Marcus is a 15-year-old Sophomore. His history class is studying ancestry this term. One day Marcus' teacher gave an assignment to the class. "I want you all to do your family tree. Make a diagram on poster board and bring it into the class and give a small presentation with it. You will have the rest of the semester to do this. On the last three days of class is when we will do our presentations for each other."

That night when Marcus got home he told his parents about the assignment his teacher gave him that day. His mother was really excited, and she started talking about calling relatives to get information to help. Marcus' mother never even realized at this point how quiet Marcus had become.

For two weeks, every night after school Marcus and his mother sat at the dining room table working on their family tree. One night Marcus was especially quiet and this disturbed his mother. "Marcus, honey, do you feel all right?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Why?"

"You don't act fine. Are you bored? We can quit for a while."

"No, I'm not bored."

"Well something is bothering you. You're never this quiet. What is it honey?"

Marcus looked at his mother for a few minutes, so many things were going through his mind yet he couldn't bring himself to say any of it.

"It's nothing mom."

"If it's got you this quiet then it's something. Come on tell me what's bothering you? If you're in trouble of some sort, you need to tell me."

"I'm not in any trouble."

"Then what is it Marcus?"

"I'm afraid if I tell you it will upset you. I don't want to upset you. Can't we just forget it?"

"No, we can't forget it. I can't promise you that whatever is bothering you won't upset me but I will listen."

Marcus thought for a few minutes and then decided to tell his mother what was wrong. After all, he thought, he was old enough to know.

"Ok mom this is what's bothering me. It's this whole family tree thing."

"Why would that bother you?"

"Because it's your family tree. Yours and dads. They are your blood relatives and it's all really cool but it's just, well, it's not mine."

Marcus's mom fell silent to take in what her son had just said.

"Son. Just because I didn't carry you and give birth to you does not mean that I am not your mom and dad is not your dad. We love you. We share everything with you and that includes our family tree. These people may not be the same blood as you but they are your family."

"I know that mom, really. I do. I love you and dad and I care about all these people on this family tree. Some of them have really cool histories. But when I look at these papers and read them I see how you have part French and German in you. Dad has part German, Russian and Native American in him. You and dad can look at some of these old pictures and see who's eyes, ears, mouths look like yours or what color of hair is similar. I look at it all and see nothing of myself in them. Except for the fact that I'm your son. It's hard to explain mom and I don't mean to upset you but I can't help the way I feel." Marcus looked at his mother a little unsure of him self now. His mother was looking right at him but not saying anything. It was uncomfortable and he waited for her to cry, scream anything but she didn't.

"Marcus, family isn't just what blood you carry in your veins. It's love and support and being there for one another. What color your eyes are and whose mouth shape you have isn't really important."

Marcus sighed this was harder than he thought. "I know all that, trust me, but I can't help thinking mom that the reason it doesn't seem important to you is because you have all that information. You know where to go and look to find it. I can't. Besides mom it's really important to me."

It seemed like an eternity to Marcus before his mother spoke. "Ok if it's that important to you then I will talk to your father and see what we can do. I will make no promises to you though it's really hard to get adoptees information. I love you son and your father and I knew this day would come. We've talked about it often. We want you to be happy and to be sure of yourself and if this is part of what it will take to reach that goal then you will have our support and help." Marcus hugged his mother as tears filled his eyes. "Thanks mom you are they best. And I want you to know I don't care what we find I love you and dad too and you will always be my parents nothing can change that."

Marcus's mother loosened his hold on her and looked him squarely in the eyes, "I know that already. You don't have to tell me. Nothing is ever going to change the fact that you are our son and I'm your mother and dad is your father. We are a family Marcus and this is what families do. We love."

The last day of the semester at school came about and it was Marcus' turn to give his presentation. He walked up to the blackboard with his poster boards, tape and a pointer in his hands. He took the first poster board and put it in the middle of the blackboard. On it everyone in the class could see his name diagramed under it to the right side was his parents, sisters' names. To the left were some names that no one had ever seen before. "Hey Marcus," said one of the curious students, "whose names are those?" Marcus smiled as he took his pointer and pointed to his parents and sisters' names, "This is me and these, as most of you know, are my parents and my sisters. On the left side here are my birth parents and siblings' names. I was adopted at birth." As soon as the students quieted down from whispering to one another Marcus continued. "This makes up the trunk of my family tree. The reason I'm here today." Marcus then added his second poster board underneath his first. "These people here are my birth relatives as far back as I could get before this assignment was due. This makes up the roots of my family tree." The students in the room were quiet staring straight at the boards. Marcus was pleased he had everyone's attention. He then took his third poster board and placed it above his first poster board. "These people are my adoptive relatives. They make up the branches, twigs, and leaves of my family tree." Taking his pointer and making a circle around all three boards for emphasis Marcus said, "Each and every person on these boards are a member of my family. They each have a part in who I was, who I am and who I will one day become." Marcus laid down his pointer and started to leave the front of the room to take his seat as his classmates and teacher applauded him. Marcus had never felt so wonderful in his entire life.

Family Tree

In my back yard stands a big old oak tree.
And season after season it stands there for me.
The wind will blow it and shake its leaves loose.
And when winter comes it will plead for a truce.
And when the Spring comes it will be full once more
To welcome the heat that comes through Summers door.
But why should I mention this lovely old tree?
Because it reminds me of our family.
The trunk is the part that holds us together
As long as it's strong, it will withstand any weather.
The branches are arms that signifies our lives.
One for every member we add such as husbands and wives.
Then it has limbs that grow fairly wild
To signify the life of every new child.
The leaves are the memories we all have shared
Blowing in the wind to remind us we care.
It has its bare moments But that only shows
That you have to step back to let love really grow.
And when it is full and it has leaves everywhere
It's amazing at times I just sit back and stare.
The shade is our protection from the hot air.
And the heat that comes from unfriendly glares.
So when I say, I'm looking at my old oak tree.
You will know I'm really thinking of our family.