Colossal Youth

- A quote from Kerouac's novel Big Sur

has stuck with me.

"Something good will come out of all things yet,

"and it will be golden and eternal just like that."

I believe this.

Nobody knows what the future has in store

and that's what's exciting.

Years from now these times will on tattered memories,

so I'm gonna enjoy the present.

Hey dad.

So I'm a senior now and no offense

but it's a little embarrassing

driving to school with your dad.

So I was thinking, I could use a car.

You know to save any ounce of coolness that I have.

I'm not gonna get a girl.

Yeah.

- Ryder, come eat your breakfast.

Coming dad.

Let's do this.

So proud.

Look at this Roy, our senior.

I made your favorite Ryder.

Scrambled eggs and sausage.

Thanks mom.

- You know, he's a senior now but he's still a dork.

- Lizzie if we don't have anything nice to say,

we don't say it.

- Thanks for the vote of confidence small fry.

My pleasure.

- Son, you know if you play your cards right

that swimming scholarship is in the bag.

All the colleges are gonna be calling you.

Now get your food scarfed down so we can get out of here,

we're running late.

- Well, this being my senior year and all.

No offense to you, but it's a little humiliating

driving to school with your dad.

You know to keep any ounce of coolness,

potentially get a date.

Keep dreaming.

The way I see it,

if you're too embarrassed

to ride to school with your old man,

then you're gonna have to ride the bus like everybody else.

I'll see you at school son.

See you later.

- Come on Lizzie, let's go.

Here you go son.

No way, that's mine?

- Honey, with this being your senior year,

your dad and I thought you should have your own car.

Wow.

Finally.

What do you think?

This is perfect.

It's all yours.

Oh man .

- '67 Chevelle, it's a work in progress just like you.

I got a heck of a deal on this son

and you're not gonna have to car pool

with the old man anymore.

- No, it's perfect dad, thank you.

Enjoy it son.

Hey Erica, check me out.

Where'd you get this?

- Old man Roy finally broke down.

Surprised me with a car this morning.

No way.

That's awesome.

Come in.

Your chariot awaits.

- Thank you for saving me from starting senior year

with one of those torturous bus rides.

Since my oh so loving boyfriend Greg, is a no show.

What are friends for huh?

- I'll look out for y'all all right?

All right.

- Laters. - Bye.

Go get 'em.

Hey Greg,

What!

You got a car?

1967 Chevelle.

Oh my god, that is so sick.

So cool man.

Way better.

Dude you gotta take me for a spin.

I will, I will.

Erica baby.

Where were you this morning?

- I, sorry babe, I couldn't pick you up,

I got a thing and then caught up.

- You could've at least texted me.

Lucky for you I didn't have to take the bus.

- Hey thank you so much for picking up Erica bro,

I owe you one.

Yeah, no problem, go get her.

Erica babe.

Hey Jordan.

Hey guys, what's up?

- Nothing much just ready to kick

this school year off right. - What's up man?

- How it's going? - How you feeling?

Good enough.

Hey Jordan.

How's it going Erica?

Yo, I got a car.

No way man, that's awesome.

Thanks man.

- This is it guys, we rule the school.

One more year in this shit hole.

- Dude I can't wait, I'm so ready.

Finally senior year.

- "The future is no more uncertain than the present." Right?

You know, Walt Whitman, the poet?

- No, I don't read that man.

- Anyway I gotta get to class, I don't wanna be late.

Bye. - All right, bye.

- Yo, what you get in first period?

Principal.

Students.

- Hagerson. - Hagerson.

- That's Principal Hagerson to you.

And Ryder, I've had a very interesting conversation

with your father this morning.

And you know the subject.

So don't screw this up.

- Did you see the suits he's got with him?

He's got undercover cops at the school.

I wouldn't surprised if the son of a bitch

installed cameras everywhere too.

To do what?

So he could keep us in a secret massive control room,

feed us propaganda everyday?

1984, big brother.

- Yeah I don't. - Let's--

Really, oh my god.

Ryder.

Later bro.

Good luck.

- I didn't see your name on the sign up sheet.

Hey coach, yeah I figured

with this being my senior year and all,

I'd focus on my studies.

Ryder don't quit on me now.

We need you on the free relay team.

You're our anchor.

Get your paperwork in today for registration.

Okay, sorry.

So Siobhan, I see you're back.

- Yeah Blaine, Catholic school's a bitch.

Like this is any better.

- Yeah, Hagerson's got all these suits walking around.

Definitely gonna have to lay low this year.

Yeah I saw that.

What are you doing after school?

Hello.

All right, take a seat.

Good morning, hello class.

What's up dude?

Here comes trouble.

Seniors 2016.

I am Mr. De La Vega.

Accent on the De La.

So before we get into this years syllabus,

first I wanna read a few lines

from your summer reading novel,

I hope some of you read it.

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, James Joyce.

"Once upon a time and a very good time it was,

"there was a moocow coming down along the road

"and this moocow that was coming down along the road

"met a nicens little boy named baby tuckoo.

"His father told him that story.

"His father looked at him through a glass.

"He had a hairy face.

"He was baby tuckoo.

"The moocow came down the road where Betty Byrne lived.

"She sold lemon platt."

Can anybody tell me what's going on here?

Why does it sound so erratic?

Yes Miss--

Erica, Severson.

- Miss Severson you have the floor.

- The book starts with Steven Dedalus's father

telling him the story of the baby tuckoo and the moocow

and Steven identifies himself with the baby tuckoo,

because he's young and innocent

and hasn't really found himself yet in society.

Hence why he sounds erratic.

Excellent Erica, thank you.

So I believe that this quote,

accurately describes everybody in this room.

Of course I'm sure,

everyone here doesn't sound so erratic right?

But everybody in this room

is trying to find himself or herself in society.

This is an important transitional time for all of you.

After graduation some of you are gonna go on to college.