Short story:

The Teenager

This teenager lived alone with his mother, and the two of them loved each other very much. This teenager went to high school. But when he entered high school, he was the smallest in his class. But still his mother encouraged him and told him to join the school football team, and at the same time told him that she was not forcing him. But the young man loved football and decided to start practising.

He tried his best at every practice. He never missed a single practice nor a game, but remained a bench warmer all the time. Four years passed by but he still didn't play a single game and was only a bench warmer. But still his faithful mother was always in the stands, always with words of encouragement for him.

When the young man went to college, he decided to try again. 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 put his heart and soul into every practice. And provided the other members with the spirit and encouragement they badly needed.

The news that he had survived the "cut" thrilled him so much that he rushed to phone his mother. His mother shared his excitement. It was the end of his senior football season, and as he trotted onto the practice field shortly before the big play-off game, the coach met him with a telegram. The young man read it and became deathly silent.

Swallowing hard he mumbled to the coach, "My mother 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. He ran onto the sidelines, the coach and his players were astounded to see their faithful teammate back so soon. "Coach, please let me play.

I've just got to play today" begged the teenager. The boy begged and begged and at last the coach gave in. The coach was scared to send the worst player in this final play-off game. But he decided to send him.

But before long, the coach, the players and everyone in the stands couldn't believe their eyes. This little unknown player who had never played before was doing everything right. The opposing team could not stop him. He ran, blocked and tackled like as star. His team started to triumph. The score was soon a tie.

At the last minute, the teenager intercepted a pass and ran all the way for the winning touch down. The fans broke loose. His team mates hoisted him onto their shoulders.

Such cheering you've never heard. Finally after the stands had emptied and the team had showered and left the locker room, the coach noticed that the teenager was silently sitting in a 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 know my mom died, but did you know that my mom was blind? "The young man swallowed hard and forced a smile "Mom came to all my games but today was the first time she could see me play, and I wanted to show her I could do it."

By M. K. M. Azzam, Grade 10-E, Trinity College ,Kandy.