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Sunday 09:25 a.m. May, 1988
Marla sat in the third row at the aisle seat so that she would have a good view of her graduating son and also keep one eye on the entrance. She knew it was a long shot; but every-now-and-then miracles did happen; Jacob could show up. If Jacob Ellis showed up, that would indeed be a miracle.
"Is he here? Did you see him yet?" Jayden surprised her coming to greet her in the audience.
"Jayden, you're supposed to be backstage lining up." She reprimanded him gently even though she couldn't help but smiling at him. He was adorable all dressed up in his yellow-golden gown with his graduating cap on.
"I want to know mom; is my daddy here?" He asked again. He swiped at the annoying tassel that dangled before his face jiggling this way and that. Marla hid a chaste smile.
"Oh honey… what am I; chop liver?" She couldn't help but teasing her son as she pinched at his cheeks.
"Mom…" He protested feigning embarrassment.
"Ahem… I know… I know… you're a big boy…" she said patting him on the small of his back. Then she said: "I don't think he's going to be able to make it." She was barely able to maintain eye contact with him. His disappointed expression tore at her heartstrings. She wanted to take him into her arms, but she knew that he was at the age where he didn't want to be perceived as a baby and this wasn't the right place for that.
"Hmm, are we having chop liver for dinner?" She asked and it worked as a small smile broke out over his face.
"Eww, I hate liver! We're not having liver for dinner, are we? Eww…" He protested while frowning. He was easily distracted at remembering the taste of liver.
"Hurry, Jayden… Don't make your classmates wait…" She said gently stroking his back and resisting the urge to squeeze him tightly in her arms. Now was the perfect time to send him away; while he was smiling and remembering that he hated liver. As soon as his back turned towards her, the teardrops fell and she quickly blinked them away.
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"Smile Jayden, smile for mommy…" Marla encouraged after the ceremony had concluded and her little kindergarten graduate stood proudly in his little yellow cap and gown holding up his tiny diploma in his hands. He offered a broad but toothless smile as his front baby teeth had all fallen out making room for his new ones. CLICK-CLICK-CLICK… Marla busily snapped up pictures on her disposable 35 mm camera. She suddenly looked around the hall noticing all of the other little graduates who were busy about with both of their parents smiling, taking pictures and making a small fuss over their little graduates' big day. No wonder Jayden had become so obsessed with knowing his father. It certainly would be hard not to notice so many kids calling out "daddy". The fathers were proudly picking up their children, carrying them in their arms while hugging them warmly. She wanted to pick up Jayden, but she knew he would protest and assert that he was a big boy. She couldn't help but wonder if he would protest as hard if his father was here?