When I was 13 my only purpose was to become the star on our football team. That meant1Miller King, who was the best2at our school.
Football season started in September and all summer long I worked out. I carried my football everywhere for3.
Just before September, Miller was struck by a car and lost his right arm. I went to see him after he came back from4. He looked very5, but he didn't cry.
That season, I6all of Miller's records while he7the home games from the bench. We went 10-1 and I was named most valuable player,8I often had crazy dreams in which I was to blame for Miller's9.
One afternoon, I was crossing the field to go home and saw Miller10going over a fence—which wasn't11to climb if you had both arms. I'm sure I was the last person in the world he wanted to accept12from. But even that challenge he accepted. I13him move slowly over the fence. When we were finally14on the other side, he said to me, "You know, I didn't tell you this during the season, but you did15. Thank you for filling in for16. "
His words freed me from my bad17. I thought to myself, how even without an arm he was more of a leader. Damaged but not defeated, he was18ahead of me. I was right to have19him. From that day on, I grew20and a little more real.
