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June 2007

- Age 25

"Happy birthday to you… Happy birthday to you… Happy birthday dear Avery Junior- happy birthday to you…"

This was as close to fatherhood as Jayden figured he wanted to get- godfather Jayden sat in a corner at his best friend's house abstractly distracted as he absent- happy birthday to Avery's son - AJ At the sound of the the melody so sweetly, his own mind wheeled backwards in time to his very own six-year old birthday party He never anticipated that being at his god son's birthday party would release a floodgate of so er Jayden Eric Townsend age 25, but rather he was first-grader Jayden Eric Townsend - age six

"Are you sure you can't ain She didn't know that he was listening behind the door to her bedroom as she pleaded with his father to come to his party

"It's not about what I want… Jayden wants you here"

"Just once Jacob, don't you think you should meet your son at least once?" Jayden heard histo persuade his father His heart was literally breaking into pieces

"Moood froain…" Jayden silently begged to hi Jayden had never been so sorry than when his mom had asked hily asked back, 'Where's ht to be able to recognize his own father on the streets…" Marla continued rationalizing over the phone

The h the forefront of hisinside of his head as his hands instantly flew over his ears atte to drown out his an running His sniffling became involuntarily It was to no avail He still could hear the sound of his ed a lot since the last pictures I sent you a couple of years ago He wants tofor a six-year old boy?" She quietly spoke keeping her voice even and void of any e tears as he unknowingly shook his head fervently silently begging his ain He pro ever about the man that they called Jacob Ellis- his supposedly father He squeezed his eyes tightly as he took his hand and covered the at a 6-six year old birthday party