When my 8th grader made his announcement, he did not utter the words we expected to hear. Instead, he said “Nelson Agholor. That’s my answer,” and walked out of the room with a grin on his face.
He waited until the evening before his enrollment letter was due at one of the high schools he was considering to finalize his decision. Go to the school that seems a little shinier, a little bigger? Or follow his brother?
“I’ll tell you at dinner.” So, I made his favorite steak and mashed potatoes to celebrate Decision Night.
Then… “I want to be eating ice cream when I tell you.”
We waited. Maybe he was nervous. Our 9th grader was holding his breath, hoping…
“Four score and seven years ago,” the 8th grader began.
“Remember, that was a short speech,” his Dad said.
He stopped. “Nelson Agholor.”
What? Who?
We had to look him up. Nelson Agholor, born in Nigeria, is a wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles. Not the most famous NFLer, in 2017, he became a league leader in third down receptions and made some of the best, most important catches of the Eagles’ season.
The Eagles.
Only our 8th grader would turn his announcement into a sports challenge.
He chose to be with his brother…. but admitted to a second-string NBA point guard picked out for the other school, just in case he changed his mind in the moment.
jennswondering 
Made me cry. “He chose to be with his brother”. Yeah Kelly brothers!