The Young Lion

Jamie Brown is a tiny little guy.

He dropped out of school at the age of 14 and began to wander the streets. He was used by street gangsters to earn extra money as a drug courier and was sanctioned. When he was 17, he began to work and live a life of prostitution, with a low salary, doing nothing every day.

He has the same problem as 99.999% of the world: lack of money.

It's not surprising that a person like him has a few bad friends.

Stealing is also commonplace.

However, when Aldrich's home was burglarized yesterday, his role was that of a driver, and there were others in the burglary, and he was in charge of responding outside.

He didn't know that it was Aldridge's home, and Millwall fans hardly knew where Aldridge lived, and Aldridge would not announce such information to the public, nor would the newspapers publish his home. The grade is published in detail, otherwise you have to wait to receive a lawyer's letter.

After the theft came to a safe place, Jamie discovered something strange when dividing the spoils.

They worked all night to pry open the safe. Aldrich's safe was not embedded in the wall, but placed in a cabinet in the study. It was not too big, so it was taken away by this group of people.

When Jamie opened the box where the medals were stored, his accomplices thought they were gold medals, and he immediately realized who they might have stolen.

Because each medal is engraved with the year and event.

1996 League Cup, 96 FA Cup, 1997 Premier League Championship Medal, 98 Champions League Medal

Fear welled up in Jamie at that moment.

As long as you know which team won the honor that year, you will know who these medals belong to.

Millwall!

And from 1996 to last season, someone who has been able to win so many medals. Actually the range is already very small.

From 95. Millwall players or managers who have played so far!

Jamie guarded the box tightly when his accomplices asked to divide up the medals before selling them off. He doesn't want cash, precious jewelry, watches, and other valuable things, but he wants this box.

I also blame his companion for being ignorant. After seeing a medal, he found that it was not pure gold.

Not much interest. If they know the goods, they are willing to hide them for a few years before selling them. This box of medals will allow them to get a check for more than one million pounds.

Seeing that Jamie didn't want cash and those valuables that could be cashed out directly, his accomplices followed his will and the spoils ended.

Jamie's inner fear stems from his family's football beliefs. In his memory, his family has been fans of Millwall since his grandfather. Maybe earlier, from my grandfather.

In his less than 20 years of life. He doesn't have anything to be proud of, no, appearance, connotation, knowledge, technology, etc. He has low self-esteem, and he lives at the bottom of society. Others are glamorous, but he is like a sewer The stinky mouse in.

But his only pride is that he dared to stand up and tell everyone, the words he said out loud were: I am a Millwall fan!

If he told his friends, he would say countless times that his father, his grandfather, and his family were all Millwall fans.

Ironically, before he joined the gang of thieves, he fantasized about using the proceeds from the theft to buy season tickets for next season's Millwall so he wouldn't have to save up a month's wages to go to another Millwall game , His salary is only enough to satisfy him that he can only watch one Millwall game a month.

This is where the fear comes from. The object of his theft is actually the hero in his mind.

After watching the news during the day, he was sure. It turned out that it wasn't Nedved, Southgate and others whose homes were stolen. He could think of a character but didn't dare to think about it, which made him feel dizzy.

He actually stole something that belonged to Aldridge.

Aldrich, in his heart, is no longer a character at the level of a hero, but a god!

Jamie has imagined countless times that he can challenge everything and conquer everything as boldly, courageously, chicly and flamboyantly as Aldrich. Seven years ago, when he was 12 years old, he got a birthday present from his father on his birthday: two Millwall home tickets. On that day, he and his father witnessed at home that Millwall eliminated the giants Arsenal in the cup match, Aldridge defeated Graham, and Aldridge attacked Graham at the press conference. Since then, Aldrich has been deified in Jamie's heart!

Mr. Hall, I don't know how to face you. You have always been the person I admire the most in my heart. I have nothing and nothing. My greatest happiness is to wear the Millwall jersey and walk into the Lion King Stadium. Watching my beloved Wild Lions from the stands, now I can't even say I'm a loyal Millwall fan, maybe prison is where I should be

Jamie cried, very sadly.

The only belief in his heart, the only pride, was shattered by himself, as if in an instant, the only ray of light left in the gray world was also extinguished.

Maybe it was this kind of emotion that made him come here in person to ensure that what belonged to Aldrich could be returned to him instead of using other clever ways. He was afraid that if there was another accident midway, he didn't dare to think about it.

With Aldridge's mentality, he looked at Jamie at this time, in fact, it was not much different from Bert and Earl, they were all children.

