FAILURE OF A VICTORY

“Liam, get up! It is 6:30 already!” Leannes’s voice rang out as she shook her brother so violently she could almost fact his bones rattle.

Liam sprang out of bed and headed to the bathroom. Within fifteen minutes, he came out and rushed to get dressed for lectures. Without, he left the house only to meet the “rush hour” in full progress. There was traffic everywhere. He heaved a huge sigh and slumped back in the backseat of the taxi as he read Ben Carson’s “Gifted Hands”. He was really getting some motivation that morning.

Right after lectures, he looked for his friends, Jacob and Manuel. It was then he received a text message from the president of the Debate Club. There was an urgent meeting. He wondered what came up.

There was a debate competition with a juicy prize up for grabs. Liam was a standby debater but not one the club could do without. He joined his twin sister, Leeanne who was already seated Leeanne was a gifted writer who he admired and adored. She was just the best sister alive to him.

“Hey sis, when did you get here?” He put an arm around her neck. “An hour ago.” She replied and learned back to reading. A law student, she was always reading. He found himself picking up that habit. It was good anyway.

They discussed the pending debate and gathered as many points as they could. It was decided that they met the following day to choose the speakers.
After lecturers the following day, the group met and chose their speakers. One of them was the reigning King of Eloquence by virtue of his performance at the previous years debate competition which placed their club second best in the nation. Liam was not one of the speakers that but was ever ready as always to help the speakers.
Five days after, of of the speakers fell sick. As the d-day loomed near, the club could not risk waiting on him to make a full recovery. Liam was elected to take his place. His joy knew no bounds. This wash his chance. He was giving to prove to everybody his ability. He would never be relegated to the background anymore because he had the confidence and had trained for very long for this chance Leeanne read her brother and was all smiles while she encouraged him on.

Liam worked hard. Having to balance studies and practice. Leeanne served him and worshipped him. He did not have time for her or his friends or family. That was to show how he was bent on taking the club forward.

Day by day he perfected the art of debating. He played tapes and CDs and practiced real hard. He was a real epitome of determination.
His university’s club was in a kind of rivalry with another and he was bent on claiming the first little at all cost! At all cost!
Everyone saw little of Liam. He needed success. That day, everyone got crowded in the great hall of a neutral university. It was the grand finale of the debate competition. Having led his club through the preliminaries, Liam came face to face with his club’s long time rival. Defending champions.

All too soon the fierce debate which got Liam sweating was over. He cringed. What had he done? He wished Leeanne was there with him. He hoped Jacob and Manuel were there he completely forgot of the appointment he had with his friends. They needed to catch up on some topic they both missed and he promised them but the debate got in his way. He did not even inform Leeanne that morning when he was leaving. He had not seen her for days.

His name was mentioned. The Best Debate! He made the sign of the cross and thanked God. S he was no disappointment after all. But did his club? As it turned out, Liam led them to victory. He stood in awe, as the crowed cheered wildly. So it paid off. He jubilated with them and searched for his sister and friends minutes after he remembered he should.

But Leeanne sweet face could not be seen nor could Jacob and Manuel’s hoarse jokes be heard. Liam was lonely.

In the midst of the crowed Liam was lonely. Little did he know that Leeanne was sick that morning though she forced herself to prepare his breakfast. He had not shown his gratitude to her for all the times she served him and urged him on. Nor did he realize his friends felt stupid following a brilliant guy and aimless walking with “Mr. Busy”. Liam went to the restroom, looked himself in the mirror and shed tears.
He won. A very big victory it was but he failed because he neglected he important factors that made the victory. He ran up to the top not stopping or taking his time. Man, you could get lonely up there sometimes. Especially when you focus on just yourself.