Unconventional Family Formation
Teddy had been secretly observing Selena.
Just then, a waiter approached, presenting a plate adorned with three exquisite eggs.
"Two lucky patrons, today marks the thirteenth anniversary of our restaurant. You now have the chance to select an egg as a reward; each one contains a different surprise."
"Seriously? We must be lucky, right Selena?" Teddy exclaimed with uncharacteristic eagerness.
Hidden behind a partition, Tyson winced, thinking, **No acting skills whatsoever.**
Predictably, Selena shot Teddy a quizzical glance; he was usually more composed.
"Teddy, why don't you let her choose? You're the lucky one today," Selena replied, eyeing the tray with its three vibrant eggs: one white, one pink, and one red.
As Selena contemplated her choice, Teddy's tension grew palpable; his fists clenched tightly.
Tommy, too, couldn't contain his anxiety, occasionally peeking out from his hiding spot.
Tyson, meanwhile, remained calm, though the baffle shielded his expression—a slight smirk formed at Teddy's anxious antics.
Tyson had orchestrated this surprise, carefully selecting the three colors.
First, he knew Selena wouldn't pick red; in Western culture, red often signifies danger and violence.
That left white and pink. Typically, people gravitate toward the color associated with good fortune, often choosing white. But with Selena in love, she would likely gravitate towards a color that resonated with her feelings: pink.
Thus, Tyson suggested that Teddy hide the engagement ring within the pink egg, making the other two choices intentionally mundane for added suspense.
Selena studied the three eggs on the plate. With a slight pause, she picked up the hammer and struck the pink egg.
Teddy released a silent sigh of relief, excitement surging through him.
His heart raced, as if it were pounding directly into his mind.
The pink egg shattered, revealing a brilliant diamond ring.
The waiter announced, "Congratulations! You've found a diamond ring!"
"My goodness!" Selena gasped, lifting the ring from the plate.
The diamond was striking in its clarity and cut, set in a gleaming white gold band—a piece worth over $15,000.
"Teddy, this is incredible! If we sell it, we could really benefit. Let me see it—I have a knack for estimating the value of diamonds."
Teddy recited the lines he had practiced, his tone flat and devoid of inflection, his expression as blank as a canvas.
"Selena, it's your ring," he replied.
That was the cue.
In an instant, the lights dimmed throughout the restaurant.
A spotlight illuminated Teddy as he dropped to one knee.
The diamond ring sparkled like a star against the dark backdrop.
"Selena, while this diamond is remarkable, it pales in comparison to you. I've always believed you're lucky, but I now realize it's my fortune to have you in my life. You are my everything. I want to be the protector of your heart. Selena, will you marry me?"
All around them, patrons of the restaurant held their breath, captivated by the unfolding moment.
Selena covered her mouth, tears shimmering in her eyes.
---
Later, Tyson strolled down the street, his leather jacket flapping as he jogged.
Running home from the restaurant was about six or seven kilometers—just another workout for him.
Upon reaching home, Kus greeted him at the door.
"Mike, where have you been?"
"Teddy proposed today! I witnessed the whole heartwarming scene."
Kus paused, then asked, "Mike, are you envious? Envious of their love, of their plans to start a family?"
"Of course! It's natural to envy such happiness," Tyson replied, removing his jacket and hanging it up.
"Mike, Shirley is a wonderful girl. There's a spark between you two. If you feel inclined, I think you should make it official."
Shirley was a classmate whom Tyson knew well. She lived nearby, and they occasionally shared meals. She was a lovely girl, but their relationship remained platonic.
It struck Tyson as ridiculous: "Kus, I'm only sixteen! I just reached my age of majority. You want a child to marry a child? Is that even legal?"
"You're not a child; you're practically a young man," Kus replied, gesturing to his own fist as if to emphasize growth.
Tyson couldn't help but roll his eyes at the absurdity of it all.
"If Carmel knows what you're suggesting, she will probably kick you out to sleep on the couch," Tyson joked, quickly heading upstairs, avoiding any further awkward conversation.
The next morning, Tyson returned from his run to find Kus absently preparing breakfast.
With a smile, he inquired, "Kus, you don't look too well."
Kus sighed, "Carmel turned down my proposal and made me sleep in the living room. I just wanted to help you settle down, so you could focus on boxing."
"My focus is already on boxing. I don't need the distraction of a family right now," Tyson insisted.
He understood Kus's intentions but feared that family ties would bind him, pulling him away from his aspirations.
Seeing the conversation veering back to the same topic, Tyson polished off his breakfast and hurried out the door.
As the date of the Golden Gloves Championship drew near, he dedicated himself to relentless training, further stoking his ambition.
He sprinted to the gym, greeted Teddy, and immediately plunged into an intense training regimen.
His routine included an hour of jump rope followed by sparring rounds, capped off by rigorous conditioning exercises.
Tyson's astounding physical fitness meant he donned 25-ounce gloves during practice bouts, while his sparring partners, Teddy and Tommy, were equipped with full protective gear.
Yet Tyson's skill often left them staggering.
Today, he overwhelmed Tommy, dropping him with an uppercut in just two rounds, leaving Tommy too dazed to continue.
Teddy managed to last a bit longer, but eventually succumbed after five rounds.
With rounds still unfinished, Tyson removed his gloves and shifted to physical conditioning.
He thought, once he earned more, he'd hire three additional sparring partners for enhanced training.
His routine included an intensive mix of sit-ups, push-ups, barbell shrugs, and parallel bar exercises, each performed in sets.
Bridge training rounded out his regimen, strengthening his neck and building flexibility—the key to absorbing blows without sustaining injury.
Outside meal times, Tyson rarely took breaks.
By three o'clock, he was using a recorder to refine his footwork and technique, even after dining at home and watching training videos.
Three weeks later, in November 1982, registration for the regional Golden Gloves Championship opened.
Kus arranged for Teddy to drive him to the registration office, smoothly completing the application process.
Everything seemed to fall into place.
The championship would span about half a month, culminating in a national competition in December.
Using a three-round elimination format, contestants would be whittled down until one champion remained.
On competition day, Kus opted not to accompany them to New York.
Teddy drove them directly to the Golden Gloves arena.
The stadium held 10,000 seats, complete with state-of-the-art equipment and live broadcasts across New York State.
A professional referee team and a top-notch medical support crew were ready to ensure safety.
Having participated in the Golden Gloves before, Teddy was versed in the venue's history and took it upon himself to share anecdotes about the legends who had fought there.