For Bod, who asked about my mention of golf balls in the following post.
My niece has just graduated from high school. She is the youngest of my mother’s grandchildren, so Elegante Mother and I made the trip to Indiana to attend the ceremony.
We were seated toward the front of the gymnasium, near the raised area the graduates cross to receive their diplomas. There are a number of dignitaries seated behind a table, a teacher who reads the names of that row of students, the Superintendent of Schools, the President of the Board of Education, and the High School principal. The students shake the hand of each person who is standing, receive the diploma case, and leave the risers. While we were sitting there, I saw a golf ball fly across the floor. I laughed about it, but it was neatly palmed by one of the seniors, and I didn’t think about it any further.
When we got home, I mentioned the golf ball to my niece, and she told us that each of the seniors had carried a golf ball with them into the gym. Somehow, despite the girls wearing incredibly high heels, and the boys having to learn to negotiate stairs in a graduation gown, they managed to get onto the stage, cross to and shake hands with the Superintendent and President of the Board of Education, and accept their diplomas without dropping the golf balls.
The last person they were to shake hands with was the Principal. Apparently, as they shook hands, they palmed the golf ball off on him, and beat it for the stairs! R.L. told me that he must have been on to them, because he would shake hands, get the golf ball, pitch it behind him (I assume into a box), all without giving a hint of what was going on.
Frankly, this was the kind of prank you hope for, rather than something that would impede the progress of the commencement. I went to three of my step-children’s high school graduations, which were out of doors, and beach balls batted from row to row were a popular diversion in that era.
I’m sure there are loads of variations on this story. It was a gentle giggle, something that did no harm, and gave the graduating class something to share at reunions in the future.