Thomas was sitting in the empty cafeteria with a Snickers bar in his left hand and a small black binder in the other. As he stared vacantly into space he took a bite from the candy bar, savoring the chocolate covered caramel goodness. As he swallowed the first bite he heard the double-doors on the far side of the room open. He turned and saw Abby, a close friend of his, walking towards him with a large tupperware container in her arms.
"Hey"
"Hey" said Abby, out of breath from carrying the hefty container for two floors.
As she let it drop on the lunchtable Thomas set down his binder and raised his free right hand in a rock n' roll symbol. Abby mimicked this action and brought her hand closer to his. Thomas did the same and as their index and pinky fingers met they chanted:
"It's so cool and it's totally awesome."
This had been their ritualistic greeting ever since the first Speech and Debate meetng in the beginning of their sophomore year. It originated from an online musical parody called "A Very Potter Musical". After finding out that they were both huge fans of it Abby and Thomas became fast friends.
As Abby sat down she pulled out her laptop (which was lovingly christened "Marcus") and started playing some punk rock.
"Who else is coming tonight?" Asked Thomas.
"Vicki's coming, Lauren probably will, and maybe Laurel."
"Hrm. Nice turnout."
For Thomas Speech and Debate practice was more of a social gathering than practice. Mr. Rizzo, the coach, had the team run through their speeches once, or have a debate with another, and let them "practice" in the cafeteria. Some of the most memorable moments in his high school career had happened during practice. Everyone would talk about whatever. Conversations would range from first kiss stories to current happenenings in Notre Dame (the school) to one-on-one, heart-to-heart talks, to talking about favorite hobbies and to spontaneous horseplay. However, out of all of those past meetings this one would stand out in Thomas's memory the most for years and years to come. And it all started with an inside greeting between two friends.
"Hey"
"Hey" said Abby, out of breath from carrying the hefty container for two floors.
As she let it drop on the lunchtable Thomas set down his binder and raised his free right hand in a rock n' roll symbol. Abby mimicked this action and brought her hand closer to his. Thomas did the same and as their index and pinky fingers met they chanted:
"It's so cool and it's totally awesome."
This had been their ritualistic greeting ever since the first Speech and Debate meetng in the beginning of their sophomore year. It originated from an online musical parody called "A Very Potter Musical". After finding out that they were both huge fans of it Abby and Thomas became fast friends.
As Abby sat down she pulled out her laptop (which was lovingly christened "Marcus") and started playing some punk rock.
"Who else is coming tonight?" Asked Thomas.
"Vicki's coming, Lauren probably will, and maybe Laurel."
"Hrm. Nice turnout."
For Thomas Speech and Debate practice was more of a social gathering than practice. Mr. Rizzo, the coach, had the team run through their speeches once, or have a debate with another, and let them "practice" in the cafeteria. Some of the most memorable moments in his high school career had happened during practice. Everyone would talk about whatever. Conversations would range from first kiss stories to current happenenings in Notre Dame (the school) to one-on-one, heart-to-heart talks, to talking about favorite hobbies and to spontaneous horseplay. However, out of all of those past meetings this one would stand out in Thomas's memory the most for years and years to come. And it all started with an inside greeting between two friends.
