on top of Vanessa？s building； but he was no
artist and his water tower looked more like a giant acorn。 If only he were allowed to use his phone
during exams。 He could call the Evergreen admissions office and let them know he wasn？t
ing。
Instead； he tried to rework the opening segment of his graduation speech in the last few pages of
his blue book。
Ladies and gentlemen； thank you for attending this year？s mencement exercises for the
Riverside Preparatory School for Boys。 You must be very proud of your sons？so proud that you
are giving them exactly what they wanted for graduation； right？（Pause for laughter。）
Anyway； I？m honored to be the graduation speaker this year。 I？d like to start out by reading from
a Robert Frost poem。
Two roads diverged in a wood； and I？
I took the one less traveled by；
And that has made all the difference。
This is a popular quote for graduation speeches。 I know； because I Googled it。 （Pause for
laughter。）It？s ironic； though； because how many of us are actually taking the road less traveled？
（Pause for awkward silence。）Well； I am。 And here？s how I？m going to do it： I？m going to follow
my heart？
The little white egg…shaped egg timer on Ms。 Solomon？s desk went off。 ？Put down your pencils；
please；？ she announced。
Dan looked up with a dazed expression。 As usual； he？d gotten carried away。
？Didn？t finish the exam； huh？？ Chuck Bass snickered to his left。 Seniors were allowed to break
dress code for exams； and Chuck had chosen to wear a bright yellow cut…up Dolce & Gabbana
sleeveless shirt that was somehow more revealing than if he hadn？t worn a shirt at all。
Dan glared at him。 Was it possi