But Daniel seemed to be an expert at pressing Jordan' sadness button. Despite my fears, Jordan swallowed whatever Daniel threw his way. I was starting to worry that Jordan would soon reach his limit and there might be no coming back.
His legs buckled underneath me. I could not bear the pain of trying to see him walk when he could have used his wheelchair, but Daniel had driven off with the wheelchair in the backseat despite my yells.
"Stop, Jordan."
He pulled his hand from my neck and still kept limping forward. If there was one thing Jordan inherited from his father other than a full head of hair, it was stubbornness. I had to cave or Jordan would walk himself to death.
"Get on my back."
"Mom?" He turned to me with disbelief. "I'm taller—"
"On my back now." I walked in front of him and bent so he could mount my back. When he was there, I placed my hands under his lap to secure him. "Give me your wristwatch."
"I need it."
"Now, Jordan." I grabbed it from him. I didn't want him focusing on how late we were.
We must've looked funny to anyone who saw us approaching the main gate of the school. A small mother carrying her grown child on her back and running like the hounds of hell were after us. The cold air whipped around us and it must've affected Jordan because he didn't say a word as he tried to steady his breathing.
"Stop right there." One of the security guards said, pulling out a baton.
"He's supposed to be here. His name is Jordan VALENTE. Candidate number 567894." I stopped, looking past the guard towards the empty front yard of the school gate.
"Writing in Hall C." Jordan replied weakly from behind him.
"I'm sorry. We were given strict orders. He can't come in at this time."
I let Jordan come down from my back so I could reach into his backpack to pull out his ID card. I pushed the card to the face of the guard. "Look at it. My son is ready to write the exam."
"He's an hour late."
Jordan begged, as he took his place behind me. “Please, let me write this. That's all I want."
"And he has special needs. Please." I had never appealed for anything using Jordan's sickness, but this time, I needed to. "We've just spent two hours walking here." I put the exam pass in front of the guard as I clasped my hand. "Please, consider."
"The exam was an hour ago. I'm sorry."