The little boy's first plane ride started with tears. His, his father's. They sobbed deeply when they saw each other for the first time in a year. To see his father cry made the little boy feel good, like he had not been forgotten. The plane would take them to their new home in New Jersey, and as the little boy stared out the window, he wondered if his mom would recognize him.
Little boys think things like that.
A year seems like a dozen when you're 6. The scene at the airport was right out of a movie. The little boy saw his mother, dropped his bag and ran to her. Suddenly, her arms were full of her youngest son and her eyes were full of wet joy. Perez smiles a lot.