Modern Family: New Life

[Jay's House]

Andrew woke up earlier that day. Today was the final. His school, the Eagles, versus the Moose Ridge School. Andrew wasn't very excited, mostly because of the level of competition. There wasn't much he could do. He was facing kids aged 10 or 11.

In his previous school life, Andrew had been a prodigy, the best quarterback in High School.

He had died at the age of sixteen, almost seventeen, during his junior year (11th grade). He was just one grade away from finishing high school. He had achieved the highest championship possible for his age, leading his team as its captain and star player.

His skill level had been elite for someone his age and even surpassed many older players since he hadn't yet reached his senior year.

Now, he had been reborn into a five-year-old body. His superiority was now double, triple, or even greater than what it had been before. With years of training since his transmigration, his technical ability was already at a college level—or so he believed.

He especially looked forward to his teenage years. He still needed to grow to gain more power in his throws and to continue improving his agility and reflexes.

In terms of physical strength, he was far superior to other kids his age. He had noticed that this body had better genetics compared to his previous self. He was faster than both his teammates and the rivals he had faced. Although this could also be due to the structured training regimen he followed. No other kid his age had as much discipline.

If he kept on this path, he would achieve a better version of himself than ever before. He would reach his prime, both technically and physically.

Not only would he be a quarterback capable of throwing precise passes and reading plays with exceptional skill, but he would also be able to run when the situation called for it and score on his own. He would develop more endurance to last through games and withstand tougher tackles.

So, the championships he won in elementary school weren't much of an achievement or excitement for Andrew. It's like going through the paperwork. He focused more on being a good leader, helping his teammates maximize their skills and become the stars of the game. A leader and a coach on the field.

On the other hand, they weren't even playing real football. They played a version adapted for young kids: Flag Football. This was played at all grade levels in elementary school.

In this format, instead of tackling, players wore flags around their waists, and to "tackle," you had to remove the opponent's flags.

This eliminated heavy physical contact and significantly reduced the risk of injury. Andrew thought this was garbage, but he didn't complain since the format wasn't going to change just because of him.

"One, two, three, four…" Andrew was in the backyard of his grandfather Jay's house, doing push-ups to warm up. Afterward, he stretched a little and ran laps around the yard.

Jay's house was huge. Having a grandfather with money was great for training comfortably.

Over the years, Andrew's relationship with his new family had improved a lot. He never thought having a family again could be so fun.

After his grandfather's death, Richard had considered his football teammates his family, but it wasn't the same.

He couldn't spend all day with them or share the daily moments like he did with his new parents, Mitchell and Cameron, his grandfather Jay—whom he saw almost four or five times a week—and his uncles and cousins.

Thanks to his new family, Andrew really enjoyed his childhood. At first, he thought he'd be impatient to grow up so he could get back to playing serious, exciting, and challenging football games. But spending time with his family made him much more patient and allowed him to train smartly, preparing for the future.

After finishing his initial warm-up, Andrew positioned himself several meters away from a precision passing net—an intricate web of ropes and circular targets of varying sizes, hanging at different heights. A gift from his grandfather, Jay.

He took a deep breath and threw the ball toward the highest and smallest target. The ball sailed through the air and passed cleanly through the center ring with a sharp snap.

"Well done, kid!" said Jay, clapping lightly as he walked toward Andrew.

"Grandpa, you're awake. I thought the hangover would take longer to wear off," Andrew replied with a small smile.

The night before, while watching the historic 1969 Super Bowl game, Jay had drunk a lot of whiskey and ended up falling asleep on the couch after the game ended.

"Don't mock your grandpa, you brat!" Jay exclaimed with a grin and a deep chuckle as he ruffled Andrew's black hair, making him laugh.

"Nervous about the game?" Jay asked, finally leaving Andrew's hair alone.

"No. It's Flag Football," Andrew answered with a grimace.

"I don't understand how they're still playing that format. They're ten years old, damn" Jay said with disapproval, forgetting it was still elementary school.

"Yeah, damn," Andrew replied with a smile, throwing another ball that sailed through the side hoop. He now had more footballs, which made his practices much more efficient. A gift from his family, who had all pitched in to buy him plenty of balls.

"Don't tell your parents I taught you how to curse," Jay said with a faint smile.

"I will. I'll also tell them I tried whiskey yesterday," Andrew replied, smiling mischievously.

"You little devil, get over here!" Jay exclaimed, starting to chase Andrew, who immediately began running away from him.

