“Drop me, please! I don’t want your filthy van to ruin my clothing. Please, Dad, don’t come at all. When her father, a coal miner, offered to drive her to her graduation, Sabrina lost it. Pete, however, arrived at the location and took a seat in the parent’s sitting area because he couldn’t miss such a significant occasion in his daughter’s life. “Miss Sabrina Parker is our next caller,” the host declared. With his phone in hand, Pete hurried to the front to begin shooting while Sabrina accepted her diploma. When Sabrina saw her dad, she became enraged, but he was overjoyed. The host said, “Mr. Parker, can we please have you on the stage,” just as Sabrina heard it. When Sabrina saw her dad approach the podium, she was shocked and confused about what was happening.
Love, respect, and understanding should be the defining characteristics of a parent-child relationship. Regrettably, there are times when kids grow up feeling ashamed of their parents because they don’t drive a fancy car, are distant, or don’t work at a profession that they consider “respectable.”
This frequently results in tense relationships and complicated feelings.
The 18-year-old Sabrina heard the front door open while she was speaking on the phone with a friend. It was Pete, her father, a coal miner. The young woman didn’t want her dad to hear her chatting about her impending graduation, so she quickly cut the discussion short. She didn’t want him to go since she thought her friends would make fun of her appearance due to his “dirty” appearance.
Grinning, Pete came inside the house with two parcels in his hands. He placed the parcels on the table and said he had a gift for Sabrina.
Pete has supported his daughter ever since she lost her mother. He was aware of her and had always honored her privacy.
Although Sabrina was grateful for the gifts, she never thought her father deserving of her attention because of the blackened skin on his face and hands from the coal. She even forbade him from touching her belongings.
She opened one of the packages, curious to see what was inside, and saw a stunning garment. She noticed a suit as she opened the other. She questioned her dad, perplexed, why there was a suit there.
“It’s for me, darling! I need to look fantastic.After all, it’s your graduation! Pete exclaimed joyfully.
When Sabrina heard these remarks, she became irritated and bit her lip. She said, “Dad, I don’t want you to come,” and threw the gift. I’ll be there with all of my buddies and their parents. Please, I don’t want them to make fun of me when they see you.
Pete was absolutely stunned. He was unaware that his daughter thought so little of him.
“What did you say?” he inquired, perplexed.
“Dad, the dads of my friends come from reputable families. They all appear to be celebrities and are wealthy. I hope you understand that I don’t want you standing among them looking like a…like a mess. Your grimy hands and face give away that you are a coal miner to everybody, regardless of how beautifully you dress. I want them to stop making fun of me. Would you kindly not attend my graduation?
These were like a dagger to my skin.
Then Sabrina thanked him for the dress and shut the door behind her as she went into her room.
Pete wasn’t angry; he was just devastated. Even though he realized his daughter was too young to really comprehend the significance of the things she said, he nevertheless made the decision to go to her graduation, hoping she would have a change of heart.
Pete asked his daughter if he could drop her off at the venue on the big day, but she responded that was not necessary. Pete assured her that everything was OK and wished her a fantastic evening.
Sabrina turned to him before they left the house, saying, “And dad, don’t come, okay? I’m hoping you won’t. Goodbye, and see you later!
But Pete changed into his clothes after she left. On a milestone this significant, there was no change that he was missing.
Soon later, Pete arrived at the location and made himself comfortable in the parent’s area. He waited impatiently for Sabrina to pick up her medal, cheering the classmates as they took theirs.
“Miss Sabrina Parker is our next caller,” the host declared.
Pete went to the front and began recording his girlfriend. When he saw him, Sabrina was taken aback, but he was ecstatic.
“Well done, sweetheart!” Pete yelled. “I’m very happy for you!”
However, Sabrina’s answer was anything but joyful. She groaned and joined her pals instead of grinning. She was eager for the ceremony to finish so she could speak with her father.
“Mr. Parker, can we please have you on the stage?” the host said abruptly.
This made her feel even more anxious.
Gratitude, Mr. Lauren! Good evening, gentlemen and ladies. “When he took the mic,” Pete said. “Please, could you give us the slideshow?”
The hall darkened and the projector came to life, shocking both Sabrina and the audience. Pete had made a heartfelt film that featured special moments with Sabrina from her early years to the night of her graduation. He had scheduled a meeting with the principal and staff before the ceremony to go over his strategy for surprising his daughter. So he got special authorization to pull off the surprise right after Sabrina picked up her diploma.
“I cherish my daughter. I’m so proud of you, Sabrina. If your mother were here now, I hope she would be just as proud. Emma, you may see for yourself if you happen to be here! You said that I couldn’t raise my kid by myself, yet right now, I feel more proud than any other father in the world. Congratulations, Sabrina.We succeeded!
Sabrina was moved by the video and her dad’s remarks. She approached her dad on stage and gave him a hug, breaking down in happy emotions. “Dad, thank you so much! I apologize,” she uttered.
After the evening, while driving home, Pete made the decision that it was time to tell his daughter the truth. He waited for her to turn eighteen, until she was mature enough to deal with the truth.
He turned to Sabrina and, with a surge of confidence, told her that her mother wasn’t dead. She was in the same town and yet alive.
Sabrina nearly passed out. She found it incomprehensible that her father would deceive her for such a long time about something.
Pete said, “Her mother never wanted her,” with tears in his eyes. She intended to give Sabrina up for adoption and leave her behind when she became pregnant. She admitted that Pete wasn’t even the baby’s biological father when Pete warned her not to do it, but she still offered him the opportunity to take her in and raise her if he wanted to—as long as he continued to believe that her mother had passed away.
Before Sabrina’s mother filed for divorce, Pete made the decision to adopt her as his own since he couldn’t allow her to wind up in foster care or be adopted by total strangers.
“I was unable to see you as the kid of another person. Pete sobbed, “You were my universe and you are everything to me now.
“You’re not my biological father?” Sabrina enquired once more, seeking to confirm Pete’s statement.
“Darling, even though I’m not your biological father, my love for you doesn’t diminish.” Ignore what I just said. Regardless of everything, you will always be MY DAUGHTER.
I apologize, father. I’m embarrassed of myself for causing you pain. I didn’t realize the sacrifices you made for me when I called you “smelly” and “dirty”. If you hadn’t stood up for me and reared me, what would have happened to me? Please pardon me.
Pete and Sabrina never discussed her mother again after that. They made the decision to put the past behind them. But Sabrina was never ashamed of her dad again after that. Conversely, she couldn’t be more pleased. Her father was Pete, who reared her. Calling him dad made her happy.
