyes and long eyelashes. Her feathers were soft and shiny. She was Skipper's sister.
Kowalski hadn't seen Abigail since high-school.
Kowalski was about to hug Abigail when he realized that she might not like him anymore. They hadn't seen each other in such a long time.
Abigail ran over and kissed Kowalski.
I have writers block now, sorry it's so short. I'll write more later.
Abigail had green eyes and long eyelashes. Her feathers were soft and shiny. She was Skipper's sister.
Kowalski hadn't seen Abigail since high-school.
Kowalski was about to hug Abigail when he realized that she might not like him anymore. They hadn't seen each other in such a long time.
Abigail ran over and kissed Kowalski.
I have writers block now, sorry it's so short. I'll write more later.
