You are My Passion

The Dream

‘Go Johnnyyy’ the 17-year-old Maxwell yelled at the top of his lungs, as though by his shout alone John Adams the reigning 200 meters sprint champ would get to the line faster

‘Yeah J-o-h-n-n-y J-o-h-n-n-y J-o-h-n-n-y’ the crowd around him picked up in chant as the athlete made the last surge to the line, the second and third place finishing very close on his wings

The noise in the stadium that morning was exhilarating. No one could sit still, the runners were head to head at this last turn, the finish line was close, any of them could win the race, the competition was tight

‘YES-SS’ chimed Max. He looked on in awe as his champ and role model lifted the trophy to the wild cheers of his fans. It was a good climatic end to an intense morning

The fans filed out of the stadium all chattering at loud voices discussing the winners of the track races that day.

‘Time to leave’ Coach Logan said in his gruff voice, tugging at Max’s sleeves as he stood up

‘Okay Dad….a quick visit to the gents’ Maxwell answered, dashing to the men's room

His Dad nodded, walking slowly after him to give him a headstart. Max made it to the lavatory in time before the crowd, did his business and rushed back out

Oof! Max bumped into someone in the hallway as he made a quick sprint, trying to get back to where his Dad was waiting for him

‘Oh sorry’ Max mumbled, steadying himself from falling

‘Watch where you are going numskull’ came the hostile reply with a snicker

Max froze and looked up, frowning as he recognized one of his hometown sports rival surrounded by his gang

‘Ken’ he spat out the name in detest ‘Whatever are you doing here?’ Max asked snidely, eyeing the boy in front of him

Ken snorted as he slapped him on his back ‘Same as you kid…came to watch the games’ then he shoved him a little ‘…and participate too, unlike you’ he snickered and walked away with his friends, laughing

Max kept a hold on his anger and chose to walk away, deciding not to entertain the onlookers with any drama. He hurriedly went to the bleachers and beckoned on his Dad

‘Dad I’m out’ Max yelled

His Dad nodded and took the stairs to where he met Max absentmindedly gazing at the video screens that showed the Track Champ doing his victory laps ‘That will be you someday boy…making your Dad proud right?’ he asked his son

‘Sure Dad…’ Max said with pride and confidence

The Olympics had come to their country that year and the whole town was abuzz with visitors and every hotel, every inn in town was full. Max attended high school at Middletown and represented his school at most track and field events. He was the champion at the sprints, relays and the javelin throws.

Interschool competitions had brought him in close contact with many sportsmen and rivalry had inevitably developed.

He was up at 4 am every morning training hard for competitions and his Dad was the high school coach. Coach Logan believed very much in his son’s abilities. He himself held his own record in the weightlifter category back in his day and he ran the local gym at the community center after high school coaching hours

Ken was a sports prodigy of his he had trained alongside Max but he was oblivious to the tension between the two boys as they competed in the same games. Coach Logan felt that the top was big enough for everybody and upheld the belief that athletes and sportsmen were comrades not enemies.

Max was not one to report all the harassment and fights between them though because Ken was older and had an emotional crisis at home. Max kept away from him as much as he could unless Ken steered trouble his way and then they would be at it headlong until their friends pulled them apart

‘Hey…’ called a voice from behind them as they got to the car park. Max turned around and saw his best buddy Frank ‘Great games today huh?’ Frank said excitedly

‘Hey Frank’ Max replied in the same excited tone, going over to chat with his friend

‘Good day Coach’ Frank greeted Max’s dad

Logan smiled and waved at him, busy on a phone call by the car

‘So getting ready to participate in the Olympics next time?’ Frank asked

‘Sure thing, I wanna do my Dad proud’ Max beamed, looking over at his Dad who was getting into the car then

‘And you too yeah? Do it for you man’ Frank replied

‘Sure. And if anything… to wipe the smile off that guy’s face’ Max said nodding over to a group of guys that were entering inside a bus

Frank looked over ‘Oh Ken the big..’ he said, observing the smug look Ken was giving them. At 18 years Ken looked very buff and was already competing as an amateur weightlifter at the Olympics sports events

Max snorted ‘Big indeed, only because he can use the gym for his weightlifting’ he said dryly

‘Yeah he is older, pretty soon you can get in on it too’ Frank said encouragingly

‘Nah I want to be a runner…’ Max refuted, the just concluded track event fresh on his mind

Frank eyed him, corking his head to the side ‘Hmm I see you all buff and training to be our world champ in the lightweight category. You’ve got the height and frame for it you know’

‘You got that right man… I will’ Max said laughing

Frank chuckled ‘Alright man let’s not keep your dad waiting… see you later at the gym right?’

