15 years Later
"Dad! Stop fumbling with your tie and let's get going! We're going to end up sitting way in the back if we don't leave soon!" A bright-eyed 9 year old little girl yelled from the bottom of the stairs. She grabbed her jacket off the couch and tapped her foot impatiently.
Sonny was fidgeting with his tie, and Will was rubbing circles on his back, trying to calm him. Jax was 18 years old and he was graduating from high school today. Neither man was quite ready to see that happen. Will walked to Sonny and adjusted his tie and gave him a small peck on his lips. "You will be ok babe. We'll get through it together," he whispered, already starting to get misty eyed.
"Dad! Daddy! You two, let's GO!" They heard again from the bottom of the stairs."We're going to be late!"
The two chuckled. "She's definitely yours Will." Sonny sighed, hugging his husband tightly.
"I don't know, she's bossy like her dad." Will teased.
Sonny smiled and kissed Will fervently. "But she's beautiful like her daddy,"he said into Will's lips. They reluctantly broke apart and headed down the stairs hoping to appease their very anxious and impatient daughter.
Janelle Alexander Horton-Kiriakis was born to Will and surrogate mother Alexandra. The two had met while Will was finishing up his Economics degree at Salem U and had hit it off. All 3 of them, actually. It always felt like they had been friends for much longer than they actually had. Will and Sonny trusted her implicitly. She would baby-sit Jax so the boys could go out and then when the time was right, they asked her to be a surrogate for them. She quickly and eagerly agreed.
"Danielle, honey, are you ready?" Sonny asked as he walked into their youngest daughter's room. She was dressed in a pink frilly dress, and he laughed when she spun around, seeing it puff out like a cloud around her.
"I love you Daddy!" She said as the dark haired 4 year old bounded into Sonny's arms.
"I love you too princess." Danielle had been abandoned as a new born at the local emergency room, and Will's aunt Kayla thought she looked just like Sonny. Kayla was right. As Danielle had grown, she seemed to mirror her Daddy more and more even without a blood connection. The couple felt so lucky to be blessed with such wonderful children, and they were particularly grateful that Kayla thought of them when that little dark-haired baby arrived at the hospital all alone. It was because of her that they had this beautiful 4 year old little girl in their lives.
Sonny walked out of Danielle's bedroom and grabbed Will's hand, tears streaming down his cheeks. "When did he grow up Will? Only yesterday he was my little 3 year old starting food fights. Today, he becomes a man."
"He IS a man already, Son, and he's a strong, kind, joyful one at that. This shouldn't make you sad; this should make you proud."
"Oh, trust me, I am proud. I just…sometimes I wish I could get some of those old times back. He was my last link to Janice, and now I can't help but feel like I'm losing that, too."
The couple walked out of their 2-story white house, accompanied by their delightful and very different daughters, and headed for the high school to watch their only son graduate.
Will checked his mirrors and backed out of the drive way. The two heard this song come on the radio and there were so many emotions going through them, they didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
I turned on the evening news.
Saw an old man being interviewed.
Turning a hundred and two today
Both men knew this song well. It was very popular when they were younger. Now, in their 40's they knew the meaning all too well. They looked at each other, while a curious Janelle watched their interaction. Danny was oblivious, though, sitting in her car seat, babbling away, in her own little world. Sonny looked down at his lap while Will focused on the road and wished his tears away.
Asked him what's the secret to life
He looked up from his old pipe, laughed and said:
"Don't blink. Just like that you're 6 years old and you take a nap
and you wake up and you're 25, your high school sweetheart becomes your wife.
Don't blink, you just might miss your babies growing like mine did
turning into moms and dads
next thing you know your better half of 50 years
is there in bed, you pray God takes you instead
trust me friend, a hundred years goes faster than you think.
Don't blink"
Janelle continued to watch them intently, and she wanted to ask why they were crying over a song. In her mind, it was pretty, but she didn't really understand what the guy in the song was saying. She leaned her head to the side and watched as her dad reached out, took her daddy's hand and give it a squeeze.
