‘East or West, Home Is the Best’ I Realized after Standing near Dad I Didn’t See for 13 Years – Story of the Day

I was ashamed my dad was a poor school janitor, so I left him to pursue my dreams and become rich. At the peak of my success, I regretted everything when I went home to visit my dad after thirteen years.

Like any other little boy, even I wanted to be included. I didn’t want my classmates and friends to think I was different. I didn’t want them to know that Bob, our baseball coach and part-time school janitor, was my father. I was so embarrassed by my dad’s non-native, broken English and his second job.

One day, when I was in third grade, my dad was called on the intercom to clean up the mess after a boy threw up in class. When I saw him, I pretended I was tying my shoelace.

“Hey, let me do it for you, sweetie,” he came smiling and tied it up. I was so freaking embarrassed when he then said, “Your favorite burgers in the lunchbox, honey. See you later, son!” Now everyone knew I was my school janitor’s son. “Like father, like son!!” they mocked me.

As years passed by, I started to live with this ugly truth. Nobody made friends with me, and everyone started teasing me for being poor. I was the best baseball player on the team my dad coached, but nobody recognized my talent. My old clothes and torn shoes were all that they saw.

I was twelve when I finally decided that this was not how my life should be. I didn’t want to be called a ‘janitor’s son’ anymore, and I was ready to pay any price for it… ANY PRICE…

A week before a crucial baseball match for juniors, my dad told me to get ready for training.

“Johnny, get up. We’re late for the training.”

I pretended I had a lot of homework to do. He kept pestering me, but I turned a deaf ear and refused.

“I don’t have time for that. I want to study well so that I become a rich man. I don’t want to be a cleaner like you, dad.”

It was the first time in my life that I had refused and spoken sternly to my dad. He was stunned, and I knew he was offended by my words. But I didn’t care and continued writing as my dad went to the field alone. It was the first time I did not play baseball, which was my favorite sport.

As time flew by, I devoted my heart and soul to my studies. I graduated high school with honors and was proud when I stood out as the best student. Nobody called me a janitor’s son anymore. They addressed me as the school topper, and pride flowed through every vein of my body. Then I decided it was time to break free from my dad and follow my dreams.

I decided to leave my dad. I knew he would be hurt by what I was going to do,...