"Ronald Seaver, Bachelor of Science. Minor: Theology. Honor Roll."

Astrea Starr, clad in traditional black cap and gown, looked out over the auditorium, trying to see where parents were, where her sister was, where Jason was.

She had at first been mildly disappointed that she was graduating midyear, until she remembered she was graduating - the first in her family to do so! She had worked for so long toward this day - dropping out to take care of her mother when she fell ill, starting a career, re-enrolling and taking night classes!

Some days it had felt like this day would never come. Like it was a far-off dream, never to be fully grasped.

"Steven B. Spencer, Bachelor of Business Administration."

She remembered being lectured by Mr. Findlay, her boss at the Smithsonian, on how her career path was pretty much frozen without a degree. Her father talking to her calmly but firmly, saying that she had to grab the few opportunities that came her way. Her mother's insistence that she was bound for a different life.

"Astrea Starr, Bachelor of History. Minor: Astronomy.

"Honor Roll."

The rest of the ceremony had been a blur. Dr. Cleveland Archer (Jason's uncle!) had been the commencement speaker and had done a fine job, by all accounts. She hadn't meant to be rude and tune him out but she had found her family in the audience - their loud cheers as she accepted her diploma assured that. It was all she could do to keep watching them - oh, they wore their pride on their sleeves!

She couldn't help but think of how much they had sacrificed to get her to this point, too. All the science fairs and bake sales and late nights staying up to help her with homework.

This was a family graduating.

Her father was proud to be a police officer, pround of her sister Athena as well. But he had always said that two officers in the family were enough - Astrea was meant for something else.

Astrea worried how Athena might react to all this... Athena, who had put up with years and years of Astrea's late-night studying and astronomy projects, who had taught her to read and do fractions, who had tossed the baseball around with her kid sister when no-one else was around.

She felt vaguely guilty of even thinking it, but... would Athena be... jealous?

Astrea made her way through the crowd, looking for -

"Astrea! Congratulations!"

"Mr. Findlay!" She threw her arms around his neck. "Thank you for coming!"

"Congratulations, dear."

She looked up.

"Ruth?"

Ruth MacCorkindale? The Cork? She came?

Astrea! Don't be rude! she scolded herself.

"Ruth! Thank you for coming!"

Weird - Ruth seemed genuinely happy for her. That is, didn't Ruth used to... hate her or something?

"Mind if I hug my daughter?"

"Daddy!" She threw her arms around his neck, and he, his around her.

"Oh, honey, I am so proud of you! We both are!"

Tears began to run down Astrea's cheek.

"Thanks, Dad," she whispered.

"Come here, sweetie."

"Awww, Mom!" Astrea hugged her hard as she could. "Kind of makes all those bake sales worth it, huh?"

"Ohh, yes," her mother smiled.

"Hey. Astie-e-e-e-e!"

Athena Starr practically knocked over her sister!

"Lookitchu-u-u-u. Ha ha! A graduate! Oh, I am so proud of you!"

Astrea smiled - so much for "jealous".

While her father was shaking hands with Mr. Findlay and her mother was chatting with Ruth, the sisters touched noses.

"And I - honesty - could not have made it without you. Love you."

Suddenly she looked up... and standing patiently several steps behind her sister was a good-looking man in a gray suit.

"Jason!"

They embraced and kissed, locking lips just long enough so as not to embarrass the parents.

"You did it, hon," Jason smiled.

"Betta watch out, Jase - your marryin' a college graduate!"

"Corissa! Onalee! Charity!" Astrea gasped. "You didn't have to - !"

"Aw, come on!" Onalee grinned. "We're your friends, sistah!"

"Hello, girls. Astrea didn't say you'd be coming," Frank said.

"We're going to Giordano's for dinner," his wife piped up. "Would you like to join us?"

Amid the chorus of excited acceptances (who ever knew Onalee to turn down a free meal? Astrea smiled) Frank sighed and turned to Mr. Findlay and Ruth.

"How about it, Arthur? Ruth? We'd love to have you join us."

Ruth deferred to her boss.

"Well, I don't want to intrude on a family occasion... "

"For all you've done? You're as much family as these girls," he winked, indicating Astrea's friends.

The girls just giggled.

"Oh, yes, please come - both of you," Astrea said. "It wouldn't be the same without you."

"Well..." Findlay looked from Astrea to her father and back to Astrea again. "All right, then."

"Good! Glad to have you!" Frank beamed while mentally counting up... let's see, there were ten now... was he missing anyone?

"Astrea. Congratulations, my dear."

The day's featured speaker shook her hand warmly.

"Mr. and Mrs. Starr," Jason spoke up quickly, "Athena, Onalee, Charity and Corissa, Mr. Findlay and Ms. MacCorkindale - Doctor Cleveland Archer.

"My uncle," he added with a smile.

"Quite an introduction, my boy," Dr. Archer smiled. "Yes, we-hell, it's been awhile, hasn't it?"

"Yessir."

"Doctor," Mr. Starr took his hand. "That was quite a speech. I concur wholeheartedly."

Dr. Archer, crator of the InstaCool beverage dispenser and the famed Archer line of home computers, among other things, looked pleased. He had spoken for fifteen minutes to the graduating class at Howard, about how one should never apologize for their African-American traits, but always strive to show by example just what African-Americans were capable of.

He leaned in close to Frank. "I'm glad you do, sir - it was your daughter who was one of my inspirations."

Now it was Frank Starr who beamed.

"Would you like to join us? For dinner?"

"Ah. Thank you, but no. I can't. Meeting with some potential clients, you know."

He turned to the Starrs. "We'll meet again, I'm sure."

"All right, everyone! Giordano's! Everyone know where it is?"

After a chorus of answers in the affirmative, the group made its way to their cars.

Astrea and Jason walked with the Starrs.

"How does it feel, honey? To be first in the family with a degree?"

Astrea paused.

"You know, Mom, to be honest, it feels terrific - yet at the same time...

"Well, I'm going right back to school again. It seems that I'm... heck, I don't know!"

"They can never take it away from you," her mother said firmly. "You earned it. But now you've got a chance at a Master's degree - a Master's! On scholarship!"

She patted her daughter's shoulder. "I am so very, very proud of you - we all are. I know it must be a little difficult going to night school when you just want to relax with your friends after work. I know it must wear on you at times. But I am so proud of you for making that choice."

Astrea's face grew warm. Her mother was proud - she was positively bursting with pride.

Just imagine if she knew what Astrea really did with her spare time.

"Thanks, Mom. You too, Dad, Athena... Jason.

"You're all... so much a part of me... " she choked, then blew her nose.

"Heh-hey, no tears," Frank said good-naturedly. "I'm gonna have a hard enough time offering a toast tonight."

He handed his daughter his handkerchief.

"Swap you. For your cell phone."

Astrea handed it over, her eyes questioning.

"Forgot," he smiled, pressing the keys. "Have to increase the number on our reservations some."