Dreams and Uncle Bobby

I always say my prayers before I go to sleep at night. This helps me have a good, restful night’s sleep, plus hope that my dreams come true. My dream is to one day play basketball for Duke University. Basketball is the best and most exciting game in the world. My first game was in February of 1986 when my Mom took me to see Madison High School play against Marshall. I have been hooked from the age of three weeks.
When I was 4, I told Dad that I wanted to be either Grant Hill or Michael Jordan when I grew up. My Dad did not know who either one of these players were and had to ask my Mom: “Who is Stuart talking about? How does he know what he wants to do when he grows up?” Once my Mom explained everything, my Dad went out and bought me a regulation-sized hoop and basketball. When I was 4, Grant Hill was a senior at South Lakes High School. My family actually saw him play in his last regular season game, which Madison lost. I don’t really remember much about that game, but it is exciting knowing that I was able to see Grant Hill.

At the age of 4 1/2, I announced at the dinner table that I knew where I was going to go to school. My Mom said, “Yes, Stuart, you are going to Louise Archer Elementary School.” I said, “No, Mom, I know where I am going to college.” My parents thought that this was funny coming from a child but listened anyway. I said, “I am going to go to Duke University and play basketball like Grant Hill.”
I have played basketball on Vienna teams since I was 8 years old. For the past four years I have played on the Vienna county teams. Last year my team did not lose a game. We even had our picture in The Washington Post as the “Team of the Week.”

A few years ago, my family was vacationing in of North Carolina. My Dad decided to surprise me with a side trip to the Duke campus, including Cameron Hall, where Duke plays its home games. This just reinforced my dream. This year I am playing for Madison High School’s freshman team. I am not going to ever give up my dream of playing for Duke. I know that I have to play very hard defensively, plus make the lay-ups, foul shots and three-pointers. I will pray that God is able to guide me to reach my dream.

— Stuart Rawlinson, age 15

My Uncle Bobby is the funniest person I have ever known. When I talk to him, he makes up things about famous people. He can make me laugh for hours. The last time I saw him was when my Grandmomma died in January of 2000. We were all very sad and unhappy. He worked very hard to help me laugh. He did not want me to be sad about Grandmomma.

One of the first stories that he told me was that a very popular actress was no longer making movies, but was now working at McDonald’s saying, “Would you like anything with that drink?” I thought that this was really funny since this actress had made many movies that have made millions of dollars. That was the first time that I had ever heard him say something like that. He now knows that he can make me laugh by telling me stories about people from the movies, television and music. Whenever he calls I tell him that I do not believe anything that he tells me, but I listen and laugh out loud anyway. If I ever feel sad or unhappy, I think of Uncle Bobby and his stories. They make me smile, laugh and know that everything is going to be all right.

— Zachary Rawlinson, age 12