A Mother’s Belief

He had always admired his mother ever since he was a wee little lad. She had one of the best athletes in her days. He remembered so much time with on the tracks that people said he surely gonna learn to run before he could walk. He always wanted to be like her when he grew up, the best in his field.

She beautiful and kind, who held her head up high but never looked down on others. She was dedicated runner, as much she was a doting mother, she was trained well, thanks to her discipline and dedication.She was loved by one and all, but she knew one day she would need to hang it all up and pass the baton to someone else, and she did when the time was write. Although she had retired, she continued to train kids at the local Sport Club, children who came troubled background, after all you may stop running, but you’ll never be able take the runner out of the person. Although she was was dedicated and passionate coach, she never lost sight of her maternal responsibilities.

Though he was their only child, and they were quite well off, they had made sure things weren’t handed out to him on a platter. If he anything he would have to work for it. This he learned to value the want and the cost of it.

Life had been good to him. He grew to be a strapping lad. He had his had his own posse of friends who he hung out with, spending lesser time with his parent, like all kids of his do. He excelled both academically and sports, but what changed was his love for running, it seemed to have vanished . Mother noticed this. She was proud of her son, and she remembered what he said when he was a lad, but she didn’t want to push him to it. She was proud of him anyway.

Then when one day his father got transferred to a small village town, a one where he grew up. He jumped and took this opportunity as a chance to return to his root. His mother was happy and supportive of his decision. She always felt the family could do with some peace and quite, far from the hustle bustle of the city. But he was different case altogether. 

He was not quite happy about the shift. This meant uprooting himself from his comfortable environment and starting again in a new setting. He was in no mood of leaving his current set of friends, which he had meticulously curated, starting over again. He resented the shift and made his displeasure known. But in the end there was nothing he could do.

He made the transition, much to his parents joy, but his dismay. The initial day acted out his resentment but mostly kept to himself. His mother noticed it all. At times his behaviour did upset and she had to reprimand him, correct him, but she always believes that he would eventually come around. So she tried not to push him to hard, afraid that he would push back against them. She gave him space, did what she could, and waited patiently for him to find his feet in hi new environment.

Now his mother was asked to train the local athletes, which she delightfully accepted. Running was her passion, her happy place. The opportunity to give back what she had received was the best she could ask for. So she took up the job training the kids, many of whom were super talented but came from lower strata of society. All the students were talented athletes, and she was super proud of them. Secretly she was hoping her son would join her, but she he would need to do it himself. As always she would need to be patient with him, she believed that he would eventually find his way.

Initially he showed no interest at all, he kept to himself, constantly brooding, hardly interacting with anyone. He found it difficult to adjust to his new school. He resented his parents for the predicament he found himself in. 

Then one day when he was waiting for his mother, after school, he made his way to the schools ground where his mother conducting drills for her students. Although he was irritated as she was taking so much of time, he waited for her to be done. He tried to not pay any attention to what was happening on the field, but he couldn’t help himself. 

He saw a joy on his mother’s face that took him back years to a time seeing her joy and passion he wanted to be part too, something that had gotten lost in all the growing up. Like a cool summer breeze, it all came back to him. Suddenly he had an urge to join his mother on the field. But his ego  would not let him do it. 

He sat there observing them. All through the ride home he was quiet, only answering in low grunts when his mother asked him about his day. She had sensed he wanted to ask her something, but she wanted him to do it himself, rather than just ask him directly.

That evening, after dinner, he found it within himself, if he could join her training. She was was happy to hear this. But she wanted to make sure he really wanted this. She also wanted him to come out the shell he had gone in’s, since they had made the move. So she agreed to train him, but on one condition. He would need to beat one of her student in a sprint. He eagerly accepted her challenge, cause he was confident he could beat anyone.

So on the chosen day he reached the tracks where she trained her student. He warmed and then came approached her. She chose one of her youngest student to race him. This made him overconfident.

So they both lined up, and she flagged them off. He got a good start, and built a good distance him and his opponent. He was sure he had this in the bag. But as the race went on o. He began to runout of steam, and his opponent began to gain on him, and steadily closed the gap between them. In the end his opponent handedly beat him.

He was furious with himself. He refused to shake the hand of his victor. He demanded another shot, and he had not trained well.

She was disappointed with his attitude but agreed to give him another chance on the condition that the next time he would be racing another student. He reluctantly agreed to her condition.

Thr next he woke up early and went out for a run. Later that day when she reached on the field to do running drills with her students., she saw him training there by himself. He did this everyday, diligently, till his next race.

However, once again his mother’s student was able to beat him, but this time around he improved greatly and was able to keep up for most of the race before his opportunity pulled ahead.

Once again he was disappointed with himself, but he was not sullen like the last time. This time around he shook his victor’s hand. He once again asked her for another chance. Though she was happy to see his perseverance and his never say die attitude, she acted as if she had grudgingly gave in.

Once again he trained diligently. And with discipline.

One day while he was training, he had a fall. On her student went and helped him. He took his hand and got up. This small act got them talking, with that it brought down the walls he had put around himself.

The next, day for lunch, the student invited him to join his table and introduced him to all his friends. Later in the day she saw him training with his new friends.

Though the next race he didn’t win, he was not disappointed. He had his friend who rallied around him. She was happy to see this, and gladly gave him one last chance to prove himself worthy to join her team.

She noticed a change in his attitude. There was no longer brooding, and he made attempts to get along with everyone. He hung with friends, helped them out with their studies, and they helped his running. There was an happiness that had disappeared when they moved to the new place. He was finally out of his shell.

On the day of the race, she chose his friend to race against him. They both shook hands before they took position, and when she gave the signal, off they went . Now there were other children, besides the ones she trained, who had gathered to cheer the boys  on. 

She beamed happily when she heard cheering for her son and her student.

Now both the boys ran well. There was hardly anything to separate them. They ran neck and neck for most of the race. In the end it all came down to just hair. 

Her son managed to win the race.

Thr children ran to congratulate both of them. They formed a huge circle of a group hug. The strongest of them picked her son up out him on his shoulders, and danced around. It was as if they won the championship.

When they finally put him down, she walked to him and shook his hand and welcomed him. She knew in this all she was the winner, because in her son’s victory was her victory cause she was able to help him find himself that somehow got lost in transportation.