Todays Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul

[Guest guest]

The Special Gift

By Adel Guzzo

was just a little kid, about eight years old. When I first met

him

one summer day he wore a Chicago Bulls cap and baggy shorts that needed a

belt.

He carried a bag stocked with four clubs and plenty of balls. Once when he

took

off his cap, I noticed he had no hair. He was a lot smaller than other kids

his

age. Still, he always seemed to be smiling whenever I would see him with

his

pals, trying his darndest to hit as far as they did.

I played with once in a while. He told me that he always had the

best

chance when playing a par-3 because he could usually make it to the green.

A year or so passed and I hadn't seen around the course. I had

heard

that his cancer was getting the best of him. Still, his friends said he was

going to try to get out and play a few times before fall.

Sure enough, he was there the following week. My group went out just

ahead

of him. I noticed that one of his buddies was carrying 's bag. " Watch

out! " I heard tell his pals. " I feel kinda lucky today! "

Despite his words, was having an awful time trying to drive the

ball.

He and his friends arrived at the last par-3. His friends had all hit, and

was up on the tee. He brought his club back and hit the ball as hard as his

fragile body would allow. It flew up to the green and out of sight. One of

his

friends helped walk up to the green. It was a tough walk because the

green

was higher than the tee. I could see searching for his ball as he

stopped

to catch his breath.

's buddies were looking for their balls behind the green. Out of

the

corner of my eye I saw one of his friends pick up 's ball and drop it in

the

hole. Then he ran and pretended to look for his own ball. He caught me

staring

at him and winked.

When finally got to the green he was disappointed because he

thought

he hit over. Then he glanced in the hole. What a smile lit up his face!

The

boys looked at each other and said, " You can't tell me it's a hole-in-one! "

" No

way, , that you put it in there! "

" No, really! Look! " he said. They all acted surprised and as I

watched, I

thought looked like the happiest guy I had ever seen. I never saw

or

his friends after that day. But it was then that I learned just what golf

should be.

It's not about what score you get or how far you drive. It is about

caring

for the friends you play with and enjoying the time you have with them.