Margaret Walks Across the High School Stage on a Warm June Morning
“It does,” Arthur said. “The state guidelines are very clear about public access to these ceremonies, and Vance knows I have the paperwork to prove it.”
At the double doors, a young man in a yellow security vest stood with his arms crossed, his eyes scanning the tickets with a weary indifference. When I held mine out, he took it, looked at my face, and then immediately looked down at a worn yellow legal pad resting on a metal folding table.
“I have a list here, ma’am,” the guard said, his voice dropping to a low murmur as he pointed a stubby finger at the top line of the page. “I was told to look out for Margaret Miller.”
Arthur stepped forward, his leather shoes making a sharp, clean sound on the polished concrete floor. He reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a clean white envelope, sliding a folded document from it with a single, practiced movement of his thumb.
“This is an official notification of a pending ethics inquiry from the state licensing board,” Arthur said, holding the paper so the guard could see the blue state seal. “It has been delivered to Principal Vance’s office, and a copy is currently registered with the county sheriff.”
