“You saved these?”
A woman probably my age laughed through tears and told him, “Of course we did.”
At some point, somebody began singing Happy Birthday, and the whole crowd joined in.
It was off-key, loud, and perfect.
He cried through the entire thing.
When the song ended, the principal tried to hand him a microphone, but Mr. Walter shook his head hard.
“No speeches,” he said, and everyone laughed.
But then the crowd parted a little.
Hannah’s Box
The woman Linda had introduced to me as Hannah stepped forward, still holding the wrapped box.
Mr. Walter looked confused, just like the rest of us.
Linda touched his arm gently. “Walter, this is Hannah.”
Hannah’s voice shook when she spoke. “I don’t know if you remember my name.”
He frowned softly. “Should I?”
She took a breath. “I think… I think you and your wife once tried to adopt me.”
The entire lot went silent.
You could actually feel the silence spread.
Mr. Walter stared at her.
She continued, her words trembling now. “I was around six years old. I don’t remember much. But when I got older, I learned there had been a couple who wanted me before everything fell through. I spent years trying to find out who you were.”
