May 30th 2017

"Are you ready for the big day?" Kristina asked Max as she helped him get his graduation gown on.

"I don't think Dad should be the one to give me my diploma. That would be bias." Max said, trying to fidget out of his graduation cap.

"There is nothing to worry about. Then don't think about him as 'Dad', think of him as 'Headmaster Braverman.' I still can't believe this Max. You are graduating high school. I am so proud of you."

"Okay." Max said, and then he left them room. A few hours later, he was shown his seat in the order of people who will be receiving their diploma.

"I want to go first." Max requested.

"You can't do that." Adam explained, "it is in alphabetical order."

"Yes, but if it weren't for me, this school wouldn't exist. You would probably be working at that stupid water job."

"Good point, but it still isn't fair to all the other kids." Adam said, "you will being going when it is your turn, just like all the other kids."

"Fine." Max said, sitting down in his seat. More and more people piled into the auditorium, and soon it was time for the graduation to start.

"I would like to thank everyone for coming out for another graduation this year." Headmaster Braverman said, once everyone got quiet. "It has really been an awesome this year, and it has really been an honor to work with all this great kids." He looked down into the rows of kids with their blue gowns on and saw his son sitting in his seat fidgeting and not paying attention. "This really is a special graduation for me. My son, Max Braverman, was really who inspired up to come up with Chambers Academy and if it weren't for him, I don't think I would be able to work with any of these kids and come to a job I really love every day. That is why I would like my son, Max, to be the first person to walk across the stage this year and represent this years class of graduates."

Max looked up with shock and smiled. He hurried over to wear his dad was standing. "You told me I wasn't going to go first. You lied."

Adam chuckled, mostly to himself. "I guess you were right. You deserve this." He handed Max his high school diploma and shook his hand. There weren't many moments in his life that made Adam any prouder.

He glanced over and saw his family, all his siblings and in-laws there to support Max. As Max walked across he leaped with joy, happy to be done with high school.

Max walked over to where all of his family was standing and held up his diploma.
"Good job Max. I am so proud you." His grandmother said giving him a hug.

"Thank you Grandma." He said. He walked over to his mom and gave her a hug. "You are a cool Mom. Thank you for helping me."

This whole moment quickly brought tears to Kristina's eyes. She hugged her son back.

June 20th 2017

Ever since his high school graduation, Max spent most of his time taking random pictures and hanging in his room.

"What are we going to do?" Adam said to his wife one morning when they were having breakfast. "He needs to start moving onto the next steps of life."

"He is having a great time taking pictures." Kristina defended, "I don't think there is anything we really need to work on right now. I mean, we just got him through high school."

"Yes, and after high school comes college, and a job, and moving into his own place."

She looked somewhat surprised by what Adam was saying. "Do you really think he is ready for all that? We are barley done getting Haddie through college. Do you think we can do that all over again?"

"I think he needs to find a full time job for now." Adam said. "As his dad and his headmaster I need to help make sure he is successful post high school."

That afternoon, while Max was reading a book, Adam and Kristina knocked on his bedroom door. "Can we come in?" Max's mom asked.

"Am I in trouble?" He asked, "You typically both come to talk to me when I did something wrong, and I know I have done nothing wrong."

Adam laughed, entering the room. "No bud, you haven't done anything wrong. We just want to talk to you. Can you put down the book?"

Max set down the book. "I guess I can spare a few minutes."

"Look," Kristina said, "We are both very, very proud of what you have accomplished this year, and we are excited for you to accomplish more. Typically after someone finishes high school, there are two choices for him or her. Either they go to college, or get a job. So your dad and I were talking and I think you should get a job, that would pay you and you would go to everyday."

"Like at Uncle Hank and Aunt Sarah's wedding?" He asked.

"Well I'm not sure it would be in photography, but maybe. If that is what works out." Adam said.

"Fine." Max said, before picking up his book again.

"Fine?" Adam asked.

"I will look for a job."

It wasn't even a few hours after Max had the talk with his parents that he called his Uncle.

"Hi Hank. My parents want me to get a job. I want to work at your studio and take pictures. Will you be able to give me a job?"

"Oh wow. So they don't want you to be a freeloader anymore." Hank said, "well okay. I think so. I am not sure. We do have a lot of work coming up soon, and it has been a lot of me to balance. Okay. I will give you one job, and we will see how you do at that. Okay?"

"Ok thank you." Max said and hung up the phone. Quickly, he marched downstairs. "I work for Hank now. He is going to give me one of his photo-shoots, and he said if I do a good job at it, he will give me more."

"Max! That is great." Adam said, clearly vey excited. "I think that might be the quickest job search ever."

Max didn't really listen to what his dad had to say. "Okay. I need to go focus on my new employment."