Page 20 of Scoring Chance
Seven
“It’s too hard!” Nine-year-old Dean complained to his father as he held onto the ice rink wall.
“You’re overthinking it,” Gavin casually skated over to his son and gripped his hand on the younger Winchester’s one. “You’re more scared of the fall than of the experience.”
Gavin Winchester skated around the McCormick-Tribute rink. A slender man with a slightly muscular build, Gavin personified grace and class. A construction foreman by day, Gavin worked hard to ensure his family had a roof over their head and clothes on their backs. He didn’t make a lot of money, and there were some lean times in the Winchester household, but he always made sure there were groceries and the lights were on.
For a special treat, Gavin took his youngest son out to learn how to ice skate. His older son and Dean’s brother, Chris, was an expert on the ice. Now it was Dean’s turn.
“What if I die on the ice?” Dean complained.
Gavin softly chuckled. “Do you honestly think you’re going to die on the ice?”
“What if I do?” Dean’s eyes were wide as the moon.
“What if I tell you if you keep thinking something, it’ll eventually happen?” Gavin replied. “You manifest your thoughts into reality.”
“So if I think I’m going to die on the ice, I will?”
“Yes. If you think you’re going to live forever, you will.” Gavin reassured.
“I’m going to be a millionaire!” Dean exclaimed. “A millionaire, billionaire, trillionaire!”
Gavin laughed. “If you think you will, you will.”
“And I’ll buy all the candy and give it to all of the kids everywhere!”
“That’s a lot of candy,” Gavin thought aloud.
“And I’ll share with you and Chris and Mom!” Dean smiled.
“That’s what I want to hear,” Gavin continued skating. “Always take care of your family. We’re all we have.”
“We’re all we have,” Dean repeated.
Dean suddenly let go of his father’s hand and struggled to skate on his own. His legs were wobbly and his balance was off. But his body was filled with determination, strength, and that made a huge difference. Gavin stopped along the side and watched his son skate, fall, and skate again. Dean would repeat that a few more times before he finally mastered it.
“See that, Dad?” Dean pointed. “You see? You see?”
“I see!” Gavin clapped and smiled. “I saw that, yes.”
Dean skated over to his father. “I thought you weren’t looking!”
Gavin kissed his son’s head and hugged him tight. “I’ll always watch over you, even when you think I’m not looking.”
“Even when you’re not around?”
“Even when I’m not around.”
Dean let out a small sigh as his attorney finalized the terms of his new deal with the Nike executives. He’d only wished his father was round to see what he’d become.
300 million.
300 million reasons to lead the Kings to several more championships.
300 million reasons to be on his best behavior.
300 million reasons Dean would never have to worry about family finances for the rest of his life.
