It was late when we finally got home. It had been a very quiet car ride from the ACC. It wasn’t just that it was like we were driving to—or away from—a funeral, but that I’d been the guy who’d done the killing.
I felt bad. I felt worse than bad. My mother said all the correct things about how what I did was “right,” but she was my mother. She was supposed to try to make me feel better. It was, after all, part of her job description.
Even though it was late, I’d hoped that somebody would have called or even emailed to tell me it was okay, but there hadn’t been word one from anybody. Then the computer binged—I had mail.
I jumped up off my bed, rushed to the computer and then hesitated. Just because somebody was sending me an email didn’t mean it was going to be a good email. Maybe somebody was writing to tell me what a jerk I’d been and how I’d lost them a chance of a lifetime. But if I didn’t look, I wouldn’t know, and it wasn’t like not looking was going to change it.
I clicked on my email. One new message—it was from Jerome! That was great…unless he was going to tell me that I was wrong.
I looked at the subject line. It read The Challenge. I opened the email.
Hey Nick,
I think what you did tonight took a lot of guts.I’m proud of you. The question now is are you ready for a real challenge, to show leadership and help others?
I didn’t know what he meant by that. How was I supposed to help anybody? I’m just a kid.
Johnnie and I have been thinking about a project that you and your entire school could team up on to make a huge difference in the world.
You know Johnnie and I were in Africa with the Basketball Without Borders program and I’d mentioned how those kids there love the game but can’t even afford shoes to wear. Well, you know Johnnie. He started thinking and decided to call our youngest brother, Joshua, who works at the Basketball Hall of Fame, for some suggestions.
Joshua just emailed us back with the information about an organization that could help put shoes on the feet of those children over there in South Africa and other places.
I want you to visit their website, www.soles-4souls.org, to find out how your team can inspire every student in the school to donate a pair of used shoes to kids like Tulani—that boy I mentioned I’d met in South Africa—who really need them.
I don’t usually ask for favors, but I need your help with this and I know you’re the type of leader who can make this happen.
JYD
P.S. I hope you enjoyed the game tonight in the owners’ suite…and I’m proud of your decision!
There wasn’t much question. If Jerome wanted my help, he’d get my help. After all that he’d done for me, I owed him.