Chapter 36: Isaac’s Pride
Isaac Jones stood behind the counter of his small store in Southampton, a proud yet humble man. The store had been his dream ever since he moved to England years ago. Life hadn't always been kind to him, but he had worked tirelessly to make a life for him his wife and their son, David. Tonight, however, wasn't about the store—it was about his boy.
The Derby County match was on, and Isaac had closed up shop early to catch it. He sat on the couch in their modest living room, a steaming cup of tea on the table beside him. As the game unfolded, Isaac found himself gripping the armrest tightly, his heart swelling with pride every time David touched the ball.
When David danced past defenders with a dazzling turn and earned the penalty, Isaac clapped so hard his hands stung. "That's my boy!" he exclaimed to no one in particular. His pride only grew when Wayne Rooney converted the penalty. But it was David's breathtaking solo goal in the dying minutes that left Isaac in awe. He sprang to his feet, spilling his tea in the process, but he didn't care.
"Unbelievable," he muttered, his voice thick with emotion. "That's my son right there."
As the final whistle blew, Isaac sank back into his seat, a wide grin plastered across his face. He replayed the goal in his mind, marveling at the skill and composure David had shown. After the match, he found a replay of David's post-match press conference on TV. Though he couldn't hear his son's words over the buzz of his thoughts, the sight of David fielding questions with confidence made him beam with pride.
The next morning, Isaac walked to his store with a spring in his step. The crisp Southampton air carried with it a sense of accomplishment he hadn't felt in a long time. After arranging the shelves and tending to a few customers, he overheard a conversation outside.
"Have you seen that Derby County kid?" one man said, his voice brimming with excitement. "That goal last night was something else!"
"Yeah, David Jones, right?" another replied. "How did our youth team let someone like that go?"
Isaac paused, pretending to organize a display near the window so he could hear more.
"Wait," the second man continued, "he was in Southampton's youth team?"
"Yeah," the first man said with a nod. "My nephew plays for them. I saw David a couple of times back then. Always had something special about him."
The second man shook his head in disbelief. "What is this club doing? Letting talents like that slip through their fingers. Ridiculous."