‘Why did you throw your school bag like that?’
Aunt Anna asked John as he came back from school and threw
his bag. He looked a bit frustrated.
This was a bit contrary to what he generally is, a fun
loving and cheerful boy. He was in his 5th grade and the reason
behind his frustration was his school friends who spoke badly about David
Beckam. He had an argument with his best friend about Beckam’s last match.
Perhaps
Aunt Anna sensed his mood and started asking him ‘what happened?’
John didn’t reply and took his towel. At the same time his
mother Mrs. Rose came in and said ‘oh you’re back!, how was your day?’
John said ‘fine’ and headed towards the washroom.
Meanwhile, Aunt Anna told his mom that today he seemed to be
a bit frustrated. Reason was unknown. His mother frowned and said ‘well we need
to give him some time, these kids nowadays, you know’. Aunt shook her head and
started preparing dinner.
His family was a mediocre one in which his mother was
a school teacher and Aunt Anna stayed with them. John used to be close to his
sister who was in her 2nd grade.
John’s sister rosemary showed her new drawings to Aunt Anna.
She nudged her fondly and said ‘Very good’.
In myriad ways, many students nowadays get attracted to
celebrities who become their role models. John was one of them. David Beckam
played a crucial part in his life to build up his character although his dad
never approved of it. He wanted his son to become an engineer. Since childhood,
john has dreamt of playing like Beckam one day. His father always told him ‘Son
you need to do good to people in some way or the other way, become an engineer
like me’. John became defensive and
replied ‘No father, I want to become a footballer’. But nothing changed.
Soon after, John grew to be a handsome gentleman. He had to
pursue engineering as his dad always wanted. Much to his grief he learnt life
wasn’t easy, people had to work hard and pursue realistic goals. However, he
continued playing football with his friends in the backyard every weekend.
One fine day while picking up letters from the post box, he
found a letter addressed to him from England’s football association. It was
like a dream come true for him as he applied for it long back on his sister’s
persuasion. But the question here was, should he tell this to his family
members or not? Rather, would they let him go to England?
He thought for a while. Unable to decide, he went up to his
sister and gave her the surprise.
‘Wow, this is incredible. How could you possibly didn’t tell
me?’
‘Dear I got it today while retrieving letters from that box,
I don’t know since when it was lying there’.
‘Whatever, I’m going to tell dad’, she said.
‘No, you’re not. Promise me!’ John begged.
Rosemary had no other option but to keep her mouth shut. She
could understand the anxiety John was going through but felt helpless.
‘How can you make your dream come true then?’
‘I don’t know, leave me alone for some time. I’ll figure
out’ said John.
She snapped the door and left.
John lay on his bed and closed his eyes. He could see the
crowd cheering and the lights on. Nothing meant much to him than Victory.
Victory of being acclaimed, of being a
superstar. Much higher than the nitty gritty of life he was currently in. He
could see all the best players smiling at him. In his mind, he saw himself as a
footballer.
All of a sudden the door cracked open. It was his dad.
‘Hi buddy, what’s up with your office? You don’t talk to me
nowadays’ Mr Rose said.
‘Well dad, I had to tell you something’ John said looking at
his dad’s eye. ‘ I’ve got a chance to play for England’.
‘Oh come on! How could you even think they will select you?
Don’t you know England is a tough team, recently it has been out of World Cup.
The press call them ‘Idiots’ and you want to join them? This is ridiculous.
Besides, what will happen to your job here?’
‘I’ll figure that out dad. I’ve been old enough to take the
decisions of my life. I loved Beckam since I was 3, that’s too soon for a kid
to adore a player isn’t it? I want to pursue my dream’ John said confidently.
‘Perhaps, I shouldn’t have given you so much freedom son. I
think you don’t understand the stakes of moving to such a big city in search of
stardom. You’re glued to unrealistic dreams. I have nothing more to say.’ He
left the room in silence.
John sighed.
The clouds roared and it started raining. That night John
couldn’t sleep. He kept thinking about his dream which he wanted to turn into
reality.
He went to his mother’s room.
Opened the door without making noise,
tip toed to reach up to her bed. She was fast asleep, unaware of what her son
was going through. John took her hand into his and started weeping silently.
Somehow he missed her. He missed talking to her, sharing his thoughts with her.
A tear fell on her hand and she got up.
Immediately he left her hand and wiped off his tears. ‘John!
What happened? What are you doing here?’
‘Nothing mother, I missed you’
His mother hugged him and said she could see the tears in
his eyes. He smiled. She assured him that next morning they’ll chat about the
problem he might be going through and bid each other good night.
The very next morning, John and his mother met at the
breakfast table. They greeted each other and John told the story of his
football fascination. His dad was busy gardening so he thought of sharing his
thoughts to his mother in a profound and comfortable way.
His mom nodded and said, ‘It’s good that you have a role
model since your childhood, everybody does but your dad wanted to become one
for you, he has worked day and night to bring you all that you needed. Do you
remember the time you had malaria? He stayed up nights to look after you, he
loves you and is not your enemy Johnny. We want to see you happy. If you think
you can pursue your dream in England then we would help you start the
procedure. Why not? But remember the importance of your family while you grew’.
‘Of course I do mother, I just wanted your support and love.
I can win the whole World if you’re beside me’.
They hugged each other. A big burden was released from his
chest after he spoke to her. John’s mother spoke to his dad and convinced him
for his departure.
His sister rosemary and Aunt Anna were happy to see John
smiling after a long time. He had this grief of not pursuing his dream all
through he grew up. The family became busy packing his bags after he got
approval from England’s football team and got his visa stamped.
The departure date finally set in and he held a bag in his
shoulder, the other bags being on the trolley at the Airport. Aunt Anna
squeezed his cheeks and told him ‘Son, remember one day you threw your
schoolbag in apprehension? Don’t throw it this time’ and laughed.
He laughed and said ‘Sure I wouldn’t’. Soon after his family
bid him happy journey and his flight took off.
Do you think John became a renowned footballer? How
important a role does family play in
shaping an individual’s life?
