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I’m sitting on my hands, trying to keep the excitement inside me. How much longer will I have to wait? I’m longing to stand up and say the words I’ve written. Maybe I should sneak across to Principal Sloane and ask him how long. “Don’t be inappropriate, Casey.” I tell myself, sounding out the long word just as Mom would. “Keep calm.” I twist in my seat, trying to spot Mom in the crowd that fills the school hall. All around, people are rustling their programs, chatting quietly and clearing their throats. I can’t see her and stand for a better look. “Sit down. Casey.” My friend Jess pulls my skirt. “It’s about to begin.”
“I’d like to welcome you all to our graduation ceremony.” As Principal Sloane speaks, I run my thumb down the program. He explained to me that he would call me up after Helen’s dance. I pull a pencil stub from my pocket and as each item is announced, I cross it off. Soon it will be my turn. I’m so happy he has chosen me to say something. I know I’m not as clever as most of the kids at the school, that I look different to them, but that’s alright. I hug myself, smiling in anticipation.
“Casey Williams. Will you come and join me on stage.” As I walk up, I listen to what he is saying about me. “Casey is one of the pupils who will be graduating today. She has worked hard to get to this place and has faced many challenges in her school career. I’ve asked her to share the story of how she lives her life with such confidence.”
He lowers the microphone stand to my level and shakes my hand before moving off the stage. “Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I’m happy to be here tonight. To tell my story.” As I look across the rows of people, I see questions in their eyes. Surprise that I am standing up there and not their son or daughter. No matter. I am used to the looks and the stares.
I continue my speech. “I was born with Down’s Syndrome. I know some people feel sorry for me, but it’s not that bad. I work hard at school and Principal Sloane helped me choose subjects that I’m good at.” I giggle. “I failed math every year until he told me I didn’t have to do it anymore.” The crowd relaxes a little and smiles at me. I smile back as I search for my place in my notes. “The story I want to tell you is in a special book my mother made for me.” I raise my eyes again and search the crowd for Mom. This is a surprise for her as well as everyone else. At last I spot her and she waves with her fingers. Encouraging. Smiling and nodding across the rows.
“Sammy.” I look over to my brother, the one who helped me put this together. “Please put my book up on the screen.” Someone dims the lights and there I am as a baby. Cuddled in Mom’s caring arms, my face squashed into a frown. I read the words underneath. “You created me; you put me together in my mother’s womb.” Sam flicks on to the next picture; me as a short, stubby toddler, with yellow braids and a puppy in my arms. “You are God’s workmanship.”
Page by page, I read my story to the crowd. The words which Mom took from the Bible and wove into my life. The words she read to me day after day. The words which have helped me believe in myself and the work God has prepared for me to do.
As the lights come back on, I look across the crowd. Their faces look happier now, though some of the ladies are clutching tissues. It feels like what Mom would call a ‘God moment’. A moment where she would pray and thank our Heavenly Father. I close my eyes. “Thank you Lord, for letting me tell my story today. Thank you that I wasn’t ina-ppro-pri-ate. Please will you show everyone how much you love them and give them a story to share as well. Amen.”
*****
Captions from book based on Psalm 139:13 and Ephesians 2:10
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