Authors Note: Thank you everyone for reviewing the story! I really appreciate all of the positive feedback that I am getting, please keep in coming. I am so happy that you are enjoying this story. I hope you like the next chapter.
Chapter 2:
The black material felt like silk against Chandler's body. Looking at himself in the mirror, he fixed his graduation cap. June 27th – Graduation Day. There were times throughout the year where he had felt as if the day was never going to come. It took a lot of hard work and persistence to be standing in his cap and gown today. This year had caused much growing within him that he was not the same goofy person that was depicted in the yearbook.
From the corner of his eye, Chandler glanced at the empty crib. Nora had taken his two-month-old daughter, Madison, out for walk to the great relief of Chandler. The floor squeaked beneath him as Chandler walked across the room to get Madison's diaper back.
"Chandler, we're home." Nora's voice called from the bottom of the stairs, "We really should be leaving soon, come down!"
Hearing the sense of urgency that was normally not present in his mother's voice, caused Chandler to glance down at his watch. "Shit." Chandler cursed to himself grabbing the last of his belongings before running down the stairs. They only had twenty minutes to get the school before the ceremony began.
Tears filled up in Nora's eyes when she saw her son in his cap and gown. Although he was an adult already, this was one of the symbols of adulthood. Her only baby was growing up, and fast. "You look so handsome." Nora cried out giving Chandler a hug.
A small smile spread across Chandler's face, "Don't cry, mom." Nora forced a smile dabbing her eyes so that her make-up would not run. She took the diaper bag off of Chandler's shoulder. Quietly Chandler followed her out of the house pushing a stroller. The ten-minute car ride to the school was silent because Nora did not have to tell Chandler that she was proud of him, he already knew.
"Good luck." Nora whispered as she entered the auditorium with Chandler.
"Thanks." Chandler replied, his blue eyes filled with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. There was a part of him that did not want to go up on the stage to his accept his diploma in front of his classmates. He was the outsider, and always was, but even more since he had a baby. Everyone turned against him; they made him believe that he was the bad one for wanting to keep his child. The teachers were tougher on him and Chandler knew that they disapproved of the decision that he made. There were so many students who had abortions, that the school knew about and even more that the school did not know, and it bothered him that they made a spectacle out of him keeping his child. In the beginning a huge bit of him was angry at the decision that he made, angry about the decision that his mother made him make, but now he was glad that he made that decision. Chandler kissed the top of Madison's head and then to Nora's pleasant surprise kissed her on the cheek. "Thanks, for everything." Chandler stated before he walked up the aisle to his rightful place amongst his classmates.
Holding Madison's baby carrier, Nora walked her way over to where the other parents were sitting. Her face began to turn red as other parents began to stare her down. However, she did let them get to her. She would watch her son graduate no matter what. Nora looked around for a familiar face to sit next to, however the ceremony was just beginning so she quickly sat in the closest available seat. As she placed the baby carrier between her feet on the floor she glanced at her granddaughter who was peacefully sleeping while sucking on her pacifier. A fuzzy warmth began to fill up inside of Nora as she turned her attention to the stage.
Not saying a word, Chandler sat in his seat boiling up with anger due to his classmates' quiet chatter while the principal was talking. They were talking about him and even worse they were calling his daughter a "mistake." Other people may have viewed his daughter as a mistake, but neither her nor his mother ever thought that. Madison was gift from Heaven, sent down by God to bless their family, and she did just that. The teenager inside of Chandler wanted to fight them back, but the man inside of him made him hold back. He did not want to cause a scene in front of over a hundred people, and even more importantly in front of his family.
Finally, the moment arrived, "Chandler M. Bing." Upon hearing his name proudly Chandler walked up to receive his diploma. Although he knew that the audience was not clapping for him, he didn't care because he saw his mother stand up and take about a dozen blinding snap shots of him. He had beat all odds and done it, he graduated from high school. Now his next task was to graduate college while still being the best father that he could be to Madison.