“Everyone in town will be filming you. People will post it online. You’ll be a joke before the ceremony is even over.”
Eli looked at him.
“Then they can laugh.”
Mark shook his head.
“No son of mine is doing this.”
The kitchen went silent.
Eli’s expression hardened.
“Then maybe don’t come.”
Mark stared at him.
“Excuse me?”
“If you’re going to be ashamed of me, don’t come.”
Mark left the room.
Three days later, he told us he wouldn’t attend.
I thought he would change his mind.
He didn’t.
Then the school called.
The assistant principal used careful language.
She said administration had heard a “rumor” about Eli’s graduation plans.
She said the school respected his grief.
She said they understood the emotional circumstances.
Then came the word I knew was coming.
However.
Would Eli consider honoring Maya in another way?
A photograph.
A ribbon.
A flower.
Perhaps a brief mention during the ceremony.
