Cross Your Heart and Hope to Die

Anthony Masterson has broken a promise for the last time.

In a moment he describes as "misguided," Masterson promised to join a group of college friends at Medieval Times, a Reformation-themed restaurant where diners are wowed by live jousting, dressage routines, and a hefty pile of salted meats.

The dinner outing marked a very special occasion, a (read: my) birthday, and attendance was mandatory. In an effort to discourage any last minute cancelations, the guests agreed to an unusual stipulation: All no-shows must retake the S.A.T.

"I knew I was in for it," Masterson admits in a phone interview on Thursday. The twenty-something's work schedule in Virginia delayed his arrival in New York by two hours; he did not stand a chance of making it to the joust. More than five years and one college degree later, and Masterson's fate was once again nestled in the hands of the College Board.

The test was administered the following morning; Masterson completed it in a little over two hours. "It was tougher this time around," he concedes. "Math is hard!"

The S.A.T is a roller coaster of emotional peaks and valleys for students of all ages. When the pencils are down and the battle is done, one timeless lesson still rings true: The S.A.T can change a man. When asked if he learned anything from his punishment, Masterson holds a long, thoughtful pause. "In many ways, I'm happy it happened. It made me think a lot about keeping my word. And, you know, about honor and justice and what it means to be a good human being. I'm thinking about becoming a teacher."

Luckily, he is not thinking about becoming a college freshman. Math and Verbal sections combined, Masterson scored a 960, well below the national average.

"Math is hard!"

AHF