Ally Becker came home from school after Varsity basketball practice and was extremely gleeful. She looked frantically for her Father and walked into the kitchen, the laundry room and finally the living room. "Dad!!" Ally yelled.
"I'll be right there, Ally," he said calmly. Ally could not contain herself and certainly could not sit. After two minutes, her father walked into the living room to greet her.
Without even saying 'Hello' or letting her Father say 'Hello,' Ally burst into words.
"Dad! Dad! You've gotta meet this woman who spoke at my school this afternoon. She's one of the most amazing people I've ever met! Her name is Alecia Manning and she's part owner of this R & B club downtown that just opened. She's invited the entire school to come by anytime to check out what she's created through inspiration. "
"Ally, I'm tickled that you're excited," her Father said with joy. "When are you planning on going to this R & B club?" "Tomorrow ? Friday," said Ally. "Tomorrow night, I have an appointment with Evans?" "Dad! Why can't ?" "BUT," He interrupted his daughter. "I will phone Evans and let him know if we can schedule an earlier appointment. He's pretty cool about those things. Ally, I have got to meet anyone who inspires you this much!" "Dad!" she said with exasperation. "I will be at the club tomorrow night. I have always done the things that were important to you. I have always made time to see all of your home Varsity basketball games. I have rearranged appointments to see your away games." "You're right, Dad. You have been there for me since Mom died. I know you're doing your best to do what Mom used to do for me and ?" "No, Ally," he interjected. "What your Mother did for you was amazing. No one can take her place." Father and daughter hugged tearfully.
The next night, Mr. Becker went to the club's entrance only to find a couple of men standing guard. Both men looked like they could play defense for any NFL team. "I'm sorry, sir," one of the men said regretfully. "You're gonna have to stay here for a few minutes." "That's fine," said Mr. Becker. Becker pulled out his cell phone and made a call while he was waiting. As soon as he hung up his mobile phone, he heard a loud joyful female yell.
"Mr. Becker?!?" yelled the woman. "Alecia?" asked Mr. Becker pleasantly surprised. The woman ran to him and gave him a gigantic hug. "Oh, I'm sorry, Mrs. Manning," said one of the men at the entrance. "I didn't know he was with you." "That's alright, Wyatt," Alecia said to the man with a huge smile. "This is a very dear friend. The man who I told you all about that gave me the chance to start and succeed. The man who helped me get scholarships from the store where I worked and where he was store manager." Mr. Becker smiled proudly of the woman. The woman continued, "Mr. Becker is the man who got me reasonable daycare for my son, Alfonzo. He's 11 now."
"Alfonzo is 11?" asked Mr. Becker with disbelief. "Was it really ten years ago, Alecia? You were just out of high school and it was just you and little Alonzo." "Big Alonzo, now!" exclaimed Alecia. They both laughed heartily. "You're the Alecia who inspired my daughter," Mr. Becker said with affirmation. Alecia and Mr. Becker walked through the club's entrance and he was amazed by all that Alecia was responsible for. "You always said that you wanted to open a club. You did it!" said Mr. Becker sounding like a proud Father. "Thanks to you," Alecia said with a tear in her eye. "Ten years ago, you're the only one who believed in me, Mr. Becker. You always told me that whatever I strove for, I could get." "Remember what I used to always tell you about Michael Jordan," Mr. Becker reminded her. "He was not a great high school basketball player, but all it took was one person to tell him that he believed in him." "Just like you did with me," Alecia reminded Becker. "I remember you as Alecia Harris when you worked at the store," recalled Becker. "Yes I was Alecia Harris, then Jamal and I got married," she explained. "You and Jamal got married?" Becker asked gleefully. "Five years ago." "Congratulations!" "Thanks," she grinned. "I didn't know his last name," Becker said apologetically. "Otherwise, I probably would have known you were the one who inspired my daughter by the talk you gave at her school this afternoon. "Yes, I did give that talk this afternoon. Mr. Becker, my schedule can be so hectic nowadays with promoting the club and giving talks to students. It's hard to keep track of what I did yesterday."