Just a child who was unfortunate and lacked the right guidance and comfort. There are many such children in the world. Aldridge has seen too many similar situations in the course of his persistent philanthropic work over the past few years.

You gave it back to me, proving that in your heart, there is still something worth defending, Jamie, are you afraid?

Aldridge asked softly.

Jamie, who was sobbing, nodded fiercely. He was indeed afraid, afraid to face all this, and the whole incident was like a nightmare hanging over him.

When the only thing he cares about and is proud of is trampled and defiled by himself, he is losing the meaning of his life.

Others talk about life ideals and great ambitions. That has nothing to do with him. Little guy like him. In the muddle of life, there are not so many pursuits, because he has no ability to pursue them.

Aldridge opened the box again and took out a brand new medal with the words 20012002 England League Cup engraved on it, which is the championship medal that Millwall just won at the beginning of the month.

He handed the medal to Jamie and said softly: Maybe you don't believe it, but I really thank you. If it weren't for you, maybe I would have lost these medals forever. You are scared, which is good, good, because , Without fear, there is no courage. Only in the face of fear can courage be bred. I. And my team, have been afraid of Arsenal. Liverpool, Manchester United, Barcelona, ​​Real Madrid, Juventus and many other opponents, But when we were afraid of them, we chose to have the courage to defeat them. This is the charm of football, and this is one of the reasons why I love this sport. This medal, for you, is my thank you, and I hope , it can bring you courage, change yourself, dare to dream, dare to put into action, when you are afraid, look at it, hold it, and then tell yourself that you are not afraid of all difficulties, give yourself the most powerful belief and courage , overcome difficulties, you are only 19 years old, you still have 50 years, 60 years, 70 years, or even longer, don't say you should stay in prison.

With tears streaming down his face, Jamie looked down at the medal that Aldridge handed over. Under the bright moonlight, the medal reflected a faint light. With tears in his eyes, the light made Jamie feel a dazzling light.

He raised his hands and tremblingly wanted to take the medal, but retreated back, choked up and said, Mr. Hall, I don't deserve it.

There is no unworthiness, only fear and courage, remember? I just said, you are afraid now, what you need is courage, take courage, hold it.

Aldrich still didn't take back his outstretched hand.

Jamie hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and held the medal in the palm of his hand trembling like a treasure, then held it gently, closed his eyes and felt it with his heart. At this moment, it seemed that something incredible happened, Jamie seemed to really It can be noticed that the trembling heart became stable, and an invisible force penetrated his whole body, making him put away his tears and stabilize his emotions.

When he opened his eyes again, Jamie turned his head and looked at Aldrich. This time, there was no panic or avoidance in his eyes.

He saw Aldridge smiling, with tears on his face, and said, Mr. Hall, thank you, it really seems to have magic power.

Aldrich smiled, and gave Jamie a medal. Maybe it was just a spur of the moment, but what really moved him might be Jamie's tears. If he didn't love Millwall to the extreme, he wouldn't have such a reaction .

After staying here for many years, what Aldridge feels the most is the fan culture. The die-hard England fans have really infiltrated football genes into their bones, and derived many extreme emotions.

Die-hard fans of West Ham United, knowing that they will be banned for life, still carry flags into the field to disrupt the game, just to declare the dignity of the Hammers. In other parts of the world, people will 100% be called crazy and crazy, but in England , no one will find it strange that extreme love and hate will lead to extreme crazy behavior.

Jamie, have a dream and take the courage to act. What if it really comes true?

Aldrich smiled at him.

Jamie wiped his face, stared at Aldrich sincerely, and showed a smile. He was ordinary, but his smile was pretty because he had two dimples.

Mr. Hall, I want to be like you.

Aldridge was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and said, No, you will never become me, just like the media used to say that I would become Ferguson, Paisley, Shankly, or Chapman, no , I am me, you, and yourself, everyone is unique.

Jamie quickly said: No, I mean, I want to be a football coach. Since I was 12 years old, I have been dreaming that one day I will be able to sweep all opponents like you leading the Wild Lions.

Aldridge raised his eyebrows and said with a smile: Then you should study, and work hard for what you dream of doing.

Jamie lowered his head and said, I have no money.

This is the reality, the reality that stands in the way of human dreams.

Do you need money to learn to be a coach? Of course, there is no free lunch in the world. Moreover, he has to live independently, to eat, to sleep, to have clothes, and to have all the necessities of life.

Aldridge is in a good mood now, and with his energy, the cost of helping people to the end is negligible, everything depends on how he feels.

Jamie, if you really make up your mind to do it, I can give you a chance. (To be continued...) ()