Page 12 - LIfesOuttakes3

weren’t as well drawn, and at the bottom he had added “From Your Secret Admirer”. It was then that I realized that the praise and glory I had grown to take for granted was not part of his life. He had lived in my athletic shadow all through high school. And yet, I also realized that in many ways he made me what I was. He was the one that pushed me to be better, always there to take my place if I didn’t perform to the best of my ability, never stepping into the limelight himself. I can’t quite put into words the feelings I felt as I stood in front of his locker that evening, but I do remember my desire to do something about it. The next morning, I joined my friends in teasing Van about his “Secret Admirer”, keeping the secret truth I knew to myself, as he reveled in the attention. But later that day, I did ask the wonderful, beautiful young lady, who was our cheer queen, if we could visit privately. After making her promise to keep my secret, I told the story. “I would like you to do a favor for me,” I told her. 7