I am having trouble with this. My best shot so far is “A grieving boy must find a way to use a soccer ball to experience joy.” But that feels flat to me. Here’s what happens.

LIAM’S grandfather (WALTER) is dying in a home hospice setting. Grandfather calls him over and whispers, “Look for the sunrise. Keep the joy in your life.” Boy moves away. Others say their goodbyes. Grandfather dies.

At a wake/shiva Liam and his grandmother at looking at a black/white photo of Walter as an 8-year old along with a teammate and a soccer ball. The picture is folded over, but we see most of a caption which reads, “Walter & B.O.B.”) We also see enough other photographs to understand that Walter was an esteemed professional soccer player.

Liam grieves realizing he’ll never see his grandfather again. [The world feels to the boy like it is the color of goose poop.]

Liam plays with the orange soccer ball. And feels somewhat better. He talks to the ball, treats it like a friend.

Liam builds a relationship with the ball. There are sound effects that mimic what the ball would say if it were alive.

Midpoint: Mom, Dad, Do you think I could join a soccer team. Parents say yes.

Liam joins the Warriors. . Practice / practice / practice — each practice building his skills and confidence.

Extreme (Dark night of the soul) sadness. His grandfather will never know that he now plays soccer.

At home he wakes up just before dawn, picks up the orange soccer ball and notices that it is the color of a sunrise. Liam goes to play an important game, and helps the team win. Liam’s proud.

Liam’s grandmother comes up to Liam’s room and give him the b/w photo. “I thought you’d want this picture of your grandfather and Bob.”
“Is that the other guy’s name.”
“Oh no, I just say ‘Bob,’ Your grandfather used to this this his “Bright Orange Ball.” He always said it reminded him of the joy of a sunrise. It started him on his way to becoming a professional player. She unfolds the picture, the full caption is “Walter, B.O.B. and Jerry.”

Liam and grandmother look at a scrapbook. “You’re going to be better than your grandfather, I can feel it.” Oh, and I have another special gift for you.

Grandmom give Liam a color photo of him kicking B.O.B. Together they place the photo of Liam and the photo of Walter, both with the same ball, on Liam’s dresser.

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Alone and grieving he goes into his grandfather’s room. An orange soccer ball bounces out of a closet. The boy kicks it. Offstage a voice tells him not to make noise, to go outside if he wants to play. He does.