Photo By: www.mbymphotos.com
SATURDAY MORNING TOURNAMENT DAYS
It is still dark out when my alarm clock beeps. I have a tournament today, so no one has to shake me or yell at me to get a move on. I was so excited last night as I carefully folded my uniform into my bag and made sure I packed my shoes and my lucky wristbands. I even put out our team sweat suit.
After I get dressed and wash up I tiptoe to the kitchen to grab a water bottle and a few snacks that my mom prepared for me and left in the fridge. My dad is already at the stove making eggs and toast. We sit down together to eat. Neither one of us talks—we’re just two men eating before the day begins. It is a quiet time we both enjoy.
We clear our plates, trying not to make any noise, and my dad motions for me to follow him to the garage. We slip into the car and away we go. There’s only one destination to get to before we make our way to the tournament. You can probably guess what it is: Tim Horton’s.
Photographer: Brent Lewin/Bloomberg via Getty Images
It has become a ritual that we both love. We stop and go into the store. He orders a double-double and I pick the cheese croissant. I always ask the same question: “Can I try a sip of your coffee?” I am always secretly hoping that I will one day like the taste of it. But so far each time the coffee hits my lips I cringe and shake my head. My dad laughs every time. I watch him drink his coffee and read his paper, seeming completely content.
I often used to wonder if he liked waking up so early on so many weekends and taking me to these tournaments. He certainly never complained about it, and he was always fun to be with, so I decided a while ago that he really does like it. But sometimes I am not sure which he likes best—watching me play or our morning tournament routine. Come to think of it, I’m not even sure which I like best—playing on a great team with a bunch of my friends or having this special time with my dad.
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