When Michael’s dad doesn’t come to his graduation because he’s taking his stepson, Tommy, to the zoo, Michael gets upset. He decides to teach his dad a lesson. He plans a special dinner but things don’t go as expected.
I felt really sad when my dad, Henry, didn’t show up for my graduation. Since my parents got divorced when I was young, Dad started a new family with Sandra and her son, Tommy. I understood that he had to spend time with them too, but I felt left out.
Dad promised he’d be at my graduation, but then he called and said he couldn’t make it because Tommy needed him. I was disappointed but also mad. I wanted him to be proud of me too. During the graduation ceremony, I saw other kids with their families and wished my dad was there. I decided to do something about it.
I planned a dinner at home, inviting Dad, Sandra, and Tommy. I wanted to tell Dad how his absence made me feel. As we sat down to eat, I stood up to talk.
I told them how I missed Dad being there for important moments in my life. Dad looked sad when he heard this. He said he realized he had missed a lot of time with me. Sandra tried to defend him, but Dad admitted he should have balanced his time better between me and Tommy.
After that, Dad planned a special trip just for us. We spent time together, and I felt hopeful that things would get better between us. I learned that talking about our feelings can help solve problems. And Dad learned how important it is to be there for me too.