Broken Beginning

2: teenagers suck!

So our young boy has started high school at the age of 12. The youngest in his class, and most likely the smallest. He joins the junior varsity soccer team, playing his heart out in every practice, pushing himself in a game he loves. By the end of his freshman year he will have played exactly 43 minutes during regulation time. The boy doesn't give up though. He attends every practice and pushes himself to be better.

During his freshman year our young friend skates by in class, doing minimal work but acing every test and quiz out in front of him. He decides a 2.8 gpa is good enough!

All the while, he hides from the bullies. He hides from the rich kids and football players. He hides everywhere but at soccer.

Now our young boy follows this same pattern, for 3 more years. Skating by in class and hiding from his classmates. Proudly walking across the stage to accept his diploma.

The boy is now 17 years old.

He has found his second love, Jackie. She is the same age, but a year behind him in school. He devotes himself to her the same way he did his first love, soccer.

They are together less than a year before the girl leaves the boy. Tearing his heart apart, leaving him broken. He is now 18.

The boy works full time in a grocery store, barely paying his bills, fighting for survival.

The boy has become an adult, but is still lost in this adult world. He has not become a man yet.

Mid year of the boys 18th year the boy enlists in the US Army. His sisters plan him a going away party. And to his surprise, when he arrives at the party, Jackie is there. Telling him how much she missed him.

Telling him she wanted to be his forever. They spend 1 month together before he ships to basic.

Fast forward 14 weeks:

The boy has become a man. He walks and acts like the new soldier he is. He schedules a surprise trip home. Carrying an engagement ring in his right breast pocket.

This man is in love. This man will soon be going to war.

The man arrives home, and nobody is there to greet him. He hasn't even told his father he was in his way. His first stop is to see Jackie, but she is out with friends.

He learns she it at the fair, and proudly wears his uniform as he searches the local fairgrounds for his love. He spends hours looking, and finally there she is!! He starts to run to her, only realizing halfway there she has turned and passionately kissed the man walking beside her.

The man stops. Confused. Rage builds in his broken heart, trying to push him to war at home. The man's training kicks in and he calms.

He walks to Jackie slowly, Taps her in the shoulder and says "this ring was for us" while placing the $2400 ring in her palm.

The man turns and walks away. Tears streaming down his face. He is broken once again.