Unicorn (Unicorn@Indenial.com)
Sun, 31 Jan 1999 08:21:48 -0500
Notice: In the inspirational story "Cat Angel" which
was published on 1/24/99, with the "o" taken out from
the name of G-d by me and not the author. I do not
spell out the name of G-d out of respect and not for
any other reasons. I don't do it to please anybody; I
do it for myself. I may be The Joke Mistress who
occasionally makes fun of the Deities, but I remain
a deeply spiritual person. For additional explanation,
see http://www.ladyhawk.com/jan9.html . Thank you.
And now, get your hankie out. You just might need it.
LadyHawke
~*~*~*~*~*~*
"The Football Game"
There was a skinny young boy who loved football with
all his heart. Practice after practice, he eagerly gave
everything he had. But being half the size of the boys,
he got absolutely nowhere. At all the games this hopeful
athlete sat on the bench and hardly ever played.
This teenager lived alone with his father, and the two of
them had a very special relationship. Even though the
son was always on the bench, his father was always in
the stands cheering. He never missed a game.
This young man was still the smallest of the class when
he entered high school. Yet his father continued to
encourage him but also made it very clear that he did not
have to play football if he didn't want to. But the young man
loved football and decided to hang in there. He was
determined to try his best at every practice, and perhaps
he'd get to play when he became
a senior.
All through high school he never missed a practice nor a
game but remained a bench-warmer all four years. His
faithful father was always in the stands, always with
words of encouragement for him.
When the young man went to college, he decided to try
out for the football team as a "walk-in." Everyone was
sure he could never make the cut, but he did. The coach
admitted that he kept him on the roster because he always
puts his heart and soul into every practice, and at the same
time, provided the other members with the spirit and hustle
they badly needed.
The news that he had survived the cut thrilled him so much
that he rushed to the nearest phone and called his father.
His father shared his excitement and was sent season
tickets for all the college games.
This persistent young athlete never missed practice during
his four years at college, but he never got to play in a game.
It was the end of his senior football season, and as he trotted
onto the practice field shortly before the big playoff game,
the coach met him with a telegram.
The young man read the telegram and he became deathly
silent. Swallowing hard, he mumbled to the coach, "My
father died this morning. Is it all right if I miss practice today?"
The coach put his arm gently around his shoulder and said,
"Take the rest of the week off, son. And don't even plan to
come back to the game on Saturday."
Saturday arrived, and the game was not going well. In the
third quarter, when the team was ten points behind, a silent
young man quietly slipped into the empty locker room and
put on his football gear. As he ran onto the sidelines, the
coach and players were astounded to see their faithful
teammate back so soon.
"Coach, please let me play. I=92ve just got to play today," said
the young man.
The coach pretended not to hear him. There was no way he
wanted his worst player in this close playoff game. But the
young man persisted, and finally feeling sorry for the kid, the
coach gave in.
"All right," he said. "You can go in."
Before long, the coach, the players and everyone in the
stands could not believe their eyes. This little unknown who
had never played before was doing everything right. The
opposing team could not stop him. He ran, he passed,
blocked, and tackled like a star. His team began to triumph.
The score was soon tied. In the closing seconds of the
game, this kid intercepted a pass and ran all the way for
the winning touchdown.
The fans broke loose. His teammates hoisted him onto
their shoulders. Such cheering you never heard.
Finally, after the stands had emptied and the team had
showered and left the locker room, the coach noticed that
this young man was sitting quietly in the corner all alone.
The coach came to him and said, "Kid, I can't believe it.
You were fantastic! Tell me what got into you? How did
you do it?"
He looked at the coach, with tears in his eyes, and said,
"Well, you knew my Dad died, but did you know that my
Dad was blind?"
The young man swallowed hard and forced a smile, "Dad
came to all my games, but today was the first time he
could see me play. I wanted to show him I could do it!"
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