"Catch me if you can, old man! If you do, I won't tell my parents anything," Andrew shouted, turning his head back and flashing Jay a wide smile.

After playing around for a bit, Jay and Andrew sat down for breakfast. They had woken up late, and the game wasn't until 4:00 PM. They had plenty of time.

Finally, it was time to leave. Fifteen minutes before the game, Andrew and Jay headed out of the house.

Andrew carried a bag slung over his shoulder with his gear. He preferred keeping his equipment at home rather than leaving it at school.

"All set," said Jay as he closed the bed of his trusty silver Chevrolet Silverado. The truck was sturdy, spacious, and commanding—just the way Jay liked it. That's how a man's truck should be.

"Can I ride in the front?" Andrew asked. Being only ten years old, he wasn't usually allowed to sit in the front like an adult.

Jay hesitated for a moment. He really should say no—that's what a responsible grandpa would do. But seeing Andrew's hopeful expression, he couldn't bring himself to deny him.

"Alright, but put your seatbelt on," Jay said.

"You got it!" Andrew replied with a grin, hopping into the front passenger seat.

Jay climbed in and started the truck. Everything was going smoothly until, halfway there, a loud noise and a jolt disrupted the peaceful ride.

"What happened?!" Andrew asked, his eyes snapping open. Drool dripped from the corner of his mouth—he'd fallen asleep. Napping was one of his favorite pastimes. After all, it was the best way for his muscles to grow and recover.

"I think we've got a flat," Jay replied, frowning. He pulled the truck over to the side of the road and got out to inspect. "Great! Two flat tires," he added with a mix of frustration and resignation.

Andrew climbed out, still looking sleepy, and noticed two nails stuck in the tires. Who's the idiot that left those on the road? he thought.

"What are we going to do?" Andrew asked, yawning.

"You don't seem too concerned," Jay said, glancing up at his grandson, who looked like he might fall asleep standing up.

Andrew just gave a slight smile. He wasn't particularly excited about the game; it was like completing a game 100% on the hardest difficulty and then replaying it on the easiest setting. There was no sense of accomplishment in beating those monsters or bosses.

'This will be good training for the boys,' Andrew thought, rubbing his chin.

By "the boys," he meant Archie, Reggie, Kevin, and the rest of the team. Without him there, they'd have to step up, carry the team, and prove what they were made of.

"I don't have two spare tires. We won't get a taxi in time. The damn cabs take a long time to pass," Jay said, trying to figure out how they could make it.

While Jay was still thinking with no clear solution in mind, he noticed Andrew doing some basic stretches.

'Don't tell me he's going to...' Jay thought, frowning slightly.

"You're not planning to run all the way to the field, are you? We're still 5 kilometers away," Jay commented.

"Do you have a better idea? It's Sunday. Buses will take forever, and taxis rarely pass by. Running is the best option," Andrew replied.

An intermediate runner would take about 30 minutes to cover five kilometers. That would be a tough task for a ten-year-old, but not for Andrew. He'd be about ten minutes late, but that was better than waiting for a bus that might never come.

Jay sighed internally. Everyone in the family knew how obsessed the kid was with training and football—a level of dedication rarely seen in ten-year-olds.

It was usually amusing, like the time Andrew was doing push-ups in a hospital, but other times, it was a bit over the top.

Jay looked up at the sky. The blazing sun made him squint and raise a hand to shield his eyes. Not a cloud in sight. It was 3:40 in the afternoon, the temperature was over 86°F, and there wasn't the slightest breeze.

"Alright, you've got this, kid. See you at the game," Jay said, knowing his grandson was as stubborn as Mitchell and Claire. As for him, he'd wait in the truck with the air conditioning on and call a taxi.

The game would last 45 minutes. Professional games are 60 minutes long, but since these were elementary school kids, the time was shortened. With luck, Andrew would make it in time to play the last few minutes of the game.

Jay wasn't too worried about missing most of it. He had always wanted Mitchell to excel in sports, so when he discovered Andrew's talent for football, he was overjoyed, even if he didn't show it openly.

However, he had already seen Andrew win four championships, and this time would likely be the same, so his excitement had waned a bit.

The truly thrilling games would be in middle school and high school. Jay looked forward to those and wouldn't miss them for anything when Andrew got older.

After finishing his stretches and warm-ups, Andrew grabbed his bag and got ready to run.

"See you later, old man. By the time I get back, I might already have the trophy at home," Andrew said with a smile before taking off at full speed.

'Rude brat,' Jay thought with a slight smile.

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