"Boss you have got something,"
"What is it?" said Liam looking at it.
"Hmm.. don't know,"
Liam took it and opened it. But there was no sender, so it's just placed here by someone. With just a note on the back,
"If you remember meet me at 3 pm at the gallery,"
The photo.
"Boss, you want me to burn this?"
"Just get out of here" was all Liam could say. As his emotions were running everywhere.
Again he stared at the photo with memories flooding down.
----------------
He saw Dave first when he was holding Sarah on his shoulder and walking toward his team at one of the qualifying basketball matches. The little girl was spoiled by the teammates who gave each of them good luck kisses and patted their heads, making it a cute scene, till her father got her from Dave.
"Hmm... that's their little good luck charm," said one of my teammates.
"What do you mean?" Liam asked.
"She is the team lead, Dave's little sister. He brings her to every game,"
"She's cute,"
The game starts and as usual, in the end, Dave's team wins with a record. While I was going back I saw this little girl walking around, guess she was looking for her brother, who was crowned by the girls and the others. So I scooped down to her size,
"Are you looking for your brother?" I asked smiling at her.
To which she nodded yes while holding tight the lolly in her hand.
"Can I take you to him?"
"Ok," she said in a cute little voice.
So I scooped her up and took her through the crowd to Liam. He saw me coming with her in my arms. He quickly came to me with a smile. And I noticed a trail of reporters following as well.
"Hi, little Bud, did you get lost?" he asked taking her from me.
"She was lost looking for you in the crowd so I bought her to you," I said with a bit of shyness as he was a famous player and I was worried he might be angry.
"Thank you so much, Liam, if you didn't help she could have got lost," said Dave.
"You know my name?"
"Yes, I am very impressed with the way you play. You are good," he said smiling and creasing the hair of the little girl in his hand.
"Hope we will get to play together," I said.
"Yes, hmm... I want to properly thank you,. Give me your number so we'll meet up for a lunch,"
"OK," I said and gave him my number to be in touch. He seems a good kind-hearted guy, that everyone loves so much.
"Sweety, what do you say to this big brother, because he bought you to me?" Dave asked the girl.
"Sarah, sweety, don't you say Thank you?" he asked her again. She looked at Dave and then at me and showed me her lollypop.
I looked at Dave.
"She wants you to have it," he said smiling. "She never shares it with anyone unless she finds them comfortable to be with," he added.
"Thank you little Sarah," I said taking the lollies from her just to hear her say,
"Thank you," and shyly grab her brother's neck.
"Thanks, man, and wait for my call. I have to find mother and give her or she will get worried now," he said and waved bye and went back.
I went back to my team. They were excited that I got the phone number of the basketball idol in their life. I looked back to see, Liam giving some answers to the questions asked by the media while holding Sarah, who was quietly creasing his hair with her little hands.
The next day, the media was reporting our exchange with Little Sarah, as a major event that happened. Well when it comes to Dave, who is already a national-level player, everyone was happy to see his sensitive side. And as promised he called me to have lunch with him this coming Friday.
That day we talked a lot about basketball and other things. He was an all-rounder. The knowledge he had was immense and while talking with him. you don't realize how time passes.
"So your little sis, she special?" I asked him.
"Hmm.. yes. When she looked at you with those baby eyes, you really don't want to do anything bad," he said with, such love, in his eyes.
I wish I had a sister like her. And that was the day this photo was taken. A day a memorable friendship started as well as the revenge plot of my grandfather's.