Capturing Savannah (11 page)

I also get shots of just the materials too.
Some that are painting with the chalk have ground it down into dust and put it into clear plastic cups. Using a paint brush and water to apply it to the concrete. There are a variety of methods and a variety of types of images. Some of them photo realistic looking, some abstract shapes and textures.

It’s an amazing display of talent.
A group of guys that have finished their two squares, are standing to the side and laughing so I ask them to quickly scoot together for a photo. The emotion is great. You can see the feeling of accomplishment and hard work. And the chalk that dusts their faces.

I snap another image of a white haired Pomeranian dog that is streaked with yellows and oranges and reds and purples.
His tongue is out while he pants because of the hot Savannah air. He stands tiredly at his master’s side. In the shot I get the guys sandals that face his drawing of his white dog.

After several hours of sweat
ing and inhaling chalk the festival is at a close. Emily left earlier to meet up with Darren and his parents. I begin my walk back to the dorms knowing I have pepper spray handy in my bag just in case. I make it about a block before a car starts to slow next to me. I am a little freaked at first until I realize who it is behind the wheel of this red beat-up Ford truck.

“Need a ride.” Says Kyle.

“I think I will take you up on that. I wasn’t looking forward to another layer of sweat from the walk.” I say. “Thanks.”

“
Oglethorpe House, right? Going that way anyway.” He says.

“Yes. O house.” I say. “Is that where you live?”

“No I have an apartment close to there. Off Whitaker and Oglethorpe. It’s above the
Paper Moon
.” He says.

“I used to love that place.” I say. “I am meeting up with some friends there tonight for dinner. For old times sake.” I say.

“What about you? How are you spending your last night before being a graduate?” I ask.

“
Just going to relax before the family and graduation chaos starts. Gotta pick up my dad pretty early in the morning so not doing too much tonight.” Kyle says.

“Oh. Well if you feel like dinner out you’re welcome to come downstairs and eat with me and my friends.”

“Maybe.” He says.

We drive the rest of the five minutes to the dorms in silence.
Silence doesn’t bother me like it does some people. Sometimes I like to just sit and soak things up. Process what is going through my head. Kyle doesn’t seem to mind it. When we get to the dorms he drops me off in front of the door. I get out of the car pausing to turn back.

“Thanks for the ride.” I say.

Leaning on the car door frame of the open window I say “Really. You should come to dinner tonight. It’s at eight thirty. See ya.”

Kyle waves and slowly drives off.
I ride the elevator and walk to my room still thinking of the festival and of Kyle. As I pass by the stoop my thoughts drift to David like usual.

After taking a refreshing shower I wrap myself i
n a towel and lie down on my bed to rest. I look around the mostly packed up room and notice how plain it is once again. Emily has everything packed except for a few clothes and all of her shoes and makeup. I have packed everything except for a few books, my photography equipment and a few of the things I have hanging on the wall. One of those things is David’s oak tree drawing. I still think it is the most beautiful tree I have seen. Starring at the drawing my eyes get heavy so I close them.

I nap for
three or so hours and wake feeling rested. It’s about thirty minutes till I am meeting the gang for dinner. I get dressed in a clean t-shirt and jeans and brush out my hair, tussling the blue and purple streaks to one side.

I grab my key and walk out the door.
I stop off to see Max.

“Ms. Clark. Good evening. You ready for tomorrow?” Max asks.

“Hi Max. I’m getting there. It’s going to be a big day. It’s going to be hard to say goodbye to this place.” I say.

“Ya. But you will only be blocks away. Won’t be too bad.” He says.

“I know. I’ll miss you though.” I say.

“Have a good evening Ms. Clark.” He says.

It’s dark and warm outside. I am the first out of the gang to arrive at the
Paper Moon
. I guess I am about ten minutes early. As I sit I think about that first night in Savannah when I came here. Here with David. The paintings and paper stars hanging from the ceiling look the same as they did that first night.

“Thea. Hey.” Says
Dax startling me a little.

“
Dax! Hi.” I say standing up to give him a hug. “We weren’t sure if you were going to make it. We haven’t seen you for so long.”

“Well for old times sake I wanted to see everyone. Also Thea. I
have grown up a lot and I am sorry for how I acted to you. I want to be friends. I don’t know what I was thinking.” Dax says.

“Thank you. I’d like to be friends
, Dax.” I say standing up to give him another hug.

“So where are you going after graduation?” I ask him.

“Staying here. I have an apartment and I will be back in school next year for my Master’s degree. And also doing some student teaching.” Dax says.

“Wow. That is great.”
I say.

“I already know what you are up to Thea.
I have heard a lot about it from my roommate. It sounds like things are going good for you.” He says.

“
What do you mean? Who is your roommate?” I ask curiously. Immediately thinking of David when he talks about a roommate since David was his roommate in the dorms.

Just t
hen the gang starts trickling in. First Remy. Then Micah, Dean, and Lilah. Then Grayson. Then Kyle joins us. Emily and Darren show up an hour later. By that time we have already eaten and are just sitting and reminiscing in the last four years. I am stuffed full from a ham and cheese omelet and key lime pie. We talk about teachers, assignments, parties, hook-ups, and just everything. Of course David’s name comes up. So does the coincidence that Kyle and Dax are roommates and have been the last two years or so. So that is where Dax got information about what’s going on with me. We all talk and talk for hours.

I am getting tired and we all have to be up early tomorrow so it’s time to call it a night.
A group of us walk back to the dorms. Emily says good night to Darren and her and I walk to our room arm in arm. We walk past the stoop, David’s stoop.

