Chapter 79: Resolution
Weeks ago, David Jones found himself at a crossroads. He was in a situation he would have dreamed of being in months ago, but now, facing it was taking a toll on him. As the saying goes, "the grass isn’t always greener on the other side."
He was torn between staying with his team and the coach who had rescued him from a mediocre life. Without football, David knew he’d likely end up taking over his father’s store. He wasn’t blind to his weaknesses—academics had never been his strength. God might not have blessed him with a sharp mind, but He had compensated him with generational talent in football, a sport regarded as the world’s most beloved sport. From an early age, David had realised he was better than the other kids.
Whether playing in the park or at school with friends, David stood out. He could dribble through entire teams and place the ball in weird spots goalkeepers couldn’t even dream of reaching. He was different, and he didn’t hide it. Humility was never his strong suit—he relished his talent, often mocking opponents with humiliating tricks. His antics eventually got him outcasted from his youth team and shunned by other students.
But David didn’t care. He was a professional footballer now, while the rest were likely scrambling to figure out college plans—just so they could end up working for bosses who’d use them to make their millions.
David never felt he was wrong in his approach to football. For every player he mocked or dribbled past with flair, humiliating them, he believed it was their fault for not being good enough. If they fell for his tricks, that was on them. He saw no reason to apologize for his greatness.
Another reason for his disdain was that he felt most people didn’t take football seriously. For David, football wasn’t just a game—it was his only way to lift his family out of their struggles, the only path to a better life, the only way he could have purpose and truly matter. He had no patience for anyone who treated it lightly.
That wasn’t to say he couldn’t enjoy himself playing the sport—far from it. He loved football. Whether it was a 5-a-side game in the park or a match with thousands of fans screaming in the stands, David loved everything about it. His passion for the sport fueled him every single day.
As he thought about all this, David knew his mind was already made up. He was just letting sentiment get the better of him. Sure, what they were saying had some merit—Manchester United wasn’t in a great spot right now and joining them might not foster his growth as they claimed. But David felt they didn’t truly understand his talent. If the team was struggling, all he needed to do was score lots of goals and lead them to victory.
For David, playing in more intense matches would only help him grow faster. Confidence had never been an issue for him, and he didn’t believe he’d face any struggles at Manchester United.
While David’s mind was being made up, he felt an urge to call his parents and share the good news, eager to celebrate it with them. Then he’d call Rooney to inform him of his decision. Just as he reached for his phone, it rang. Glancing at the screen, he saw his mother’s smiling picture displayed. A grin spread across his face, pleased with himself for choosing such a nice photo as her caller ID.
He picked up the call, still smiling. "Hey, Mom, how are you?"