Sunday Hangover

Sitting in that stuffy auditorium, listening to the dean ramble on about the invaluable lessons, windows of opportunity, and the countless experiences that the university had provided, Travis’ mind couldn’t help but wander.

Where did college go, he asked himself. Memory after memory ran through his brain: the crazy weekends, the late nights, conversations into the early morning, the girls, each one causing him to grow increasingly sentimental about the past four years. He thought about how he had changed as a person, and was well aware of the fact that not all those changes were positive.

BUZZ. It was a text from his friend, Vaughn.

< This graduation sucks more than Kendra did that one month after she broke up with Kyle junior year. How’s yours going? >

< Hahaha mine doesnt suck quite that much >

< What are you doing to pass the time? >

< thinking a lot about the fact that i havent seen my parents in like 3 months >

< Do you ever plan on telling them everything? >

< Like that my gpa is a half pt lower than they think and that i dont have a job? …eventually >

Travis’ head sprung up as he heard applause; the dean was finished speaking.

“Finally,” said Jon, a friend Travis had made through a few classes together in Haas, UC Berkeley’s business school. “That speech seriously felt an hour long. I tried figuring out the racial breakdown of our graduating class by counting everyone around us.”

“Did you separate the Asians?” Travis asked. “Or did you just group us all together?”

“Ha! There is no way I could’ve been that specific,” Jon said. “I can’t see that far away, dude.”

They exchanged laughs, bullshitting each other on the long walk to the stage. Travis and Jon’s friendship had never really evolved beyond bullshit. All of their conversations consisted of anecdotes and jokes about the people around them. They both knew this and had an unspoken agreement to keep it that way.

After each student received their fake diploma (the real one to be mailed a few months later) and sat back down, the dean made a few closing remarks. Right as he said congratulations, flashes went off and the hats flew in the air, cueing the inspirational pop song. Travis and Jon performed the half-handshake, half-hug, congratulated each other, and separated to find their families.

“TRAVVY!!”

Travis followed the noise and saw his younger sister, Jennifer, running towards him with a balloon reading HAPPY GRADUATION and a teddy bear with a graduation cap. She immediately handed him both gifts and threw her arms around him.

“What the hell is this?” Travis questioned, holding out the teddy bear.

“It’s a graduation bear idiot!” Jennifer fired back.

“I don’t know what I’m gonna do with this,” Travis said.

Jennifer glared at him. “Don’t be an asshole; mom wanted to get it for you. Here she comes with dad. Look grateful, Trav.”

Mr. and Mrs. Yu approached Travis and Jennifer, beaming with pride following the graduation ceremony. Travis could tell that his mom had cried during the ceremony, prompting him to open his arms and hug both of his parents.

“That was a really long ceremony,” Travis’ dad said. “The dean wouldn’t shut up. You’d think with everything he has to say he’d be able to fix the state’s problems.”

“Stop it, Jack!” exclaimed Travis’ mother, Rose. “It was wonderful, and we are so proud of you. We love you very much.” She grabbed two white envelopes from her purse, with TRAVIS written on both of them. “This one is from us, and the other is from grandma,” Mrs. Yu continued. “She said she was sorry that she couldn’t make it.”

“Thanks mom,” Travis replied. “I’ll be sure to send her a thank you note.”

“And your sister said she’ll be calling you in the next couple of days to congratulate you and talk,” said Jack. His dad was referring to Travis’ older sister Rebecca, who has been living in Boston for the past two years with her fiancé, Roy. She also happens to be the only member of the family that knows the situation Travis is currently in.

Rebecca had always served as a confidant for Travis. He called her whenever he had problems with their parents, school, girls, anything; regardless of the topic, she was always happy to oblige. Feeling nervous and confused, Travis couldn’t wait to make that call. He had so much to say, and needed plenty of advice.

“Awesome,” said Travis. “So where are we eating? I’m starving.”

“We were thinking of going to that Chinese restaurant north on Shattuck,” his mom said. His parents had visited several times throughout his college career, and they always went out to dinner. “Invite your friends, the ones you’re going to be living with.”

Travis reached for his phone and sent out a text letting his three best friends know the plan. Kendra was the first to respond.

< YES! I need it after that last final >

Vaughn responded soon after. < Yeah, my mom and I will meet you at the restaurant. See you soon. >

Finally, Rafael chimed in. < i wish i could but i have an 8am final 2mrw. im locking myself in my room for the evening >

“Rafael’s not coming, but the other two are good, plus Vaughn’s mom,” Travis explained. He saw his sister crack a smile at the mention of Vaughn. He had always noticed the chemistry that Vaughn shared with Jennifer. Neither was ever shameful in flirting with each other, partly because they each know how much it bothers Travis.

“Which one is Rafael?” Jack asked. “Is that the gay one?”

“Yes dad, he is gay, and he’s not coming because he has a final in the morning,” Travis answered.

“How do you have a graduation today with finals scheduled for tomorrow? That doesn’t make any sense.”

“I don’t know, dad. That’s just the way it is.”

“What if someone fails their final after they’ve attended the ceremony?”

“Then they probably should’ve used that time to study.”

* * *

Travis sat in the back of the van while his sister and Kendra were discussing Jennifer’s mostly unsuccessful acting career in Los Angeles. His parents were up front, talking about something he couldn’t quite hear.

As they approached the restaurant, Travis began looking around and absorbing the moment. This restaurant was in the northern part of Berkeley, a part not as inhabited with undergraduates as the south side. Everything was much nicer and cleaner; the quaintness of the area put his mind at ease. I wish I had come around here more, he thought to himself.

Jack asked Rose to go into the restaurant and put their names down on the list while he found parking.

“We’ll come with you, Mrs. Yu,” Kendra stated. Jennifer got out first, while Kendra, well aware of Travis’ situation, delayed her exit and gave him a you-need-to-do-this-now glance. Travis shrugged his shoulders and pouted his lips, causing Kendra to roll her eyes and close the sliding door with a bit more force than needed.

As Jack drove off, made eye contact with his son through the rearview mirrored and let out a very fatherly smile.

“Travis, I can’t stress enough how proud we are,” said Jack. You mean the fact that I’ve been able to lie successfully for this long? Yeah, it’s quite a feat, he thought. His father continued, “This is where you really get to figure out life. What you do and how you act during these years could be very telling of how your future unfolds.” Sweet, life-long unemployment and underachievement, Travis quipped in his head. The van turned right into a side street, and an open spot was waiting about 50 feet up on the right. “You’re my only son, and I couldn’t be happier with the way you matured into a young man. You will succeed in life, I absolutely know it,” his dad affirmed, pulling into the open parking spot. That one hit Travis pretty hard. A few moments passed before Jack turned around, looked him right in the eyes, and said, “I love you, son, and that is never going to change.” This is way too much, it’s now or possibly never, he thought. “Ready to go?” his dad asked.