Flash Fiction

Kevin Williams, an aspiring young African-American athlete with many athletic gifts, is trying to fulfill his dream of making it to the NFL. 6’3” 290 lbs of pure heart and determination. In the final game of the season he has tore his ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) and scouts are beginning to count him out of the draft. Kevin states, “I will have to have surgery on my knee, or my dreams of making it to the pros are over.” “I will then go through extensive rehabilitation to repair the torn ligament in my knee”. For the next 7 months Kevin wakes up, goes to rehab, then to the gym, and then back home. This is his schedule to get him healthy before the NFL Draft Combine. Finally, the day is here, the NFL Draft Combine. Kevin claims, “My knee feels 100% healthy now, and just in time too. I feel like I can perform at an elite level.” Kevin has to go through the 40-yard dash, the vertical jump and the bench press. First up is the 40-yard dash, and Kevin breezes through it with a time of 4.36. That is an amazing time considering Kevin is a defensive lineman. Second, Kevin does the vertical jump event. His vertical jump is 36 inches!! This was another incredible score for someone of his size and stature. Finally, the last event is up, the bench press. In this event there will be 225 lbs. of weight on the bar and Kevin will see how many repetitions of the bar he can do. “Man this event could make or break my NFL career right here. The scouts will want a lineman will lots of strength.” Kevin reps the bar 20 times, the record is 25, but he starts to get tired. He thinks of all the people he would let down if he gives up now, his loving parents who have been there for him every day, his coaches, his friends and he wills through to rep the bar 7 more times. He sets a new NFL Combine record!! All the scouts are astonished by Kevin’s skill set. He is quick, agile and ridiculously strong. Finally, the NFL Draft is here, where the best young prospects in the country begin their NFL careers. Roger Goodell, the commissioner of the NFL goes to the podium and says, “With the first pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts select Kevin Williams!” Kevin immediately breaks into tears and walks up to the stage where he greets Roger Goodell. They shake hands and Goodell whispers in his ear, “Young man, I think you have a very bright future in the NFL.” 

...My piece of flash fiction talks about overcoming obstacles and shows that with heart and determination, obstacles can be overcome. It also talked about how when a dream may seem shattered you can pick it right back up and continue on trying to fulfill it. Kevin Williams did this when he tore his ACL and thought his football career was over, but he overcame that obstacle and he picked him self back up and persevered through to make it to the NFL...