Goodbye Bryers! =)

Well, today, I went to the Bryer's surprise retirement present. I thought it was really nice. Truly, truly nice. I mean that earnestly. Haha I think that's the write word. ^^

The Bryers are two married teachers who have been teaching AP US History (APUSH) for so many years. Mr. Bryer teaches APUSH I and Mrs. Bryer teaches APUSH II. I took both of their classes.

I left 8th pd a bit early and headed to the auditorium, because the plan was for everyone participating in the gift to sing "For Good" from the show Wicked. Haha I didn't go to the rehearsal the day before, but a lot of people didn't.

I originally went because I wanted to attend the event because I simply felt like it and wanted to see what would happen. Also, I felt that it would be interesting. I'm really glad I went. It was a really touching and spectacular time. I think it went absolutly great!

The reason I was kinda skeptical to go was because ever since I got a 2 on my APUSH exam, I had always feared the Bryers a bit... cuz back when I was taking APUSH II, Mrs. Bryer said " If you get a 5: super happy, if you get a 4:great, if you get a three: Eh, okay, If you get a 2: Mr. Bryer and I won't talk to you again, and if you get a 1: ...yeaaaaa. It was a joke... but I kinda felt that it was serious and let it get to my head. So during all of junior year, I avoided any contact, like eye contact, with them. I kinda feel like that made my standing with the Bryers even worse, not that I was a memorable studnet or anything, but even so...

But going to today made everything better. When I got there, I met up with some of my friends and talked a bit. Soon, everyone went onto the stage and got behind the curtain after getting a copy of the song to read from. We all mobbed behind the curtain. Haha we were pretty unorganized, but we got our act together just in time for the Bryer's entrance. The huge mob was filled with shhs and positioned itself on the stage in a good fashion.

Haha I heard someone on the microphone say something along the lines of "well Mr. and Mrs. Bryer, a few of your friends wanted to do something for you, and worked together to give you a gift." The curtain openned and there we were, all of us in the Bryer's line of sight. We walked forward, and the chorus members attending the event walked onto the stand that they use for their concerts. After all, the chorus members were the pros, a lot of us had to lip sync or use the chorus as a guide for the singing. Haha a lot of us never even heard the song before ^^".

And so, we started to sing... I thought the song was very fitting for this moment. The lyrics talked about how we learned from them and changed for the better... and how we were glad to have met them. We didn't sound bad. The singing was splendidly great! =)

When we were done, we all stepped down and sat in the auditorium seats. Some people went straight to the Bryers to meet with them. Mrs. Bryer was so touched that she was crying =). Mr. Bryer was calm, but you could tell that he was really touched too. I guess an event this great was able to affect the two tough teachers. After we all got settled down, a slide show was started. Made by two girls named Julie and.. J...something ^^", the show was filled with jokes, music, touching lines, numerous pictures of the school faculty and the Bryers over the years... it was really well made, and VERY good.

Haha after that, a few people chanted: Speech, speech, speech!!! So, Mr. Bryer took the mike, haha and said "um.. do I need this?" haha cus he could speak loudly. Everyone laughed, and Mr. Bryer was like, "I heard that haha" to some kid who said something. He spoke while Mrs. Bryer continued to wipe her tears.. of joy... thanking us for what we had done... how we, the students had brightened their lives as we had brightened theirs... about how he felt that we were all Peter Pans... and would stay the same age that we were when we graduated, though they knew this wasn't true... and how he was truly moved, happy, and thankful. I think his voice softened a few times... the reason being that he was as touched as Mrs. Bryer was, and so happy that he was close to shdding tears of joy =)

Then Mrs. Bryer took the mike. She had calmed down enough to speak, and continued on what Mr. Bryer said, thanking us and telling us how much she appreciated everything that was done, there and over the years... how their past students in college and etc had also attended the event... how she and Mr. Bryer would talk about their students at home... how despite being old, seeing all of the kids energized her husband and herself... and that though they may be exhausted by the end of the day, it was a good tired... She broke down a bit at the end, and wiped her eyes as she sat down.

Haha so just when things were settling down a bit, a lady wheeled out a table with two big cakes on it!!! =) The Bryers stepped onto the stage, met with their teacher friends and approached the cake. Then, all of us mobbed towards the steps, into a line where we waited to meet, one by one, with the Bryers to say a few words.

