The gymnasium is full.
The bulk of the student body is in attendance and a large contingent of parents.
It is the homecoming celebration for Armstrong High School. The festivities start with a little skit and then the introduction of the royalty nominees of each class. Three boys and three girls for each class starting with 9th building up to 12th. When Evan's name is announced there is a brief chanting of Evan, Evan and the longest and loudest ovation of any of the nominees.
There are musical numbers by the band, the choir, dancelines perform, cheer leaders cheer, some student awards, a football cheer leader gig, a rousing 'stomp' like number performed by the percussion section of the marching band - really quite fun. Its winding up with a rap song contra the opposing team for tonight's game and then announcement of the winning royalty for each grade.
Polite applause for the 9th grade royalty and the 10th grade girl’s winner. The place goes raucous with the announcement of the 10th grade king - KING EVAN. OK at this point it was hard to watch with the tears coming down as the students then the parents - even the black caucus all go crazy stomping feet and providing the only standing ovation of the day. The gallant king offers his arm to his queen receives his plumber's plunger scepter and marches to the other end of the gym. They really do go crazy, they yell, the scream, he handles it with aplomb.
The king of home coming, once they get to it, is Brock Peniata a senior from our Medicine Lake Ward is also a winner.
The pepfest comes to end - then a stream of babes - what else to you call these danceline, cheer leader, all types of girls, between 2- -30 who come up hug and congratulate the beaming King, that would be Evan.
Afterward we are talking to the choir teachers on another matter. They bring up the voting in their classroom earlier in the week. So they took a straw poll and discover all their kids had voted for Evan. The kids all go - "Evan- like duh".
What a day. What a blessing.
We all seek recognition of some type. We all seek peer acceptance. We all seek our moment of glory. In this experience Evan received another slice.
