Self Awareness

SHORT STORY TITLE: On Stage.

The dedicated Associated Student Body (ASB) members open school ceremonies. This is a ceremony following the middle school election.

Six ASB members stood at the auditorium entrance, each holding their 5-foot flag for the ceremony. She held her flag upright with the group of ASB students for the first time.

Her twelve-year-old heart was beating fast. She realized she felt too nervous as she observed a crowd filling up the auditorium.

The auditorium doors closed as they prepared to start inside.

‘Calm down. They’ll see you as part of the performance and won’t think much about you. If they do have any thoughts about you, it’ll be one or two at most, and then they’ll go back to thinking about their world, which is better for them, isn’t it?’ she said self-consolingly.

‘Yes. And, I wanted this. I have to go through with this.’

The auditorium door opened. She looked inside, but it was too dark to see in there.

“Yes. Go,” said the ASB teacher with her voice and body language.

The first group of ASB students walked inside, and suddenly, a spotlight followed each one as they entered. Three spotlights illuminated to the stage where they took their positions.

“Now, students, it’s your turn. Go,” said the ASB teacher.

‘Focus,’ she thought.

She went through the door, and a spotlight followed her as she walked to the stage with her flag. Once all six of them lined up facing the audience, the auditorium remained silent for a moment.

The principal signaled for the audience to rise. The audience stood up and placed their right hands across their chests to their hearts. At his next signal, the room began to chant in sync,

“I pledge allegiance to the Flag…”