Hijo

First thing he did was to get a face towel from their China cabinet/mini closet. He wiped snot numbered one.

"Nathan...this is your first day in school. Be neat, be nice and share what you have."

"I'm a bit afraid, Dad." Nathan said while bowing his head.

"What are you afraid of? Come on! It will be fun! Trust me."

"They might bully me and get my baon and after that they might place me inside a garbage can and tell the teacher that I'm not going to school anymore." Nathan was getting nearly teary-eyed.

"You'll do fine. No one will get your baon. And for the record, if someone will ever do that to you, you know I'm here." He embraced him ever so tightly, ever so secure, ever so affectionate and ever so concern. He loves him dearly and he too, was starting to get teary-eyed. He was more afraid than his son actually.

Can you imagine? The first day of school and it's all upwards from here. Next thing Drake knows is that Nathan will be settling in with someone. Separation anxiety of a parent.

Drake gave out a long sigh.

After combing his son's still-thin hair and putting powder on his face, chest and back, he stood back and evaluated his styling er, grooming.

"You look adorable, baby!" He wasn't exaggerating. Or maybe he was.



"Dad!!! I'm not a baby anymore! And I told you to not call me that anymore, hmp." He pouted his lips.

"Sorry, sorry, dude." He apologized and brushed the excess powder from his child's nape and forehead.

Drake looked at the time and sprang with astonishment. He scooted his child towards the dining table and served him a very hearty breakfast. One fit for a king. Well, a preschooler king for now.

"I have to get myself ready for work too! Give me ten minutes, kiddo." He grabbed a bagel from the microwave and popped them in his mouth. Mmm...chewy. Another fail with that wretched appliance. Drake-0, microwave-3.

Within ten minutes he was able to dash upstairs, take a bath, groom his face,  don his clothes, spray a little perfume, get his car keys and dash downstairs.

"Come on, come on. Let's go. You'll be late." He opened the door for them and proceeded to their porch.

Click. The door was locked and they were now heading towards the car in the garage.

A few walks and...

"Oh shoot! Nathan, we forgot your baon! No wonder I felt something missing. I'll get it inside the house and you go in the car."

"Oh Dad, you're getting more forgetful." Nathan said it with a smile.

Drake winked and dashed inside.

He  panicked and opened cupboard after cupboard looking for a nutritious meal for his growing boy. He was nearly down to the last cupboard when at last, a small box of cereals. This would suffice. He thought to himself. He grabbed his son's newly bought lunch box with a sticker of a smiling cartoon character on it. Nathan loves this cartoon so much, he can't live a day without watching an episode of this. He forgot the name, after all, when you lived in the era of The Care Bears, He-man, She-ra and Dinosaucers, you're bound to forget other cartoons. Or he's just getting old. Or forgetful like what his son said.

Anyway, he grabbed the lunch box, made a mad dash towards the car, stuck the key and off they went.

The school wasn't far from their home. Ten minutes away if you start with opening the garage door and getting in the car. It's a small preschool run by nuns.

The car finally made a screech and not a minute too soon! The students were all lined up all dolled-up and groomed to their best. Not a candy or chocolate stain in sight. For now.

Nathan stepped out, cautiously and  slowly. He felt nervous but excited at the same time. And finally, he went down completely from his car seat and started walking to the crowd of tykes and tots - yearning for education. The first step into maturity.

And his son was finally casted into the sea of children.

With a slight lump in Drake's throat, he meekly said to his growing son: "Make me proud."






Final Part