Sunday, November 6, 2011

Journal #9

  You’re hired.
  The sun was shining bright outside and the breeze was refreshing. The Bridgeway High School soccer team had a practice and at the moment they were stretching. Justin was number fiver on the team and he played forward. A man sat on the bleachers and waved at Justin, this man was Justin’s father, Bruce. His father pulled out a paper bag and drank out of it. Bruce was a thick and hairy man with a very bushy beard. He wore a thick jacket that was buttoned up but a blue collar shirt could be seen. While Bruce was admiring his son’s accomplishment, a young man approached Bruce and sat next to him. The young man was wearing a grey blazer with a light blue v-neck with denim jeans.
“Hello there sir” said the young man, he then sat next to Bruce who tilted his hat at the young man. “My name is Brad Amaral” the young man said as he reached out to shake Bruce’s hand. Bruce shook the young man’s hand.
“Hello Brad how can I help you?” Bruce asked.
“No sir but I know your son.” Brad looked out at the field and waved at Justin. Justin stopped and covered his eyes with his hand for a second then continued on.
“Are you two buds or just know each other?”
“We are friends, good friends.” He responded, “He can sure run.”
“Yeah ever since he was a little boy he loved to run around and make his Mom chase after him up and down the house.” Bruce took another drink of his beer and looked at his left ring finger, and then at Brad. “Tell me a bit about you.”
“ Well I play baseball, football, and soccer. I have a 4.0 GPA and I’ve been accepted into Princeton University.” The young man made direct eye contact as he spoke to the man.
“Well boy I meant like where are you from but okay,” he said.
“Well my family is from Italy and I have two sisters sir”
 “That’s good, at least Justin will have a friend to room with my boy.” He said tilting his hat towards the sky.
“Well your son is a very smart boy” he said “He has a lot going for him, and so do I sir.”
“Why do you keep talking to me like I’m your boss?”
“ Because you are sir” Brad looked down at his hand and then back at his boss.
“Boy don’t you pull my darn leg I ain’t your boss.”
“Well technically speaking you are.” Brad Amaral looked inside his blazer pocket and pulled out a folded up piece of paper. “Sir, here I hold my explanation, and your son’s dreams.” Bruce looked at the boy with a puzzled gaze and set down his bottle. Bruce opened the folded up piece of paper and began to read it. Mr. Amaral began to walk down the bleachers and left the field. He continued to read until he had memorized it. Bruce walked down and headed towards his son. Justin asked him who he was talking to and Bruce responded by saying.
“He’s hired”.

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