Charlie loved the game. He was obsessed with it. Ever since he was born he had the need for a Basketball in his hand. He was in 4th grade. Every day after school he would go with his Grandpa Ray and shoot at an old gym. He’d eat the food that his Grandpa got him on the way to the gym from Burger King.

 Most kids wanted to go home and play Xbox or toys but not Charlie, It was different for him. It wasn’t out of force or pressure that he’d go to the gym. It was simply because he loved the game. 

His Grandpa loved watching him play, not critiquing him but just pushing him to his limits. Countless reps up and down the court with two basketballs. Life was great for Charlie. He wouldn’t want it any other way and he was looking forward to tryouts for his school team.

 Charlie was always the smallest guy on the court, but he was always the hardest worker in the room. He knew it wouldn’t be easy but he was sure that all the work he put in would be worth it.

It was one week before tryouts and Charlie opened the door of his Grandpa’s car. “He Grandpa,” Charlie stated, “I missed you.”

“I missed you too,” Grandpa Ray replied, “You ready to go to the gym?”

“I’m always ready,” Charlie answered back.

The two of them drove over to the house of Grandpa Ray’s best friend to grab the key. His name was Mick and has cleaned the old gym that they go to shoot at for several years. Every time Charlie gets the key from him, Mick always has a smile on his face.

“Hey Mick,” Charlie vocalized, “How are you doing today?”

“I'm as good as ever,” Mick responded.

Charlie thanked Mick as he was handed the key.

“I’ll be back in a bit,” Charlie told Mick.

Mick replied with a smile on his face, “Take your time buddy.”

Charlie and his Grandpa hopped back into the car and headed for the gym. They unlocked the doors, turned on the lights, and the heater because it was always freezing. Charlie warmed up, form shooting around the basket. He followed his routine and went to ball handling, working on his off hand pounding the ball into the floor until he couldn’t feel it anymore.

 Then he went to defensive drills, shuffling from cone to cone, sprinting from the baseline back to the top of the key. Like I mentioned Charlie was always the hardest worker in the room and he always made sure everyone knew it.