Maybe next week, buddy." The Words Every Parent Dreads. Then a Legend Stepped In

 Maybe next week, buddy." The Words Every Parent Dreads. Then a Legend Stepped In

It was just another Tuesday at the sporting goods store.
No big sales. No fanfare.
Just a tired man in worn boots holding a box of clearance cleats.
He looked like he hadn’t slept much.
One hand gripped a pay stub.
The other held the hand of a boy—maybe 8 years old—grinning ear to ear.
“These the ones, Dad?” the boy asked.
The man nodded.
But when they got to the counter, the total was more than he expected.
Tax had pushed it past what he had.
He stared at the screen, then slowly turned to his son.
“Maybe next week, buddy.”
The boy tried to smile.
“It’s okay, Dad.”