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Talena

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Saturday was a beautiful day; an end-of-summer type day where the first hint of autumn steals the sting from the heat and fills the air with a crisp new hope. It was a good day for the first home football game of the season. A good day for a dad and his son.

Roger was taking pictures of our high school team's premier. Demario was excited to be going along. The bleachers were packed with the yearly crowd of parents, grandparents and those who just plain loved the game. Old conversations were picked up where they left off in winter, old friendships were renewed through the chatter and the evaluation of the team's chances to take the state title for the second year in a row. Our very own small town legends of the fall took to the field and did what they had done together since they were very small boys... They played the game.

At the edge of the onlookers sat Demario, taking in the smell of concessions and the laughter of the crowd. Taking in his very first time of watching his dad cover a game, taking in his first experience of watching the mighty Mustangs play. His eyes were wide with the anticipation of it all, his heart beat to the tune of the band and raced with the sound of talent in motion.

Nearby, there were others who also had not been to this place before. Janet was a single mom and a proud one too. Her son was a freshman this year, this was her first time to see the team he spoke of over the dinner table with so much pride. She spotted his number on the sidelines, and though she knew he likely would not get to play, she was elated at the chance to be here cheering for him as he cheered on the starting line-up. And right beside her on the bleachers, cracking her gum and twirling a lock of hair with her finger, sat Talena. Somehow this day began to erase a thousand painful ones that had come before it and dried a thousand tears that had been cried.

Four years ago, Janet had been a drug addict and her husband had gone to prison. Janet had lost custody of all four of her children. Three years ago, she got them back from social services on the promise to the judge of weekly drug testing and a myriad of her own promises - made in the ears of sleeping babies - that she would do better this time. Two years ago, her oldest daughter had run away amidst torrid rumors to live the life her mother had left behind. Last year, Janet's second daughter had entered high school and been honored for her ambition and asked to speak at a leadership conference. Janet had gotten a job she liked. Her son took an interest in athletics. Talena made it through the school year without being sent to the principal's office even once, and although she still didn't have any friends, she seemed a bit more contented than before. Four years ago, Janet had lost it all, but now it seemed like it was coming back bit by bit.

The copyright of the article Talena in Multicultural Family is owned by Susan Culver. Permission to republish Talena in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.