He is considered a man. Yet still a baby in his mother’s eyes. She remembers the memories of him scraping his knee while playing. And of his tears after his lost games. How he was so close but just didn’t win.
The game is different now. He’s a day over eighteen and off. To a place unknown. A place dreaded. The goal is still to win, but also to get home. There will be more than tears if this game is lost. More than a hurt ego. Side by side. Mother’s babies take sides and the game begins. They can’t watch from the sidelines anymore. They can’t cheer them on and see a smile. All they can do is hope. And pray. Waiting for a call…a letter. They tell themselves no news…is good news. They can’t comfort their children anymore. That’s what the brothers are there for. The brothers pick them up and the brothers push them onward. Onward to win. Onward to the unknown.