I thought I had received the full measure of what that day was going to give me, and it was already more than I could hold.

Chapter 13 — One Final Presentation

I was wiping my eyes and getting ready to fight the crowd to reach them when the dean stepped back up to the microphone.

“Before we conclude today’s ceremony,” he said, “we have one final presentation.”

I did not think anything of it.

Some award, I assumed, some scholarship, some piece of business that happens at the end of these things.