‘Sure… Phoenix’s birthday stuff right?’ Max said remembering their mutual friend had said he would start his gym training today

Frank nodded ‘Yeah he wants to get training for his senior year look’ The two boys laugh

Coach honked his horn startling them

‘Oops gotta go now... see you at the gym’ Max said hurriedly, walking quickly to the car

‘Sure’ Frank replied, turning to go catch up with his own family

Max gazed through the car window on their short ride home, his heart full of his expectation and dreams. He was sure he wanted to rule the sports world as champ but he also knew he had to be better than a lot of other athletes on his way up and he made up his mind to take his training to a whole new level

The next few years would be tough but he was ready…

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'Boys come on...front and center now' a voice bellowed through the loud speaker

Coach Logan was furious with the two runners who were at loggerheads in the mini stadium wrangling over who cut the tape first

'Gerrout of my face' spat Max as he pushed roughly at Ken who had engaged him in a stare down

Ken pushed him back and the brawling continued whilst the two school teams cheered on.

Coach blew his whistle frantically. It was the inter-collegiate competition of the league of universities in Middletown. One of the initiatives of the beloved coach Logan who usually would select candidates for academic sponsorship at the end of the semester.

City officials and fans present were not surprised at the altercation, the two boys had always been neck to neck at all track competitions since they were in high school. They were now in their final year at college and still at it. Coach Logan was fed up and decided to put an end to their differences today

'Small imp, watch your tongue boy' Ken sneered, as their other athletes came to separate them and pull them towards Coach

'Who is an imp Kenneth?' Coach Logan asked, overhearing his words

Ken stilled, realizing they had an audience 'Sorry coach, it's Max...he just infuriates me at times' he huffed. Max glared at him

Their friends Frank and Phoenix who had been watching from the sidelines came closer to them, everyone else filtered away, leaving just the four boys and Coach in the judges stand

'You all know you can be friends right?' Phoenix said, shaking his head at them. Frank pinched him to be quiet, the other two ignored him

Coach Logan sighed putting his hands on his waist 'You know boys, I tried to make you all behave as family but you keep disrespecting each other. True sportsmanship is friendly comradeship not this fighting you all do' he said sternly

Max looked away, he didn't know how to tell his Dad that Ken was always a bully to him and he always had to prove himself

'Coach you gotta warn your son to respect me, I am 21 years old and older--' Ken began, but he was cut off by Max

Max hissed '...and I am 20 years old! how older is one year?' he spat, about to shove Ken some more, when Coach stopped him

'Enough!!' Coach Logan blew his whistle in their ears. the boys winced, covering their ears

'Come on man, apologize let's leave, you won obviously so you ought to be celebrating, let's go' Frank said gently to Max, coaxing him to calm down

Ken looked at Frank with disdain 'Yeah...always taking his side' he accused

Frank shrugged 'Someone's gotta' he mumbled, pulling Max away to go take his victory laps as the crowd cheered

Ken looked at Coach, fighting back the emotions he felt 'I don't think I will do these runs anymore, I am an Olympian wrestler and weightlifter already' he said proudly

Phoenix gasped at his insolent tone

'Thanks to me' Coach Logan said with a wry smile, as he looked at Ken in sympathy as a father would. But Ken felt alone in the world, fighting his own family issues, he had regarded his sports life as his only escape, angry with whoever came between him and his gold trophies

'Yeah well thanks to you dear coach' Ken said in a mocking tone, his eyes brimming with tears 'but it is clear your son has your blessing for the tracks so I guess I will just walk away then' he huffed, turning and heading to the stadium gates, tearing off the number tags, flinging his gloves and picking up his sports bag on the way

'Kenneth... Kenneth' Coach Logan called after him

'Let me talk to him coach' Phoenix said, running after him

Coach Logan shook his head sadly at Ken as he walked away.

Ken sped up and ran off before Phoenix could get to him. The championship win meant a lot to him, to help stabilize his wins and the prize money needed to help support himself and his kid sister who was schooling out of town. His pride did not let him share this with anyone let alone his coach and so Ken walked away from their lives that day

They wouldn't see much of him again for the next few years until tragedy struck...