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."