Kes: Charlotte Hit The Nail On The Head

I did not graduate from high school as valedictorian. Buddy Wiggleton consoled me by reminding me that was not the goal. I was not the salutatorian either. Buddy Wiggleton consoled me by reminding me that was not the goal.

I did manage to graduate near the bottom of the lower quadrant. Buddy graduated somewhat farther down. He did, however, point out that WAS the goal! And besides, as he added with that wonderful deadpan, aided by a hint of sarcasm, delivery of his, “The good news is that neither of us have to get up and give a speech in front of the entire class and most of the town.”

Buddy had a unique perspective on life that just made you feel better after talking to him.

Pam Collins straightened my tie twice before we started into the auditorium to pick up our diplomas. She had made it her mission to take care of me years before. And don’t think that made me special. She did that for everyone in the class.

Larry Ridinger shook my hand as he whizzed past. He used the fire escape to slip out of school and bring back donuts. Larry is the one who suggested, the week after I got my driver’s license, that we ride over to Huntingdon and look at this pretty girl. I could write a book about the year and a half I spent getting to know her. Wait, I think I already have!

LaRenda Bradfield hugged my neck after Pam finished with my tie. And I could see a hint of tears in her eyes. She would be the one who recognized the significance of the moment before any of the rest of us.

I wish I had a nickel for every day I had been in church with her. And Billy Thompson (who was valedictorian) and Ruth Ann Wiley. I wouldn’t need this graduation….

Richard Lynn Hale strolled over wearing a grin and a quizzical look, “Can you believe we’ve finally made it!” I remember days when if one of us had a dime, we both had money. You couldn’t count the hours we’d shared a Frostie Root Beer sitting on a park bench in the town square, watching the world go by.

And talking about our hopes and dreams. In the early days it would be about playing baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals or owning a big cattle ranch in Texas. Later our conversations revolved around dating, and finding the “right” girl. But as graduation neared, it narrowed in on college or moving into the workforce and supporting ourselves.

And that concept permeated our class discussions at lunch in the cafeteria, at Frank’s Dairy Bar, Motheral’s Drugstore, and anywhere else we gathered up as our high school career wound down. We didn’t know life without each other. And so, we hardly ever mentioned that this might be the last time we were all together.

It was easier to laugh about Jane Hill throwing up in the first grade. Or Bobby Brewer jumping out of Miss Belle’s class window. Or the big fight in the school parking lot….

I marched into the auditorium beside Charlotte Melton. She was the first girl I ever kissed. We were holding hands as we walked down the aisle on this landmark occasion. She had left me for another man before we got to the ninth grade. Which stung a little, but not for long.

We never dated again, but we still rode horses together. She would call me if she had a problem. I cheered my heart out for her when she was barrel racing or playing high school basketball.

She told me often we were all-time best friends forever. She believed that was true for our whole class.

Mr. W. O. Warren delivered the commencement address. I suppose he gave us the “you are the future” talk. I was just trying to make it through the event without shedding a tear or falling asleep….

If I had known in May of 1965 what I know now, I would have hugged Buddy’s neck as soon as we marched out and told him I loved him. I would have recalled to his remembrance every moment we’d spent together for the past 18 years. I would have thanked him for his indelible, forever touch on my life.

Then I would have hugged Charlotte so hard she couldn’t breathe and told her the same thing. And then Reggie Lawrence, and Phil Cook, and Emily Young, and James Hastings, and Diana Morris….

Congratulations to all the 2026 graduates. I wish you Godspeed! And I hope and pray you are smarter than I am. You should spend some time on graduation night refreshing your heart about the classmates sitting around you…no matter who is on stage talking about your future…and cherish how, and with whom, you reached this milestone.

The moment is special, the diploma will open lots of doors, but nothing can top going through life with a whole class of best friends spurring you on….

Respectfully,
Kes
kesley45@aol.com