Hall of Fame

Chap. 29

Chapter 29

"Andy!" I look up at the sound of my uncle's voice and try to make my way towards him in the crowd. "Hey princess!"

"Hey Uncle Sam." I greet him as he pulls me into a hug.

"I knew you would come out on top, those other girls never stood a chance."

I roll my eyes at him but smile anyway. Just as I'm out of his hug and free to move I'm pulled right back in by my mom. She hugs me tightly then pulls back a bit to smile at me. A tear is running down her face and I know automatically she's thinking about the same thing, my dad. Most dads aren't great, not even good, at least that's what I hear from my friends and everyone else in school, but my dad was amazing. He was supportive and inspiring and my biggest fan. My mom squeezes my shoulders as another tear rolls down and then another, "He would be so proud. So proud. He would've been proud if you got last place, even if you weren't put in it at all. You were always his princess no matter what, you always will be. He loved you so much Andy, and I can guarantee you he would give anything to be here right now. Even if just for a second."

I nod, the tears now spilling out of my eyes as well. "I know. I wish he could be here." She pulls me back in for a hug and we stay like that for a few minutes before she excuses herself and leaves me with the crowd where I'm pulled into yet another bear hug by my uncle.

This moment feels familiar, yet so strange. The sounds, the smells, the people, they've all been around for my entire life. I've always kind of imagined what it would be like to be crowned in this thing, but I never could have prepared myself for how I'm actually feeling right now. The crown, the title, none of that matters to me. What matters is that I'm a part of this, of this school. The school that my parents, and my aunts and uncles, my best friend's family, everyone I've grown up with, the school they've all been a part of. True, most have been a football player or a cheerleader, or at least some for sport or activity, they've all been involved and I haven't really done much in that way. I'm on the yearbook committee but that's pretty much it. I've kind of always felt like I was letting them all down by not getting more involved but I now feel like I've made up for it. I did something to be remembered by and yes it's small and you probably think I'm so shallow for thinking that being homecoming princess actually matters for anything. But to me, it does.

"We'll be discussing the kiss thing later." Uncle Sam assures me and I roll my eyes, knowing full well that he's completely serious. My uncle smiles once more at me before leaving me alone again to talk to my friends, my teachers, and all the other crazy people in this town. I'm pulled into picture after picture, given hug after hug. I reminisce with my Kindergarten teacher, my junior high English teacher tries to talk to me about my plans for after school although I'm still not sure I have any, I even find Zoey and Lilli laughing and celebrating with me.

We win the game, and everyone is just filled with this remarkable joy, this beautiful feeling that we're all gonna be okay. We can all still have nights like these. As soon as the final play ends I find my spot standing right next to Xander, he pulls me into his arms as the announcers initiate a moment of silence for Coach Logans, then everyone in the stadium is passing around these yellow daisies, they're throwing them on the field. People are crying, hugging, smiling. The announcer's give background information and talk about his family, his career, and although it stings, his death.

I'm given weird looks, probably just people waiting for me to break down. Surprisingly I manage to hold it together, and I just smile and thank everyone. This is truly an amazing moment, a beautiful way to remember my father. It's just like he would want, and I couldn't ask for more.