The line was slow, but it was nice. I talked to some of my friends. EE (girl), HG (who was high haha. She poked me like crazy at one point, and leaned her head of me and other ppl), EE (boy), AZ, AH (who slapped NU a few times playfully hard on the arm for joking about how Mrs. Bryer was a bit of a boring teacher compared to the comical Mr. Bryer), and a few other people.

Staying in the line was kinda fun, and some unexpected things happened. Haha the slapping thing and the leaning head thing, on my shoulder and back, which really made my heart beat fast (lol nervous when anything like that happens... how I react to girls sometimes... ^^") I already mentioned. A Sun (her real last name, which I typed cuz I might not know who I'm talking about if I read this poste again since I don't know her very well) wrapped her arms around me and said "guess who!?" haha which was a nice surprise. Ahh it was nice. We all talked, made some jokes, and had a good time together.

Haha when we got to the front of the line, I saw my friend YI hug Mr. Bryer. Haha she's so light. Mr. Bryer actaully picked her up off the ground, and I think that was what YI was going for too. Haha I saw a few other kids say some words to Mr. and Mrs. Bryer and hug and give them handshakes too. When nodoby went up to Mr. Bryer, someone pushed me out. haha :D. I walked up to him smiling, and we shook hands. He said something like, "Keep it up Nick, good luck in life!" Happy to hear his words, I said "Thank you! Thank you for teaching all of us!"

Then, after waiting for a few people to finish talking to Mrs. Bryer with EE (girl) who soon joined me in waiting, I walked up to her and got a hug. Haha I admit I was dissapointed when Mr. Bryer didn't give me a hug, though I didn't expect one from either of them since I wasn't a close student with them, but since other people got hugs, I was kinda expectant and envious I guess ^^". But that feeling went away after Mrs. Bryer's hug. Haha I think she said "thank you, have a happy life." I told her "thank you, I hope you have a happy life too!"

Then, I walked up to the table, and got a piece of cake. Haha when my friends and I headed out to the commons, we all had fun talking... and putting icing on each other's faces hahahaha. We had to wash it off in the bathrooms. LOL plus, our mouths were green from the icing :D.

Afterwards, we all had some fun talking, walking around inside and outside, and more. Haha Me, EE (girl) and HG went outside and found EE (boy)... with HG's bag!!! hahaha He had taken it. Lol it was by lucky chance that we went outside and noticed him hahaha. The four of us eventaully went inside and played around in the pit. Soon, EE (girl) had to leave, and I thought the other two were starting to leave too, so I said bye, and headed to my bag.

Then she appeared with a friend of hers. Who is "she"? Well, who else but XG! XD Haha I passed by her and patted her on the shoulder friendily, and walked away... only to hear her coming up behind me!!! hahaha I thought this might've happened, but I thought it was unlikely hahaha. She was like "touch my arm ehhh??" hahaha joking and smiling, but still on her way to kick or beat me haha playfully, but playfully painful nevertheless hahaha. And so, I ran! XD hahaha It's been a while since I've had XG chase me around like that ^^. It was fun. I avoided some of her kicks as usual, and was able to avoid a few direct hits though still got hit lightly-ish hahaha. I stayed with her for a little bit. Haha while her friend was on the phone, I used her as a shield as XG was chasing me, spinning her around as XG tried to come around her to get to me hahaha. XG's friend didn't mind. Speaking of XG's friend, I think I met her before, which made me feel awkward for not recognizing her, and for saying "nice to meet you" when I left.

Haha soon, I separated from XG and her friend to call my mom. After I ahd done that, I spent the time that my mom takes to pick me up to get alex back for kicking me. I sneaked up behind her and poker her sides haha. Afterwards, she and her friend talked about the friend's powerpoint or "powderpoint" (inside joke I didn't understand). During that time, I covered XG with her friend's jacket whick she jokingly said was diseased. I said "well now you have the disease!!! :D" as I covered her head with it. Lol She playfully tried to scratch me like a kitty haha, and I did what my friends do and turned off her compy screen and tried to unplug stuff lololol.

Oh! She was wearing a really bright yellow shirt today!!! It was nice!!!! =) Haha apparently, her friends forced her to get it at the mall one day. I'm glad they did, she needs more bright clothes :). Haha so, I checked the time, and realized it was time to go, so I said good bye and left the library. Me and HG (who was with EE (boy); I thought they had left, guess not ^^") waved at eachother on my way out and I went home, content with my time aftershool that day... with the surprise gift for the Bryers, and my fun time with my friends after school =)