These teens could have been like countless other teens, playing in the streets, dating, partying, shooting hoops, out making mischief or giving their parents a hard time about not buying them useless luxuries like video games, game consoles, clothes, shoes and all of the amenities that made one popular as a with their friends. Instead they slaved hard in the summer making their own money so as not to be any more of a big burden on their parents than they had to be. Who wouldn't be proud of them? Watching these two kids come out to work was truly a breath of fresh air from the usual. Who wouldn't admire and respect what these two teens were doing especially when they could be out somewhere enjoying their summer vacation.
Jayden could feel his father's breath against his skin. Jacob was now standing less than fourteen inches face-to-face with whom he now knew was his biological son. Their eyes avoided making contact with each other but kept bumping into each other's gaze at the same time. It was awkward to say the least as father and son stood face-to-face for the very first time. There were no words that immediately came to mind for either of the two, so they stood there just looking and not looking at the other one.
Jacob had never imagined that something like this could happen. He had never imagined that he would ever meet his son this way. He had never imagined meeting him at all or even thought of what he would want to say to this child that he had left behind in order to live his life.
He started with Jayden's hair. It was dark, thick and curled real tight against his head. He knew right away that Jayden had inherited his tightly woven hair. Marla's hair was soft and fine like baby's hair with waves in it. He also had his broad forehead and classic African nose that set prominently in the middle of his face begging for attention. Jayden' hazel brown eyes mirrored his own, with even the crinkling at the sides that gave him a youthful look. He peered deep into his son's eyes trying to find a trace of his mother, but there was none. Even though he had seen the boy thousands of times over the years; this was the first time that he had ever really seen this child before- his child- his son. Suddenly he wondered why he had never noticed how much this child took after his own father whom he resembled also.
"Say something?" Jayden uneasily requested growing nervous under his gaze. He wanted to know what he was thinking and how he was feeling. He wondered how the man felt to realize that all these years his son had been serving not only him but also at times his family too. How did it feel living for the sake of another man's children yet abandoning your own? How did it feel to live life happily and without a conscience of leaving a son behind? How did it feel to live life well and then see your own son struggling to make a way for himself in this cold, hard and cruel world?