"Uncle Alex, I don't think I'll ever understand your obsession with football..." Jin mumbled, watching as his uncle set out snacks for an upcoming NFL game. The man chuckled and ruffled his nephew's hair, wandering back to the kitchen.
"You'll understand the more you watch the game, mi hijo. I've been doing this for years, even got your mamá into it." Alex smiled, grabbing a beer from the fridge and tossing Jin a can of soda.
"I'm not sure if I'll understand the rules though..."
"Well, that's what you have me for! I'm always willing to teach you."

Jin fumbled with the can and nodded slightly, his uncle taking notice and pressing his lips together.
"Come, I have something you'll want to see." He told him, leading him towards his room. Opening his closet, he pulled out a box and set it on his bed, motioning the teen to it. "Open it up."
"... Okay...?" Jin opened up the box and felt his eyes light up in surprise, reaching forward and pulling out an old jersey. "Woah... You used to play...?"
"One of the best wide receivers the team's ever had." Alex boasted, popping the bottle cap on his Bud Light. "Played all four years when I went to Beigoma High."
"Wow..."

Alex pulled out an old photo, showing it to his nephew with a fond smile.
"Is that... Mama...?" Jin asked, taking the photo carefully to look at it better. It was indeed Night, sitting on her brother's shoulders in what looks like a marching band uniform. The two were grinning as the team celebrated in the background, the young woman holding his helmet as Alex held her legs in one arm and a trophy in the other.
"This was my Senior year, just after the championship game. Your mamá had just entered high school at this point, joining the school's marching band as a drum major." He reminisced, taking a sip of the alcohol. "I had scored the game winning touchdown after our quarterback pitched the ball, almost getting sacked in the meantime."
"Wow..." Jin stared at the photo a little longer, a small smile forming. "You both look so happy..."
"Well, we were. It was the purest kind of happiness when we won." Alex glanced at his watch, grinning. "Ah! Game's gonna start soon. Come on, I'll help you better understand the game."

The two walked back into the living room, Alex taking his old jersey with them before putting it on his nephew when he sat down.
"Why did you put this on me...?" Jin asked, slipping his arms through the sleeves.
"To get you started. I can't fit into it anymore so I'm passing it down." Alex smiled, collapsing on the couch next to him before tugging his jersey. "Besides, I got one for the team I'm rooting for today."
"The Rams...?"
"Yep."
"How do you pick a favorite team...?"
"It's not that you just pick a favorite team, you pick a favorite player. For me, I've been a Matthew Stafford fan since he's been on the Lions. When he got traded, I followed him to the Rams, so I became a Rams fan too."
"What's mama's favorite...?"
"The Kansas City Chiefs."

The teenager nodded slightly, still unsure of who that was or their significance. The Mexican chuckled and ruffled his hair, telling him he'll explain more when the time comes.

~~~

"Yes! Go Kupp, go!" Alex cheered, on his feet with his fourth beer in his hand. "Touchdown! Let's go!" Jin watched in amusement at his uncle's actions, clapping softly as he was somewhat understanding what was going on thanks to the explanations he was given.
"This is getting interesting..." He said, on his third can of Coke as he took a drink of that.

It was the third Quarter in the game, Rams ahead by ten after yet another touchdown and the kick for the extra point. Alex was having a blast bonding over the game with his nephew, the two carrying on great conversations in between the man's explanation over the game and how scoring works. The teen found it pretty easy to understand the basics the further they watched, green eyes staring at the screen in fascination.
"I told you football was great to watch. Thanks for taking the time to learn, mi hijo." Alex smiled sincerely, sitting back down and pulling Jin into his side.
"Thanks for teaching me..." He smiled, hugging him back gently before they let go. The Rams had just sent the ball down field with a kick, Alex's front door opening as Jin's parents and baby sister came through.
"Did I miss it?" Night asked, Serenity squirming out of her arms and toddling to her big brother.
"Bubber!" She smiled, Jin laughing softly and picking her up.
"Middle of the third Quarter right now, so come grab a beer and a seat." Alex smiled, waving them in.

Night and Hartz smiled and slipped their shoes off, the mother walking into the kitchen to grab her and her husband a beer. She walked back out and eyes found her son, smiling.
"Wow, I haven't seen that in a while." She told him, kissing his head. "Was Uncle Alex inflating his ego again?"
"Maybe a little bit..." Jin joked, his uncle feigning with a hand to his chest.
"Hey, I thought we were cool!" The retired football player gasped, everyone laughing.
"No, but seriously... He was telling me about how much he loved playing football in high school, and even showed me a picture of you and him after a championship... I didn't know you did marching band..."
"Yeah, right when I went into high school I became a drum major. A damn good one too, had a blast."
"It was actually how your mother and I met." Hartz piped up with a smile, sipping his beer.
"You did marching band too...?"
"Yes sir! I played the tenor sax and had a blast!"

Jin laughed, holding his sister closer as she snuggled in.
"Man, is everyone in this family just so cool...?" He asked, the adults laughing at the question.
"I don't know if 'cool' is the correct word for band kids." Night laughed, ruffling her son's hair. Hartz scoffed, crossing his arms.
"Hey, I thought we were pretty cool!"

~~~

The game ended and the Rams won, not that the two older siblings were surprised, they high fiving after cheering victoriously.
"Honestly, name a better QB, WR matchup than Stafford and Kupp." Alex grinned, Night giving him a sly look.
"Mahomes and Hill." She shot back, arms crossed. Alex looked at her in shock, scoffing and waving her off.
"In your opinion..."
"Mahomes and Hill...?" Jin asked, Night looking at him sweetly.
"They're the quarterback and wide receiver for the Chiefs."
"Oh, your favorite team...?"

Night looked to Alex who smiled sheepishly, starting to clean up.
"He asked, I answered." He told her, taking the empty beer bottles to the kitchen. Hartz yawned quietly as Serenity curled into his chest, two-colored eyes looking at his wife.
"Well, I think it's high time we get going." He said, standing carefully since he was holding their daughter.
"Yeah, I agree. Jin, you have school in the morning, get ready to go."
"Okay mama..." The teen said quietly, going to pull off his uncle's jersey to hand back.
"No no, mi hijo, keep it." Alex said when he was coming back, green eyes looking at him in shock.
"Are you sure...? Wouldn't you want this to remember your high school days...?"
"Well, I told you I wanted to pass it down, so now it's yours to keep. Think of it as a souvenir from a popular player."

Alex ruffled his hair and gave his sister a nice hug, patting Hartz' shoulder.
"Get home safe, I'll see y'all later."
"Bye Alex, good luck with the store tomorrow."
"Bye uncle Alex..."
"See ya, bud." Everyone bid a goodbye, Alex waving as his family walked out to their car. Red eyes softened as he watched Jin hold the bottom of his newfound jersey, the uncle knowing he made a good choice in passing it down.

A good choice in teaching him about the game...~

NightBear15 signing off...