Visit from a Star

By Brian Soneda

Tim had cried all the way home. He and his father had gone to the Tigers-Jammers game to see his hero, Bobby Joe Rankin. Even though Bobby Joe had scored thirty points, the Tigers had lost badly. When Tim had asked Bobby Joe for his autograph after the game, the basketball player had said, “Scram, kid.” Tim couldn’t understand how a basketball star could be so mean.

“Tim, you have every right to be upset,” said his father. He put his arm around Tim’s shoulder as they sat together on the couch. “Being a star doesn’t give anyone the right to be rude to people. Perhaps you’d better choose a new hero. On the way out I told Uncle Bill what had happened. Maybe he can remind Bobby Joe that fans have feelings too.”

Uncle Bill was an assistant trainer for the Tigers. He helped the players when they got hurt, and he had given Tim and his father the tickets for the Tigers-Jammers game.

There was a knock on the door. Tim’s father got up to see who it was. “Tim, there’s someone here to see you.”

Tim looked up. And up and up. It was Bobby Joe Rankin—all six feet, nine inches of him! Bobby Joe smiled and walked in and sat on the floor, cross-legged, in front of Tim. In that position, their eyes were just about on the same level.

For a while no one said anything; then Bobby Joe said, “I’m sorry I yelled at you, Tim. I was upset about the game because I’d played terribly. I only got three rebounds, and I played bad defense. But I shouldn’t have taken it out on you. I’m sorry.”

Tim still couldn’t believe that Bobby Joe was actually sitting in front of him. It was several moments before he could get out, “That’s … that’s OK, Mr. Rankin.”

“Call me Bobby Joe, Tim.”

“OK, Mr. Rankin—I mean Bobby Joe. Hey, how did you know where to find me?”

“Well, after I showered, your Uncle Bill was waiting for me. Boy, did I get a chewing out.”

“You let Uncle Bill chew you out?” Tim asked, surprised. “But you’re the star of the team. And you’re a lot bigger than my uncle.”

Bobby Joe grinned. “Yes, I am. But so what? The important thing is that your uncle was right and I was wrong. So I took the scolding like a man. And now I want to shake your hand and thank you for forgiving me.”

Bobby Joe stuck out a huge hand, and Tim shook it. They both grinned like crazy. Then Tim remembered what he hadn’t been able to get at the game. “Bobby Joe, may I have your autograph now?”

“I was hoping that you’d ask.” The basketball player reached into an inside coat pocket and brought out a photograph of himself. At the bottom he had written, “For my friend, Tim Rusick. Best of luck. Your friend, Bobby Joe Rankin.”

Along with the picture were two tickets for the Tigers’ next home game, two weeks away.

“Wow! Thanks, Bobby Joe!”

“The seats are right behind the Tigers’ bench. Best seats in the house. I’ll play much better with my friends rooting for me!”

Tim could only repeat, “Thanks, Bobby Joe!”

The big man got up and headed for the door. As Tim’s father held the door open for him, Bobby Joe shook hands with Tim’s father and winked at Tim, saying, “See you at the game.”

After Bobby Joe had left, Tim gave the tickets to his father and stared happily at the picture in his hands. He looked up at his father and asked, “Dad, do you think it would be all right if I kept Bobby Joe Rankin for my hero?”

Mr. Rusick smiled. “I think that would be just fine.”

Illustrated by Matt Kesler