Paul had always loved playing and watching football. The Wilbur's adopted him when He was just 7 months.
Mother Eileen in the care home told him that He was brought here by a woman who claimed to have found Him at the park where kids play.
The Wilburs had been looking for an opportunity to adopt a child that young because it would make them feel more comfortable that it was theirs.
Mr. Wilbur had always expected that when Paul grows, He would take after His businesses. But, Paul seemed more attracted to football and wanted to be a footballer.
The saying you can force a Horse to the stream but can't cajole it to drink from it.
Mr. Wilbur gave up on trying to force Paul to be a businessman. After all Ronaldo, owns companies even though He is also the most popular footballer. When you enter Paul's room, at every inch and corner was His greatest aspiration. He always voiced that He would play with the premier leagues and then La Liga and other major leagues.
Mr. Wilbur though disappointed but was happy that even though the kid didn't want to be a businessman, His aspirations to be the best was gotten from Him. Mr. Wilbur is never satisfied with where He is, He always goes for the best and most times if the best is not cool, He creates another best.
Mr. Wilbur took Paul to a football school. He decided to support Paul with the agreement that if it doesn't go well, He would sign up for a business school which would prep him to take over the Wilbur's conglomerate.
It's been five months since Paul signed into the school and He had already made an impression to the top coach. The junior coaches normally take care of the warmups and training. The head coach always comes in once a month to access the check the progress report.
Whenever He comes to the pitch, the boys know that it was going to be a very tiring day. Hw works out the living daylight out of them.
"If you can't stand it, raise your white flag. There is not harm in quitting"
He's training required a lot of endurance and He does that till the last man standing. Paul was either the last man standing or He would be second to last man standing. Though that only happened once because He was really sick but He held out till He was the second to last man standing.
"Paul, the head coach wants to see you in His office". Junior coach Ray said.
Paul nodded and followed after Him to the Head coaches office.
"You can have a seat. Do you like you water cold or warm? He asked.
Cold Sir.
The coach picked up His own glass and Paul seemed to observe that He moved majorly with His left hand. Paul was also left-handed, He taught to Himself, "maybe that's why I really find Him interesting because we share a common trait."
Beside His table was a picture of Him carrying a little child and face of the child seemed a little familiar. At first, Paul thought, it was from one of the millions of baby showers He had attended. Mr. Wilbur always valued relationships, So He tried his best to always attend most of the celebrations from family and acquaintances.
Paul couldn't help but feel restless about the picture He saw at the Head coaches office. The Head coach had invited Him to discuss Him signing up for the junior league for New castle football club.
Though Paul's joy knew no bound and He couldn't wait to tell His Parents, the picture of the child He saw bothered Him. Weekends the school allow the boys to go home and come back on Monday to continue their practice. In his Mum's room was a photo album of all the celebrations they've attended. Paul always wondered why His Mum kept those pictures. But right now, He could see that His Mum was really amazing.
He took the albums to his room and kept looking through them until He saw what He was looking for. The same Kid He saw with Coach Ralph, was also in the arms of His Parents.
He immediately took the picture to His Mum, "Mum, who is this?"
The Mum took the picture with smiles on her face. "The two happiest days of my life was when I married your Dad and the day you came into this family. We just took you from the home and immediately I set my eyes on you, I knew you were the silver lining in all our years of trying to be parents".
That was when it dawned on Paul that Coach Ralph was His real father. No wonder, He was drawn to football and was also left-handed. Which begged the billion dollar question, "Why did He abandon His Son when it's so clear that He was financially stable?"
Paul couldn't wait for the weekend to end because He had to meet the coach.
It was a Monday morning, the driver had barely parked the car when Paul jumped out and straight to the Head coaches office.
He placed the picture on the desk. The head coach picked it up and it was clear that the baby in the picture was the same baby which He held on his arm.
"Are you Donald?" Coach Ralph asked.
"Why did you abandon me?" Paul asked.
I didn't abandon you. Fine, I did but I came back for you when realised I made a mistake and you were gone. I've searched for you for years. Your Mum passed away immediately after giving birth to you. I was left with so much pain and I didn't even know what I was doing. You cried everyday and it broke my heart. A part of me felt you blamed me for your Mum's death, alot of thought waved through my mind.
I took you to the park that day because you seemed calm. I left you there when no one was looking. I had barely walked fifty steps when I realized I couldn't live without you and I ran back but you were no where to be found. It was as if you were stolen because nobody admitted to have seen you.
That was when it dawned on them that Paul had followed His father's footstep even though He never knew Him at first. There are some things you can't hide away even though you tried, they are stamped in the DNA and every fibre of your being.
Why is that?
Because, He is your Father.