Quiet in the room, the MC said, "The hall has approximately 15,000 kids. It is one of the biggest national schools in Cancer City."
The director welcomed all parents for joining and jokingly said, "We are going to surprise those who pass their exams, and those who fail, watch out! Whoever fails will be bitten by a puppy."
We all laughed, but Jude said, "Who said education is everything?"
I poked his nose and told him, "Don't say that, my son. You're too young. Study hard so that in the future you can be great."
"Like Jude said, 'Be great like you or Grandpa?'"
I became very hostile, but I calmed my voice.
"Now, it is time for the students to represent themselves and say what they want to be when they grow up."
A very large line formed. All the chosen students had one minute to talk.
Then, on the line, I could not see Jude, but I saw Ashley.
Jude was the last to represent.
"Ashley, well represent," I said.
Ashley stood up and said, "My name is Ashley William. Ash stands for strength, and Ley means protection and healing. I am proud of my dad, my family, and the school in full."
"When I grow up, I don't want to be rich."
The people in the hall stayed quiet.
Ashley smiled and said, "I want to be healthy, have a good life, and die without regrets, because happy are the people with good health."
The crowd clapped happily and said, "Who is that child? A born genius!"
A few moments later, Jude appeared at the podium from nowhere. We knew he was next.
And now, the MC said, "Let's welcome the last child."
The room went quiet, and Jude started his speech.
"Good afternoon, everyone, fellow students and parents. My name is Jude William. Jude means 'praised leader,' as my name symbolizes. I am not born to be weak, as some lunatics said before."
People started looking at each other and saying, "What does he mean by lunatics?"
Jude said, "Don't get me wrong. I didn't mean to offend anyone."
Ashley tried to whisper to him, telling him, "Please stop," with a funny face. "Don't embarrass Dad."
He continued and said, "I am very happy to be born into a rich family which doesn't care about him."
"Family, today, this… I really don't know my grandpa. My grandpa Dad always tells us fairy tales. I don't even know if he had a brother. At least, I could have called him Uncle."
The crowd started talking, and this could have been a bad story, leading to my company shares going down.
Angrily, I went to the podium with heavy hostility in my chest.
But before I could reach the podium, a phone rang.
"Hello, sir. Your wife is in pain."
My wife took the phone and said, "My husband, please save me. I am in a lot of pain. I feel I could die at any moment."
In the moment of commotion, Ashley said, "The same person smiling, Dad. See the person I was talking about."
I dropped into my thoughts. I could not think straight.
Was I to save my company shares by going to the podium to clarify things, or first rush to save my wife?