Graduation

Posted on 06 Sep 2017 @ 8:29am by Lieutenant JG Edward Butler

483 words; about a 2 minute read

Timeline: MD 80 - 1645 hrs
Location: Starfleet Academy, San Fransisco, Earth - OCS Quarters, 12A

[ON]

"Graduation day," said Edward, "It's only a six month program, but I think it was almost as difficult as getting my Masters." He placed a neatly folded uniform into the suitcase he had on the swiveling chair. "Of course, I actually attended this graduation ceremony. Not only did Mom insist, it's kind of a requirement. I suppose that I knew I was joining an organization that loved pomp and circumstance."

He placed a pair of shoes upside down on the top of the stack and shut the case's cover. It zipped loudly. "I like doing things the right way, and I've always been more formal than many of my peers, but I generally don't go in for big ceremonies and long lines of graduates, and so on. It's just boring. I'd rather move on to doing what I was trained to do instead of wallowing in the fact that hurrah I was trained." He moved the case to the floor and sat in the chair it had occupied. "Mom was happy though. She didn't get to see me go through a graduation ceremony for highschool, my undergrad or either of my graduate degrees, and she's all about ceremony."

"Ugh. She wasn't satisfied that she got to go to Lyle's graduations and however many award ceremonies he's had. He takes to the spotlight and revelling in his accomplishments a lot more easily than I do. It's just not me. Don't get me wrong, I like having my work praised. Who woudn't? I just don't need some fancy ceremony, laser etched trophy, or sheet of paper with a bunch of calligraphy to feel satisfied in my work."

Edward leaned forward and rubbed at his forehead, then ran his fingers through his hair. "I know I sound critical. I don't really begrudge Mom or Lyle their awards ceremonies, or even care a lot that they don't understand why I don't care. I just hate feeling as if I should do something that I'm not doing. I hate disappointing them. Especially Mom. At least today she was able to attend an honest-to-God graduation ceremony where I was featured. And yes, it was every bit as dull and pointless as I expected it to be. What really matters is that Mom was happy."

"They're all going to meet me at Luciano's in Milan for dinner tonight. It's halfway around Earth, and it won't take me more than a half hour to get there. That's the miracle of modern technology. Anyway, I've got to drop my luggage off and get going. Graduation day," Edward paused for a while, trying to sort out his tangled feelings. "Graduation day has been pretty good, overall. Now I'm going to be moving on to the next thing. It's about time."

"Computer End Log."

[OFF]

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