by Avery Cloward

Created on: June 08, 2008   Last Updated: August 12, 2008

It was June 17th, in the year 2007. I rushed around the house, wondering what on earth I could do. I hadn't the faintest idea what on earth I could give him on this memorable day.

I hadn't even begun planning, and today was the day. I scurried around, hoping to find something-anything-to give him. What do you give a father who always tells you that he "doesn't want anything" and that "he doesn't need anything"? He said all he wanted was a card.

A card! I knew that would not do. I had to give him something.

Distraught, I sat down on the sofa and searched my brain for an idea. My sister came and stood infront of me, with an equally exasperated look showing plainly in her eyes.

"Can't find anything either?" I questioned, hoping that if she had found something, there was,
perhaps, hope for me as well. My elder sister shook her head despondently, and plopped down on the couch beside me.

"We could make him cookies." She suggested with a tone that implied forced enthusiasm. Dad loved cookies, but Mom always made him cookies, and that would be nothing special. I wanted something special, and, from the way she looked back and forth around the room, I could tell that Alina wanted to get him something extraordinary as well.

Suddenly, she bolted up from the couch, and looked at me eagerly, a bright smile painted all over her face. "I am brilliant!" She exclaimed happily.

"What?" I asked, curious at to what she had found. She grabbed my arm and, before I knew it, we were at a small shop, searching through papers and more papers.

"Exactly what are we looking for?" I asked, still not quite understanding her hurried explanation of her "brilliant" idea.

"Paper. One that looks like a certificate." Easy enough. We separated and soon I found a nice pack of elaborately decorated paper with a clear space in the middle, made for graduation diplomas.

"Perfect." She said in a satisfied tone of voice. We went back home, and I watched as she typed away on the computer. My eyes were glued to the screen as she typed three words that, right when my eyes focused on them, proved to me that she was, at that moment, one of the most brilliant people that ever lived.

GREATEST FATHER AWARD

The words were large and embellished, and they seemed to speak. Alina continued to write:
This award is hereby presented to:

DAVIS JOHN CLOWARD

I caught on to what she was doing, and offered helpful suggestions, and she and I finally put together a simple but effective sentence that we knew would serve our purpose.

"In recognition of the years of service, loving devotion, and infinite patience he has provided to the Cloward Clan."
June 17, 2007

And below that, we typed a series of lines that, once printed, we could all sign on names on. Soon, the magical words were printed on the fine certificate, and it looked remarkable, indeed. We rushed around the house, this time with a sense of purpose, as we handed a pen to all of all brothers and sisters, and they signed their name on the blank lines that we pointed out to them. Finally, it was finished.

Dad came home late, and we waited eagerly for him to step through the door. He looked a little weary, and he probably didn't even know it was Father's Day.

"Happy Father's Day!" We all chorused suddenly. The two youngest proudly presented him with the certificate, and Mom gave him a plate of his favorite cookies. He just looked at us in silent awe, and then said two words so all could hear.

"Thank you!" He exclaimed. He gave us all hugs, and I could tell that it was the best he had ever received just by looking at his face. By seeing him happy, I felt happy and proud as well. We all did.

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