"We blinked Will" Sonny whispered through his tears. "How could we blink?"
I was glued to my TV, when it looked like he looked at me
and said, "Best start putting first things first
cause when the hour glass runs out of sand
you can't flip it over and start again.
Take every breath God gives you for what it's worth."
Will looked at Sonny, then back to the road. "We didn't blink Sonny. We gave him our best. Just somewhere along the way, he grew up. The girls will too. But we prepared him Son. He's ready to go out into the world and be himself." Will said, and squeezed Sonny's hand one more time.
The two sang with the radio:
"Don't blink, just like that you're 6 years old and you take a nap
and you wake up and you're 25, your high school sweet heart becomes your wife
don't blink, you just might miss your babies growing like mine did,
turning into moms and dads,
next thing you know your better half of 50 years is there in bed
you pray that God takes you instead,
trust me friend, a hundred years goes faster than you think.
Don't blink"
Tears ran down their faces, realizing that they're soon going to send their son off to College. He had planned to go to Salem U, but Mass had a better program for Electrical Engineering, so Jax would be going out of state. Something that neither father was ready to hear when he broke the news.
"So I've been trying to slow it down
been trying to take it in.
in this here today gone tomorrow world we're living in.
So don't blink cause just like that you're 6 years old and you take a nap.
Wake up and you're 25, your high school sweet heart becomes your wife.
Don't blink, you just might miss your babies growing like mine did
becoming moms and dads, nest thing you know
your better half of 50 years, is there in bed, and you pray God takes you instead.
So don't blink."
The song ended, Will turned down the volume and the van remained quiet until they got to the high school. When Will grabbed Danny, he gave her a big hug and kiss, which tickled her neck and she squealed with joy. Will sighed, "Jaxon used to make that sound all the time! I miss it." He smiled thinking about the day Jax "informed" them that Jax, Jaxy were gone; Jaxon was what he preferred and wanted to be called from now on.
Sonny opened the door for Janelle and grabbed her hand. She tugged his shirt with her other, "Dad, why did that song make you cry?"
"Because not too long ago, I was given a beautiful baby boy. He grew up into the wonderful, protective big brother you have now. And now he's graduating from high school. Then, I was given a gorgeous little girl. She is an amazing, smart, generous, funny, caring little girl. And just when we thought we were done with our family, we met another beautiful little girl who is now a sweet, affectionate, carefree princess. My babies are growing up before my eyes, sweets. And I love youall so much. I know it should make me happy, but I can't help being a little sad knowing that someday you and Danny will graduate and go off to college, too. It won't be long before Daddy and I will be alone again." He lifted Janelle up and hugged her tight. She hugged him back just as tightly. Sonny felt calmer than he had all day.
"I love you dad. I may grow up and graduate like Jaxon, but I'll never leave you and Daddy." She said and kissed his cheek.
"I love you too Janelle. Never, huh? We'll see about that," he chuckled. "Now, let's say we go see this boy graduate."
The four of them met Will's parents and Sonny's parents, who were already in the stadium waiting for them to show up. Thank goodness they had saved seats, as the Horton-Kiriakis family just made it in time for the start of the ceremony. Janelle hugged them all and sat between her Grandma Sami and daddy. But Danielle, she was a daddy's girl. She kissed her "Gemmas" and sat comfortably on Sonny's lap.
They heard "Pomp and Circumstance" and everyone stood as all of the graduates, looking smart in their dark green robes, came walking into the stadium and stood before their chairs.
"Please rise and remove your hats as Salem High-School's ROTC Color Guard presents our nation's colors." Roman Brady said. Everyone in the stadium stood as the ROTC Color Guard came out carrying their flags.
