Memorable moments: What a Hit!

I have a vivid memory of playing French cricket with my beloved Gramps at the park—just him and me on a quiet afternoon.

For those who haven’t played, French cricket is an informal, close-quarters game. The batsman stands stationary, using the bat to shield their legs from the bowler, who tries to hit their shins with the ball. It’s a game of quick reflexes.

During our game, I got overly excited. Gramps bowled the ball, trying to sneak it past me, and I swung the bat with everything I had.

Instead of connecting with the ball, my bat swung wide and struck Gramps directly on the elbow.

There was a loud, sickening crack. The impact must have been absolutely excruciating. I can still clearly remember the flash of pure, sharp pain that crossed Gramps’s face in that first microsecond. But almost instantly, through what must have been a superhuman effort of will, he forced that look away.

He managed to break into a smile, though he couldn't completely hide the lingering agony in his eyes. Looking right at me, he gasped out, "Never mind, my boy—what a hit!"

Even now, I feel a twinge of guilt when the memory comes back, but it is entirely overtaken by a deep, expanding love for him. In a moment of such intense, sudden pain, so many people would have lashed out in anger or frustration. Gramps did the exact opposite. He chose to absorb the pain entirely on his own, doing everything in his power to ensure his grandson didn't feel bad for a clumsy mistake.