“Oh
ya.” Emily says. “David called to wish you a happy graduation.”

“He did.” When?” I ask surprised.

“While you were at the festival.” She says.

“What did you say to him?” I ask.

“Nothing really. He asked how you were too. And I told him you were good.” She says. “That’s it.”

I fall asleep looking at the drawing of the Savannah oak tree with Spanish moss hanging by my bedside.

The alarm clock sounds and Emily and I both stagger out of bed. No snoozing it today. It’s graduation day. I put on a little make-up and start fixing my hair, just up in a neater than usual ponytail. Then I slip on my bright olive green dress. It has thick straps and is pleated. The length is just over the top of my knee. The color matches my graduation cap tassel pretty closely. Emily wears a simple black dress. We look at ourselves and each other in the mirror and both smile.

“Awww Thea! I am going to miss you so much!” she says.

“I’ll miss you too Em. Don’t cry or you’re going to make me cry.” I say back.

“Ok. Even though we are going our separate ways. We will stay in touch. And you have to keep me updated on Grayson, Kyle, and
Dax.” She says.

“I told you there is nothing going on between me and any of those guys. And of course we will stay in touch.” I say.

“Ok. Well a girl can wish.” She says.

We carry our cap and gowns out the door with us and of course I have my camera hanging around my neck too.
We stop on the stoop for a quick picture together and head down to breakfast. I get my last cafeteria meal with eggs, hash browns, and sausages. On the way out of the cafeteria I take some food to the square where Sam and his dog sit on the bench. I sit next to them and listen to Sam mumble about something his wife used to say. I take a deep breath and sit comfortably and almost happily as I wait for my family to drive up to the school entrance. My stomach is in knots. I’m happy and sad all at the same time.

“Thea!” calls out my sister, Cami.

“Thanks Sam for always being there for me. I’ll see you again soon.” I say getting up from the bench and jogging over to meet my family.

“Hey guys!” I say hugging Cami first and then my dad and mom.

We walk a block over
to the civic center and I wave goodbye to them temporarily. They go find seats and I go to the side room where the other almost graduates are waiting. They line us up alphabetically by last name and tell me it’s time to put on my gown and cap.

There are a lot of speeches and a lot of names called. Luckily I am in the C’s so after I walk on stage I exit out t
he back doors. My family follows. We all want to take pictures so I take them to the square that is beside the dorms. The bright yellow flowers are blooming and they make a nice backdrop for the photos. I let them use my camera to take some of me with and without the gown. Then I take some of just them. My family, minus Jacks.

After the photos I return my cap and gown. And we head to my dorm room to finish up packing and move all my stuff into the new apartment.
I just have a few things from the wall to take down and a few things in the bathroom to box up. While I am doing this my dad and Cami start carrying things down to their rental car.

With the four of us it doesn’t take long to carry everything downstairs. It’s only boxes, no furniture.
Unloading seems even quicker that carrying down. Even though it’s quick we still sweat from the warm Savannah air. I need to wait another hour for the delivery of my bed so I send the family to their hotel to freshen up and we make plans for them to meet me back here after.

I take a quick shower and put on some shorts and a tank top.
My room is empty without a bed. The walls are painted a tope grey that is beautiful with the thick white molding. My room looks huge even though it’s about the same size as the dorm room Emily I and I shared. The ceiling is vaulted and the room has double pocket doors for the entrance. It’s only a two bedroom apartment so my room is an extra sitting room that is off of the kitchen and living room. Which is typical for historic Savannah housing. The only other furniture I have is an old vintage dresser I bought from Grayson for forty dollars, which he and Micah moved over for me yesterday. It’s a distressed silver antique looking dresser that is three drawers wide and the sides bow out and curve into the legs. I fill three of the nine drawers with clothes. The other drawers I fill with smaller camera equipment and art supplies. I hang up some clothes in the closet and put a few of the larger pieces of camera equipment in there too. I pull the bathroom stuff out of the last box remaining and put it in one of the shelves in the only bathroom that I will be sharing with Micah and Grayson.

I hear the buzzer and rush to let
in the guy delivering my bed. It’s starting to look like a room now with a bed in it. My parents arrive right behind the delivery guy and I am close to being all unpacked.

We
decide to walk around downtown. My mom explains the sights to dad and Cami since they haven’t seen them. All of us are hungry suddenly and decide to stop at the next food place we see.

“Here we go. Pizza. Perfect.” Says Cami dragging us all into
Vinnie Van GoGo’s Pizza
.

“Hey Thea, right? It’s been awhile since you have been in.
” says the hostess.

“Hi. Table for four.” I say.

I don’t recognize her, but I realize I came here enough before to see David and didn’t pay attention to anyone else working here.
We are seated at a table on the patio.

“Ok Thea. You have been here. What is good?” mom asks.

“The Hawaiian. The veggie. Those are my favs. But you really can’t go too wrong here. Everything is good really.” I say.

It’s early for dinner, or maybe it’s late for lunc
h but we get our pizzas quickly since the crowd hasn’t hit yet. I stay silent for most of the meal. Just listening to them all talk. I remember when my family used to laugh. Laugh with Jacks. Laugh at Jacks. Things would never be the same in our family without him. While it was nice to have my mom, dad and sister here with me for my graduation, I couldn’t help but miss Jacks even more than usual. It was like the four of us all together again just made his absence more obvious. My heart hurt for Jacks. And my heart hurt for David, too.

After the pizza I tell
them all I am exhausted from the day and the move.

“Ok Thea.
We will drive you back. It has been a big day.” My dad says.

“Ok.” I say back.