Part 28

A huge banner designed by the art department of Wood Berry High School hung above the platform that had been constructed especially for the town's most important leaders along with other special representatives.

         There were presidents, vice presidents, the CEO and managers of privately own companies sitting along with the high school principal, assistant principal, counselors, and clergy from seven different churches of Wood Berry.

         Then there were the guests of honor, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Gibbs, Norton's parents, along with Mayor George Henry and his chief of staff and everyone associated with the city's council.

         At exactly nine am Mr. Johnson and the head of each department from the high school made their way to the platform. It would be Mr. Johnson's honor to kick this parade off. He had waited on this opportunity his whole life it felt like. Now he would put his own sense of honor into making this event this best that it could be.

         Standing in front of the microphone he took a deep breath and began his opening statement, "Ladies and gentlemen, your honor, Mr. Mayor and all fellow business owners and head of every department and our clergy: it is my honor to officially kick off the first ever Community Awareness Senior Parade. We are so proud and please to be able to start this event hosted by our very special guest."

         Turning to look down the long street he waved his right arm in order to signal the beginning of the parade. Speaking with his very loud and strong baritone voice he continued," May I present the homeless residents of Wood Berry, the lost, the forgotten and the lonely in need and their newly elected spokes person, our very own missing senior, Norton Gibbs."

         The gasping could be heard from one end of the platform to the other. Those that stood just below the platform tilted their heads towards the under pass of the highly expensive bridge that Mr. Gibbs' bank, First Trust and Banking Company, had helped to build.

         To date it was by far the most expensive project that the town had commission any contractor to build. It had cost the town and its residents nearly one and a half million dollars for construction. Every tax paying citizen would be shelling out hard earn tax dollars for this upscale bridge for nearly the next ten years to come.

         As the first float began to move down Mulberry Drive the honor guest on the platform along with those residents lining the street could begin to see the first of many homeless people from every corner of the city standing on the first parade float.

         It was decorated with flowers, ribbons, balloons and dried grass with a large banner hung from high atop of poles much like flag poles. The banner read in large letters, "Lost, But Not Forgotten". Atop the float were at least ten different homeless persons all dressed in their normal daily street wear.

         To every one's surprise there stood Norton Gibbs in the very middle of the float waving an American flag with a sign around his neck, "My Real Mother Lives under the Mulberry Drive Bridge". Not one person who had attended the parade had any idea that Norton had another mother or that she lived under the bridge, with the exception of Norton's parents.

         Was this what his entire message was about? Was this why he had disappeared in the first place? Had he been living on the streets for this whole time? What was Norton trying to tell everyone?

         The second float rounded the corner also heading down towards that very expensive bridge financed by Walter Gibbs' banking company. This floats' sign was painted in bright fluorescent colors with the signage of, "Lost our Homes in 2008, Still Homeless".

         It held about six families that were still feeling the pain of having become displaced. As of yet, no social service department or any other government branch had tried to find these families suitable housing. Their home was now located under the Mulberry Bridge.

         There wasn't much that could be said about the parade that was taking place. More than two hundred homeless persons would become part of the overwhelming statement that was taking place today.

         It was obvious that the graduating class of 2014 had found their special purpose. They had also found a leader in an unexpected classmate and he was whole heartily leading them into a new era of caring for one another.

         This was Norton’s commitment not only to the community that he called his home, but also to a lost mother that he had never known. It was a new beginning for all in this small town called Wood Berry.