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yelled.
    “Well, it’s true,” she said. “It’s just part of growing up. Don’t you want to mature?”
    “Yes, I want to mature. I don’t want to be called a baby anymore. It’s just that I don’t want to discuss my maturing with my mom,” I said.
    “Oh, for heaven’s sake, don’t be silly,” she said.
    That night at dinner, my mom had to bring it up again. “Honey,” she said to Dad, “can you take off work a little early on Friday? Raymond has his maturation program at school.”
    From the look on Dad’s face, he was more nervous than I was. “Oooh, I, uh . . . aren’t they a little young for this? Or isn’t this something you would like to go to, dear?” Dad said.
    “No, I think this would be a nice father-and-son activity,” Mom answered.
    “What’s the big deal?” Geri snorted. “They’re just going to tell you that you’re a little dork now and soon you’ll be a big dork.” Mom gave her a dirty look.
    “I’ll be there, pal,” Dad said to me, smiling, though he still looked a little nervous. My dad’s a great guy. He loves to play catch with me, take me fishing, and all that fun stuff. But when it comes to having to talk about serious things, he’d rather leave that to my mom.
    The week flew by, and in no time at all it was Friday. All day, Graham was excited about the maturation program and couldn’t wait for it to start. Deep down, I think he still thought that going to the meeting would make him more mature. We ended our dance practice early so we would be finished in time for the program.
    We left the lunchroom where we practiced and walked quietly back to our classroom. I could smell old-lady perfume on my arm where Mrs. Gibson and I had to swing around.
    Within a few minutes, parents started to arrive for the program. As they showed up, Mrs. Gibson had them stand in the back of the class until it was time to start. The girls were having their program in the library, and we were having ours in the auditorium. Within a few minutes, almost every parent was there, except mine. It was almost time to go, and my dad still hadn’t arrived.
    “Okay, girls,” Mrs. Gibson said. “Why don’t you show your mothers down to the library?” They all stood up and filed out of the room.
    I looked out the door and down the hall, but there was still no sign of my dad. This would actually be perfect if he didn’t show up. I could still learn all the stuff about being mature, but I wouldn’t have to sit next to my dad and be embarrassed.
    “Okay, boys,” Mrs. Gibson said. “Your turn. You can show your fathers, or whoever came with you, to the auditorium.” We all got up and headed down the hall. I followed the pack and sat in the back row. Graham was pulling his dad up to the front so he wouldn’t miss anything. Graham’s dad was also short. He was bald on top with a thick ring of red hair around the sides of his head.
    A lady in a white nurse uniform walked onto the stage. “Hello, I want to welcome everyone to the maturation program,” she said. “My name is Nurse Suzanne. I work for the school district. And today—”
    “Excuse me,” interrupted a loud voice from the doorway. “Raymond, are you in here?”
    I know that voice, I thought to myself. It was Gramps! I couldn’t believe it. I stood up and waved to him.
    “Sorry I’m late, everyone,” Gramps said, even louder than before. “Have I missed anything?”
    “You’re just in time,” Nurse Suzanne said. “We’re about to begin.”
    “Wonderful,” Gramps said, making his way to an empty seat next to me. “Raymond’s dad is stuck in a meeting, so his mother called me. She thought Raymond would feel more comfortable with a man—even an old man.” Gramps laughed. “Although I see you are a woman and you’re teaching the class, so maybe it would be fine if Raymond’s mother—”
    “Gramps, just sit down,” I interrupted, pulling his arm. He stopped talking and sat down next to me.
    “Howdy, partner,”