As the two continued to talk, a high school gal walked up to them. "Dad! Mrs. Manning!" she said with delight. Becker and Alecia smiled. "Well, Hello Ally," said Alecia. "Mr. Becker is your Father?" Alecia was delighted with wonder. "You two KNOW each other?" asked Ally. "Yes," said Alecia. Ally's jaw dropped as Alecia continued. "He's the man I spoke about this afternoon at your school who used to tell me all the time about the Michael Jordan High School story. He's the one who inspired me to earn my Bachelor's degree." "MY Dad is the one who did that for you?" Ally asked in amazement. "Yep," Alecia said affirmatively. "You see, Ally," she continued. "Your Dad knows more than you think." She looked at Becker. "My Dad tells me that Michael Jordan story all of the time," gasped Ally. "He's right, you know," said Alecia convincingly. "All it DOES take is one person to tell you that he or she believes in you." "Wow!" Ally said with newfound excitement and knowledge. "My Dad IS pretty cool after all." They all laughed.
North Notes is a writing and researching company, which primarily helps writers gain focus, motivation, remove mental blocks that help to unblock the writing process. EVERYONE who writes has been stuck at some point in his or her career. You do not have to accept these mind-boggling roadblocks!
(586) 216-7516
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|


Direct Answers - Column for the week of September 9,... Read More
The eyes are the portals of the inner self; the... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of June 23,... Read More
A good number of my columns deal with finances and... Read More
There once was a happy monkey wandering the jungle, eating... Read More
What is essential in your life? This question contains one... Read More
The Nazis stormed into the house of Stanislavsky Lech, who... Read More
Copyright 2004 Priya Shah A while ago I... Read More
Mature selfishness is the cornerstone of effectively living with passion... Read More
We have given a lot of thought, paid an indecent... Read More
Give people more than they expect and do it... Read More
The greatest achievements were obtained by those who took one... Read More
Many people feel they have everything they need in life,... Read More
Have you ever thought of what it would take to... Read More
The first few hours in this world, when we as... Read More
Resistance is not a new word, but for many of... Read More
Isn't that an appealing title? How to Have an Effortless... Read More
The direction of our lives is determined by the choices... Read More
What am I supposed to do with my life? Shouldn't... Read More
Mankind's ability to give life to lifeless objects, gives rise... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of December 6,... Read More
"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and... Read More
Wisdom and knowledge come from the same family but are... Read More
I am sitting before a window of morning light "losing... Read More
The strength and durability of a building is found in... Read More
1 Samuel 16:7"...The Lord does not look at the things... Read More
Somebody said you have to love what you do, but... Read More
Perhaps I should ask my doctor if there is a... Read More
*In the last couple of months, I have been fortunate... Read More
In the moment of completing a thought or action, it... Read More
Here's something you can do each day that will REALLY... Read More
Not long ago, I attended a seminar that featured Naomi... Read More
I will persist until I succeed. Always will I take... Read More


"I was washing my breakfast dishes one morning when it... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of November 24,... Read More
Two-year-old Owen goes to speech therapy twice a week. The... Read More
Ju was physically abused as a child. She lived with... Read More
There is a story about a little girl who suffered... Read More
My perception is that universe infinitely blesses us every moment.... Read More
Safety is an interesting concept. When we think of safety... Read More
It's interesting how we intellectually know that tomorrow will be... Read More
Yesterday I was but a child, looking. Looking ahead at... Read More
I hate saying that. It feels so very wrong. It's... Read More
1. Once a week, visit somewhere you've never been before.... Read More
It is fun to watch movies of those with super... Read More
Have you ever had one of those flashes of inspiration?... Read More
I had been fighting with the software program that I... Read More
Notes are very powerful. They express your thanks, encouragement, sympathy,... Read More
Whenever we are working on our dreams we are going... Read More
Albert Einstein is quoted as having said, "the world is... Read More
Our deepest fear us not that we are inadequate. Our... Read More
PART 1: Warning - This article may be inappropriate for... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of September 9,... Read More
You have just completed a major work project before the... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of November 3,... Read More
Are you looking for the meaning of life?You work all... Read More
I stared into those biggest of navy blue eyes and... Read More
So who is Dr Robert Anthony?He is the best-selling author... Read More
The Nazis stormed into the house of Stanislavsky Lech, who... Read More
Do you have the charactertics to be star in their... Read More
BORN OF BODY AND SPIRITWe are born of the body... Read More
I will persist until I succeed. Always will I take... Read More
Once upon a time, in ancient India, a beggar favored... Read More
Matthew 5:14-16You are the light of the world. A city... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of October 14,... Read More
This week I did a radical thing. I bought a... Read More
Inspirational |