My Son Walked Across the Graduation Stage Wearing a Bright Red Dress While Hundreds of People Laughed. I Was the Only Person in the Auditorium Who Knew Why.

The locket was wrapped.

The wrap was taped.

He had written on the tape, in pencil, For Mom, so I would not drop it without knowing it was meant.

“If they boo,” he said, “don’t stand up.

Let me finish the aisle.”

“I can’t promise that.”