About three hours later, Jake emerged from the meeting with John and the club's board, a satisfied smile on his face. He turned to Leon and Alex, who were waiting anxiously outside, and gave them a thumbs-up.
"It's all done, boys. I tried my best to negotiate the best possible contracts for you. Two days from now we gotta return to put your signatures on the dotted lines." He said calmy.
Leon and Alex let out a collective sigh of relief, grinning at each other as they high-fived. "That's amazing, Dad!" Leon exclaimed. "Thanks."
Jake smiled, pleased with himself. "No problem, kids. I think we got a fair deal considering you're both still young and just starting out. £14,000 a week is a good starting salary, and the guarantee of 20 games is a great bonus."
Alex nodded, looking relieved. "Yeah, thanks Jake. I really appreciate it. Mr Blake."
Leon clapped Alex on the back. "Told you he'd take care of us, Alex."
Jake chuckled. "Alright, alright. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. We've still got to finalize the contracts in two days. But I'm confident everything will go smoothly."
A few moments of chatting.*
"Alright, kiddo, it's time for Leon and me to head home," Jake said, glancing at his watch. "Alex, do you live nearby? I can give you a ride if you'd like."
Alex hesitated, looking nervous, and shook his head. "No, thanks, Mr. Jake. I don't live far, so I'll just walk."
Jake nodded understandingly and smiled. "Alright, take care, Alex. We'll see you in two days."
Alex waved goodbye to Jake and Leon, watching as they drove away. A couple of minutes later, he walked into a rundown apartment building and climbed the stairs to his unit. Inside, he greeted a frail woman lying on the couch, who looked up at him with sunken eyes.
"Hey, Mma. I'm home," Alex said, trying to sound cheerful.
His mother, weak and sickly, smiled faintly. "Hey, baby. How was your tryout? Did you have any luck?"
Alex's face lit up with a hopeful smile. "Yeah, Mma. I did. In two days, I'll sign a contract, and I'll finally be able to afford the medication for you."
Alex's mother held his hand tightly, her eyes shining with tears. "I'm so proud of you, baby," she said, her voice weak but full of emotion. "You've been working so hard, two jobs just to keep food on the table, and still finding time to practice your soccer. I'm amazed by your dedication."
Alex smiled, feeling a mix of emotions. "It's all worth it, Mma, if it means I can take care of you and make a better life for us."
His mother nodded, her expression serious. "I know, baby. But after you sign that contract in two days, you have to promise me something." Alex leaned in, curious. "What's that, Mma?"
"You have to promise me you'll slow down a bit and enjoy life," she said, her voice firm but gentle. "You've been pushing yourself so hard for so long. You deserve to breathe, to have some fun, to be young."
Alex nodded, feeling a lump form in his throat. "I promise, Mma. I'll take care of myself, and we'll enjoy the good things in life together." His mother's face relaxed into a soft smile, and she squeezed his hand. "I just want what's best for you, baby. You deserve all the happiness in the world."
A few moments later when they watched TV together, His mother smiled, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Did you make any new friends today?" she asked, her voice gentle.
Alex thought for a moment before responding. "Well, weren't friends or anything, but there was this black kid with a white dad.....his name is Leon. He's a year younger than me, but he plays good football."
His mother's eyes lit up with interest. "Oh, really? Is he better than you?"
Alex quickly shook his head, a hint of competitiveness creeping into his voice. "No way, Mma. Leon is a class or two below me. He's got some great skills, but I'm the one who'll lead Spurs back to glory."
His mother chuckled, amused by Alex's confidence. "Well, I'm sure you'll have to keep an eye on him, then. It sounds to me like you have a potential rival. " Alex grinned, feeling a sense of pride and ownership over his abilities. "Don't worry, Mma. I've got this."
On the other side of things.
Leon and Jake finally made it home. As they pulled into the driveway, Leon and Jake couldn't wait to share the exciting news with their family. Jake was eager to tell his wife, Leon's mother, about the contract offer, while Leon was bursting to share the news with his little sister, Thapelo. The reason why he wanted to tell her first wad simple, after possessing the body ofbLeon, he got to see the number of time Thapelo tried to cheer him on but the real Leon was too much if a mess to noticed and often said some horrible things to her, but never once did the pure soul leave her brother's side.
