Page 76 of Precise Justice

Robbie watched her mother for a moment without answering. Priscilla looked back then said, “Well was there?”

“He said I should lose my virginity and he offered to do it for me,” Robbie answered.

“Hmm, well, did you tell him you’d take him up on it?”

Robbie, not the least bit surprised, simply shook her head.

“He’s right. You should do it. It’s not a big deal. He’s an attractive man. I’m sure he’s experienced and…”

“You knew about this, didn’t you?” Robbie asked. “Was it your idea?”

“No, not exactly. I mean, well, I might have mentioned I lost my cherry on graduation night. Get it over with,” Priscilla said.

“You need a shrink a lot more than I do,” Robbie almost snarled. “My psychiatrist? Can’t he get in trouble for even suggesting this?”

Priscilla finished off the rest of her drink. “Stop making such a big deal out of it. If you don’t want Dr. Friedman, pick out some boy and get it over with,” Priscilla said while opening the refrigerator door to refresh her morning pick-me-up.

“God, you’re sick, Mother. You’re the one that needs a shrink. Stop drinking. It’s messing with your brain.”

The graduation ceremony took place at the school. The Wheaton Academy had a baseball field behind the school. It was used for both girls’ softball and boys’ baseball. It was also wide enough for a soccer field. The ceremony was held there.

There were thirty-four graduating seniors in the small, somewhat elite and expensive school. There was some sort of non-denominational minister on hand for the invocation. Everyone gave a thank you shout out to God for this special occasion. Robbie could not help wondering if God did not have better things to do.

Chancellor Warner led off with a boring speech. While he droned on, Robbie finally realized what an insipid man he was. Next up were three more speakers, a city council member, and two prominent businessmen. All graduates of Wheaton.

The school chorus was on hand to sing three songs during this. Robbie guessed it was to stretch this thing out while, at the same time, hoping it did not rain.

The last speaker was the district congresswoman. Fortunately, she gave a quick ten or twelve minute speech congratulating the graduates. At the end she extolled the virtue of public service. Give of yourself to your fellow man sort of thing. Pretty much everyone found this oddly ironic. The news broke this same week that she and about two dozen of her colleagues were under investigation for a bribery scandal. They all, of course, indignantly denied it and their lawyers all announced that in due course their innocence would be proven. In reality, this lie was usually the first sign that it was all true.

Finally, and at long last, the issuance of the diplomas. This was, with only thirty-four recipients, the quickest part of the ordeal.

In the audience of roughly two hundred guests were Robbie’s parents. Robbie spent most of the ceremonial time wondering about how well that was going. They were not only seated together, but Priscilla’s parents and Blake’s mother were also in attendance sitting together in the same row of chairs.

Diploma in hand, Robbie sought them out. When she found them, Priscilla and her parents had moved twenty feet away. Just to annoy her, when Robbie saw that, she went straight to Blake and Robbie’s grandmother.

Grandma Craig, Blake’s mother, knew all about Robbie’s conversion. She disapproved of it, hated would be a better word, but did not blame Robbie.

Blake’s father had worked himself to death. He left a wife and three adult children. He also left her a two-million-dollar life insurance policy, plus a significant work comp claim blaming the company for a premature heart attack. Belinda, Grandma Craig’s name, made out just fine.

“Thanks for coming, Grandma,” Robbie said to her as they hugged.

“Would not have missed it,” Belinda replied. “Here,” she continued handing Robbie a graduation card. Inside there were ten, one-hundred-dollar bills.

They chatted for a few minutes then Blake took his mother’s arm and left. Robbie promised to call him tomorrow.

Robbie turned to go to her mother only to find they were gone. For the Powell’s, Blake was totally responsible for the breakup of the marriage. Robbie was the one that told Blake that. This elicited the first hearty laugh from Blake that Robbie could remember ever hearing.

The next morning, Robbie woke up at eleven o’clock. She also woke up with her first hangover and a fuzzy memory of the events after graduation.

She went downstairs after swallowing three Tylenol from Priscilla’s medicine cabinet. While sipping a tall glass of orange juice, Robbie read a note on the table.

Robbie: Well, did you do the deed last night? Congratulations, hope you had fun at the party. Your grandparents left cards with a generous gift for you.

Call me.

Love, Mom.

There was a Hallmark Card envelope on the table next to the note. Robbie opened it, found two hundred dollars and dropped it on the table.