My hand trembles as I carry the pitcher of ice water from table to table. I stop to refill the glass of an elderly woman, but my attention is focused on the position of Miss Gibbs only a table away from my parents. This fundraiser and auction is four hours long. It will be a true miracle if my teachers makes it through the banquet without noticing my parents.

“Ugh! Mind what you’re doing!”

I startle from the woman’s screeching protests and realize I’ve spilled water all across the green and red decorative table cloth and onto her royal blue gown.

“S-sorry!”

My apology is met with a glare. “This is why they shouldn’t allow high school students to volunteer for such an important event!” She says critically to the gentleman to her left.

“I’ll go get you some napkins,” I say, rushing away only to collide into a senior girl from my home room class.

“Oof! Ryan! Look out!”

I quickly escape back into the kitchen and catch my friend, Eric, in the act of stealing food from a plate of appetizers.

“Try this! I think it’s crab…can you believe how fancy this place is?”

I can barely swallow the nervous lump in my throat, let alone eat anything.

“Forget the food! Do you see where my parents are sitting?”

“Yeah, so?” He mumbles past his mouthful.

“Don’t you see where Miss Gibbs is sitting?”

“Wait a minute, didn’t you already tell your parents about failing Geometry? I thought they get an hard copy of your report card…and since this is your second class your failing the counselor is supposed to call.”

I reach in the pocket of my dress pants and pull out a crinkled envelope. “They’re still waiting on it…I swiped it yesterday morning from the mailbox and I’ve deleted all the messages on their voice mails from the school.”

Eric walks to the doorway and peers out across the round dining tables and well dressed elite of our community. He finds my parents’ table and follows my finger to the table of our math teacher.

“Who knew the son of heart surgeon and defense lawyer would have so much trouble passing the 10th grade…”

“Oh shut up! You’re supposed to have my back…what am I supposed to do about all this?”

Eric shakes his blond head dolefully. “I’d enjoy some of those crab cakes. It might be the last meal you get on this earth.”

I snort a sarcastic laugh. “Thanks for the great advice.