A GIFT GRANDPA REFUSED
Grandpa stared at the armband for a long time.
Then he slowly reached for Brandon’s hand.
But instead of taking the cloth, he gently closed the boy’s fingers around it.
“If your grandfather wore this to every match,” Grandpa said, “then it belongs with you.”
Brandon shook his head.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“But—”
Grandpa smiled.
“Your grandfather gave you something more important than an old piece of cloth.”
Brandon looked confused.
“What?”
“The chance to decide what kind of man you want to become.”
Brandon’s eyes became wet.
Behind him, his father shifted uncomfortably.
A woman sitting behind us suddenly stood.
“Those are his seats,” she said.
Another supporter stood.
“They absolutely are.”
Someone across the aisle joined in.
“Let the old gentleman sit down.”
The stranger looked around.
For the first time, he seemed to realize that the entire section was watching him.
He had expected nobody to challenge him.
He had been wrong.
