“YOU HAVEN’T EARNED IT YET”
By halftime, Grandpa and Brandon were arguing about tactics.
“You should have passed earlier,” Grandpa insisted.
Brandon shook his head.
“No, he was waiting for the defender to move.”
Grandpa raised an eyebrow.
“Are you telling me I’m wrong?”
Brandon smiled.
“Maybe.”
Grandpa laughed.
“I like you.”
During the break, Brandon’s father finally came down.
He looked at his son.
“Can I have the armband for the second half?”
Brandon stared at him.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Brandon slowly shook his head.
“Not today, Dad.”
His father looked hurt.
“You haven’t earned it yet.”
The words landed hard.
His father looked down.
I expected him to become angry.
Instead, he simply nodded.
Grandpa leaned toward Brandon.
“That took courage.”
Brandon looked down at the old armband.
“It felt awful.”
Grandpa smiled gently.
“Most courage does, son.”
Then the second half began.
