Nobody believed in me. That was their first mistake. I was a nobody, so who could blame them. My parents raised me to be nobody. They didn’t like attention, and never wanted attention cast on their child. In fact, if they had not been careless in their love making, I wouldn’t exist.

This was what I was told by my father, on rare occasions when I dared to be somebody, anybody, but me. Little did they know. Their very crass attitude about children, me in particular, gave me the tools to be more than a nobody.

I bided my time, waiting until I was safely away from their reproachful eyes. Thirsting for knowledge, I dove into college life with zeal and zest, anxious to make a name for myself.

Valedictorian was not enough, I yearned for more. Graduation day arrived along with my parents; destined to make a scene and secure my future as a nobody.

Screaming my frustration to the world, silently I might add, I caved and allowed them their moment of mediocrity. My voice stifled the curses, my brain rebelled at their idealism.

Mother spoke, not loudly, not timidly, but forceful. Father regaled her in her moment, handing me the list of job offers he expected me to take. Not mindful of the degree in science technology that I earned; his list of jobs was accounting, sales associate, paralegal.

Muffling my response, I nodded and took the paper, saying I would put in my applications immediately. Smiling, they accepted this response and help me pack up my things for the ride home after graduation.

The podium stood in the middle of the stage. I sat behind the podium in a chair next to the dean, and several other important people. They waited for the graduates to filter in and the dean stood and gave the first speech. He introduced the guests next to me then handed the microphone to the first speaker.

The day dragged, as each of the speeches grew longer and longer. Finally, the last guest sat down and the dean returned to the podium. His words echoed in the auditorium as he spoke about next next phase of our lives and how he would miss all of the students except one. He handed the microphone to me.

Of course, I knew what to say, I was Valedictorian and had rehearsed my speech, but what he said about not missing me threw me. I stood and looked at the man.

He laughed, took the microphone back. He gazed at the audience, told them that I was a great student and that I would give my speech in a moment. Whispering in my ear he told me that I had been unanimously hired by the entire faculty; New title, Technology expert and manager.

I grinned, my parents faces screwed into torment at their baby boy being somebody. The audience surrounding them stood and cheered for their nobody. I was somebody now and they could not change that.

I gave my speech, cautioning my fellow students to never accept anyone who tried to keep them from achieving their goals in life. Another standing ovation carried me from the stage, my diploma in hand.

My parents were mortified. They came rushing over, “we packed your room up. Now what do we do with everything.” His father complained.

“You’re father worked hard getting those job offers, Anyone of them would’ve been yours for the asking. You could’ve lived with us. Now, where will you live.”

I rolled my eyes and stared ahead, waiting for some congratulatory remark, anything from them to boost me up, even for just a second. My dean had given me a job. I didn’t need the ones my father had procured. My future was set.

My mother turned her face from me and wept on my father’s shoulder, crying out that I had abandoned them. That I was supposed to take care of them. Cried about all the years wasted on education, just to throw it all away working for the university.

My father shook his head at me, I took that to mean he was also disappointed. I walked away, heading to their car. I sat in the backseat waiting for them. My father got into the driver’s seat and looked me in the eye through the rear view mirror. All he said was you did good son. That he would straighten out my mother on the way home.

They dropped me off at my dorm and peeled away. I could see the anger in my father’s eyes as he drove away. Hopefully, he would not do anything other than yell. His anger was usually manageable. After all, he never wanted attention drawn to the family.

I thought about my life and how I managed to survive the abuse all those years and how I managed to get a scholarship to the university in the next town. My parents hated that I left.

My mother used me as a shield on the rare times she earned the rage that floated just beneath that calm pretentious exterior that my father wore. He was quiet about the beatings, always ushering his victim to the basement where the sound was muffled. Careful to use padded fists so bruises would be less visible, and never did he bruise our faces or extremities that could draw the attention.

I worried about the conversation that was happening in that sedan, as it turned the corner and disappeared. I stood on the sidewalk wondering what my life would’ve been like if the scholarship hadn’t happened. Would I have ever left that stagnant life. Would I have been arrested for maiming or killing my father.

The dean walked over to me. “I’ve known a lot of young men like you. I watched you try to be nobody when you arrived and grow to become somebody with hard work and dedication. I knew you could never go home again after tasting the freedom offered here. You see, I was like you once. Someone saved me. You don’t have to take the job, unless you want it. But, it comes with an apartment near the university.”

All I could say was a muted thank you. My throat closed off with emotions I never knew existed. Gratitude, happiness, elation, and most of all the feeling of satisfaction.

The dean left me a number to call and the name of a moving company that could move my meager belongings. I went to my room and made the calls. I would call my parents in a few days, just to make sure my mother was still alive. But for now, I just wanted to sit back and enjoy my success.