Finding Ben's Dad

Ben was a boy who grew up without a dad. He knew he had one, because he remembered when he was little being on his knee. He remembered a big mustache and that was about it. When he was four his dad left and he heard from him no more.

Ben was raised by his mother and his older brothers. He is sweet and good natured, only slightly afraid of social settings. He moved to my high school when I was in eighth grade. I met him two years later and thought he was awesome. Ben always looked for a father figure. Our English teacher made him try hard and didn't let him get away with less. Ben admired him and said that he wished his dad was like him.

I started dating Ben and learned as much as he knew about his father. He met my step-dad, the tough yet loving dad of mine. He admired John and respected him a lot. He told me that John was like a father to him as well.

Ben graduated high school. The only one out of his siblings to accomplish this. He wished he could let his dad know. He wanted to tell him that he had made it fine and was going to college. I looked over the internet for days and only found where he lived 4 years prior.

Last night Ben and I talked on the phone. We discussed how he was transferring from community college to University. He mentioned his dad again. I hopped on the computer and started to search. He did as well. Ben found his dad and I found his brother.

His dad is a teacher in Texas and his brother is in the national guard. He sent an e-mail to both of them and now we await replies.

This makes me think of how sad it is to grow up without a father and to know you have a sibling somewhere. Any parent that leaves a kid behind isn't helping the kid. No matter how much you think the kid is better off without you, they aren't. The kids feel like they are forgotten and left behind. Letters show that you care. People seem to have forgotten the power of words.

I hope his dad says he is sorry. I hope Ben forgives him. I'm glad Ben has found his dad.