"I pledge Allegiance to the flag, of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
"You may be seated." Roman said. "When Principal Johnson broke her ankle and informed us she would not be able to attend tonight's ceremony, I was the first to volunteer.Just as this is a special day for all of you, it is for me as well. My great grandson, Jaxon Eowin Horton-Kiriakis is graduating with this class and I'm so very proud of him."
Janelle yelled "Yay Jaxon" and the crowd laughed.
"And that is one of my wonderful great-granddaughters." He gave them all a wide smile."As is tradition, I was asked to make a speech, and if you know me, I'm not one for speeches, so I'm going to read a poem instead. One by Dr. Seuss, one of my favorite authors and a very wise man." He looked up from the podium as most of the crowd smiled at him.
"Oh, the Places You'll Go!
Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.
You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care.
About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there."
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.
And you may not find any
you'll want to go down.
In that case, of course,
you'll head straight out of town.
It's opener there
in the wide open air.
Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.
And when things start to happen,
don't worry. Don't stew.
Just go right along.
You'll start happening too.
OH!
THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!
Roman continued reading until he reached this passage. He stopped, looked up and out into the chairs to meet the eyes of his great-grandson, and continued on:
You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.
Some windows are lighted. But mostly they're darked.
A place you could sprain both you elbow and chin!
Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?
How much can you lose? How much can you win?
And IF you go in, should you turn left or right...
or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?
Or go around back and sneak in from behind?
Simple it's not, I'm afraid you will find,
for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.
You can get so confused
that you'll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
The Waiting Place...
...for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or waiting around for a Yes or a No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.
Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting.
NO!
That's not for you!
As Roman got to the end of the book, he paused to look at all the graduates before him. He read the last words with immense emotion.
You'll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You'll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life's
a Great Balancing Act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.
And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3 / 4 percent guaranteed.)
KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!
And the auditorium erupted with applause.
So...
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
you're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So...get on your way!
"Now with great pleasure, let's start handing out diplomas." Roman wiped a couple tears from his eyes and stood in front of the podium.
For the next few minutes they all clapped for their son's classmates and friends as they walked across the stage. When their son's name was called, they were on their feet clapping, screaming, crying, laughing all at the same time. Jaxon turned to the audience to spot his fathers and gave them 2 thumbs up. He proudly switched his tassel to the other side of his cap and walked off the stage.
"Congratulations, may I give you, Salem High's class of 2028." Cheers filled the stadium as beach balls were tossed overhead and silly string fights broke out amongst the group.
The group was dismissed and Jaxon couldn't wait to find his family and hug his sisters. He would miss them terribly when he left for college. He almost didn't go to Mass because of that. But he knew this program was the best for him, and that his family would visit as much as possible. He needed to do this for himself.
Sonny and Will hugged him tight when they were finally reunited. "We are so proud of you, you know that? Your whole family here is just beaming with pride," Sonny held Jaxon at arms-length when he said these next words to him."You have become an amazing young man. We are so lucky to be your parents." All three had tears in their eyes.
"Dad, daddy," he began. "I want to thank you for giving me this" he said as he motioned his arms around "a family. I don't remember my mom, but you've kept her memory alive, and I know she was here today because I felt her through you. You took me in when you didn't have to. You embraced us all as one big, united family. I hope when I become a father one day, I will be half as good to my children as you have been to me – to us. I love you."
Jaxon hugged them both. Gone was the child of yester year, here was their grown man of today. They all cried even more. "You will be son."
Will choked out, "Just remember not to blink. Enjoy each and every precious moment you have. And then one day, you too might have a wonderful child who is just like his Daddy."
"Enough crying everyone! It's time to celebrate!" Janelle's outburst made everyone laugh.
"Yeah," chimed in Danielle. "So, do we get cake?" which made the entire Horton-Kiriakis clan laugh even harder.
"How did we ever get so lucky?" Sonny asked Will as he wrapped his arm around his husband's waist and headed back to their car.
"Because we deserve it, Son, we made this happen. The past helped shape who we are, but we created this amazing life here in the present. As for the future, as long as we're together, anything is possible."