Even
though I've been disqualified from extracurricular activities,
including wrestling, I had been on the varsity team so they invited
me to senior recognition nigh. It was an event held in the gym where
we were all getting some made up award, even and especially if we
weren't very good. The fact of the matter was that most of us weren't
very good, we were terrible so there was no shortage of creativity in
finding some exotic thing to praise and put on a plaque. I told my
parents about this Wednesday night activity weeks in advance so they
can come support me in my moment of wrestling glory. When the night
came they had both forgotten, made other plans or something. Long
story short - I go to wrestling recognition night alone with my
girlfriend. After a speech from the coach about how great we were
they called everybody up on the mat to receive their awards. They
said the biggest contributor to a kid's success, the main thing, is
always the sacrifice their parents have made. Then the coach went on
to talk about the unsung glory of moms bringing kids to wrestling and
washing their clothes and making sure they were taken care of and how
that leads to their success. All the while I stood out there the only
kid out of the 12 seniors without a parent. It was humiliating and
embarrassing that I was the only guy that was stand out there alone
because my parents were too busy to support me. I was obviously
squirmy and self-conscious when we were to give the flowers that the
coaches had supplied for us to our mom as a tribute of gratitude for
all the hard work they put into our success. My friend Quin's mom was
there and alone and rescued me by coming to stand me with her son and
she got to roses out of it. They gave me an award for most improved
wrestler. Which is an old chestnut of the backhanded compliment
award. You did suck worse, but now you don't suck as much, hooray! I
collected my little plaque and collected my girlfriend and I went
home. I can't really remember what my parents were doing at night, I
think it had to do with my dad working and my mom was at a church
activity. Either way, we could definitely say that my success or
failure in wrestling could not be chalked up to the unending devotion
and dedication of my doting parents.