As soon as they walked in the door, Leon made a beeline for Thapelo's room. He had a special reason for wanting to tell her first.
"Thapelo! Guess what?" Leon exclaimed, bursting into her room. Thapelo looked up from her book, her eyes wide with curiosity. "What is it, Buti Leo?" she asked, using his nickname.
Leon grinned from ear to ear. "Oh its nothing too important, just that I got offered a contract! I'm going to play for a team!"
Thapelo's face lit up with a huge smile, and she leapt into Leon's arms, hugging him tightly. "I'm so proud of you, Leo! I knew you could do it!"
Leon held Thapelo tightly, feeling a deep sense of gratitude towards his little sister. "Thanks, Thapelo," he said, his voice filled with emotion. "Thanks for never leaving my side, even when I wasn't being the best brother."
Thapelo pulled back, looking up at Leon with a gentle smile. "It wasn't easy, Leo," she said, her voice soft. "You were going through a tough time, and you said some hurtful things to me. But deep down, I knew my big brother would come back to his senses."
Leon felt a pang of regret, remembering the hurtful words he had spoken to Thapelo during his struggles. "I'm sorry, Thapelo," he said, his voice sincere. "I was lost, and I didn't know how to deal with it. But you were always there for me, supporting me, believing in me."
Thapelo's smile grew wider. "That's what big brothers are for, Leo. And I'm proud of you for working through your struggles and coming out stronger on the other side." Just then, a loud scream of excitement echoed from the next room. "OH MY GOD, JAKE! THAT'S AMAZING!" Leon's mother exclaimed, her voice filled with joy.
Thapelo giggled, "Mom's excited!" she said, grinning.
Leon smiled, feeling happy that his mom was thrilled about the news. "Yeah, I guess Dad just told her," he said, chuckling. The door burst open, and their mother rushed in, a huge smile on her face.
"Leon, baby! I'm so proud of you!" she exclaimed, hugging him tightly.
Leon hugged her back, feeling loved and supported. "Thanks, Mom," he said, smiling.
Thapelo joined in, hugging Leon and their mother, creating a big family hug. "We're all so proud of you, Leo!" she said, her voice muffled by the hug.
In that moment, Leon felt grateful for his family's love and support. He knew he didn't deserve it, but he was determined to make them proud and prove himself as a player and a person.
Later*
Late at night, Leon lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling as his mind drifted back to the words of Coach John earlier that day. "Why do you guys play soccer? What is your soccer?"
He thought about his past life as an old man, dying alone in a hospital bed, and contrasted it with his new life with his supportive family. He remembered the loneliness, the emptiness, and the regret. But now, he had a family that loved him, that believed in him.
For Leon, soccer was about bringing happiness to his family, to his little sister Thapelo, who always cheered him on despite his struggles. It was about making his parents proud, about giving them a reason to smile. And it was about proving to himself that he was worthy of love and happiness. As he drifted off to sleep, Leon's thoughts were filled with gratitude and determination. He would play soccer with every fiber of his being, for the people he loved, and for the chance to make a better life for himself.
Meanwhile, in his own room, Alex lay in bed, his mind also wandering back to Coach John's words. He thought about his mother, sick and struggling to make ends meet. He thought about how she deserved so much better than the life she was living.
Alex's thoughts turned bitter as he thought about his deadbeat father, who had abandoned them to start a new family with another woman. Four kids, a big house, and a happy family - everything Alex's mother had never had. But as he lay there, Alex's anger and resentment slowly gave way to determination. He thought about his mother's smile, her laughter, and her unwavering support. And he knew exactly why he played soccer.
"My soccer is for bettering my family's life," Alex said to himself, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's for giving my mother the life she deserves, a life free from pain and struggle. I'll play soccer with every ounce of strength I have, for her, for us, and for a better tomorrow." With a newfound sense of purpose, Alex closed his eyes, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.