Page 88 of Beautiful Small Things
I can’t help but smirk as I continue. “As I was saying, this started out trying to understand what makes someone like my father, who likely could have played professional football, put himself through the grueling process of becoming a physician. And not just any physician, but one so well respected, that this committee would be remiss not to award him with this honor.”
I look around the room and see captive eyes staring back at me.
“What I learned is this. Marcus Sinclair’s greatest motivating factor in life can be summed up in one word: Love.”
My fathers smiles as the corners of his eyes well with tears.
“From the time he was a small child, he wanted to make people around him happy. He loved to make people happy, sometimes to his own detriment.”
“You got that right,” Grandpa Sinclairs offers, eliciting more chuckles.
“Who knew this family had so many comedians?” I ask, and my Dad laughs and tips his glass at me, prompting me to continue.
“As Marcus grew, his love for Callan and Nolan motivated most of his choices.”
I look at Uncle Callan’s parents and see their eyes tear with emotion as his mother places her hand over her heart.
“First, as becoming the anchor Uncle Callan could lean on when the waters of life were too rough to stand on his own. Then, as someone who turned his life into an unrelenting pursuit of helping children find a cure for cancer, a tribute to Uncle Nolan.”
The last of the emotional holdouts have now given up, and everyone is crying, sniffles filling the room.
“As my father grew into adulthood, his love for two women made him want to be the best version of himself. Me and Jem. He altered his entire life for me, and let’s be honest, he didn’t have to do that. Not all parents would.”
I take the opportunity to smile directly at my Dad, who is squeezing Jem so hard she might explode.
“At one point, he even pushed the love of his life away in order to make sure she realized her childhood dream. That one was a selfless love. But look how things have worked out,” I say, making a sweeping motion across the room. “He has created a successful life with that very same woman. A woman I would very much like to call ‘Mom.”
Jem’s hand shoots to her mouth, and she nods furiously.
“Throughout this process, I have learned how important love is. It’s not always rational, and that’s what makes it special. It isn’t quantifiable, and yet it’s completely tangible. The love my father has for people inspires me to love hard, as well. I was recently talking to my boyfriend about it—“
I’m cut off as I expected I would be. I watch the flurry of activity from the small crowd.
My father starts first. “Boyfriend? What boyfriend? Who is she talking about?”
Orion takes a step back and to the side, effectively hiding behind his father, who is laughing hysterically into his closed fist.
Jem looks at Marcus through tears.“ She called me Mom!”
My father ignores this for the more pressing issues at hand. “What is happening right now?”
My mom answers, “It’s Orion, you idiot.”
All of the grandparents laugh as if my father always had this cosmically coming to him for the things he’s put them all through.
“Where is Orion?” My father says, looking around wildly. “Why are you laughing, Callan? Did you know about this, Fucker?”
Uncle Callan flashes him a peace sign, and my dad turns beat red with ire.
“Oh, it’s on, Brother,” he snaps.
“It’s just so deserving and ironic,” Callan says through guffaws.
Forced to clink on the glass again, I speak over them. “Everyone, please focus.”
A hush falls over them as I finish.
“So I’d like to thank my father for the love he embodies and the lives he has touched with it. Congratulations on what I’m sure will be a forthcoming award. And congratulations to my mom on continuing to seek out happiness through her first love and sharing it with others.”
