Edits from The Avocado Grove - Gitt's Graduation Speech and Mickey's Commentary

Gitt's Graduation Speech and Mickey's commentary

Mr. Morris makes an appearance in the book and takes the microphone away from Gitt when she becomes inappropriate at the graduation ceremony.  She gets the facts wrong about what happened, but that isn't why Mr. Morris takes over the retelling of what happened.  It's because she's high.

This version of the speech didn't make it into the book.

 

Many of you know her by the nickname Kimmie, but two weeks ago she convinced one of my best friends to stay in school.

Gitt talks about how Adrianna and Emily ran away and then she asks Adrianna to stand up.

"I would have gotten on that bus.  I might even be dead.  Emily talked me out of it.  She asked me, "What are really going to do there?"  And I had no idea.  But now I have a chance to finish school, a chance to be a graduating senior like all of you."

Gitt nods her head.  She looks serious for Gitt, gone is the cheerful Wave girl grin and she sounds almost like she's leading a religious revival.

Come on everyone.  Let's take a moment of silence for our friend, Emily.

Gitt bows her head at the podium.  A strange quiet settles inside the auditorium.  The air-conditioning blows.  It feels cold.  We're not far from where the accident happened and most everyone in the senior class knows this.   And when many of us whisper Emily's name, it is as if we are all thanking g-d that it wasn't one of us that got struck down by a car and we're all in our moment of stillness asking whatever it is that we believe in to keep us safe for a very long time.  I know a little bit more about what can happen when you are stuck in between two places, almost like being in a dream, the worst kind.