Donald and Donavan were the best of friends back in the day. Their fathers' were business partners, their moms' were best friends, and they even played baseball together all throughout elementary school, middle school, and high school. The boys were closer than ever during their senior year of high school but they knew that they would not end up going to the same college. Donavan's dad died his senior yar of high school, so his family ended up having to sell their share of the company to another business man just to make it by and be able to pay the bills that paralyzed his family from month to month. Under these circumstances, Donavan became aware that he would have to get a baseball scholarship if there was any chance of attending college. This was a harsh new reality especially since his best friend Donald, rich as can be, was obviously going to attend an Ivy League school. As the boys graduated high school and went their separate ways, they promised that they would always be there for one another no matter how far they drifted apart in their upcoming endeavors as college students and beyond.
At last, Donavan received a scholarship offer to a state school near his hometown. He was so excited to get an offer so close to home so that he could stay close to his family that was still grieving his father’s passing. Donavan was having the absolute best college experience -- He was the star player of the university’s baseball team and he met the girl he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. However, during his junior year of college, Donavan endured a career-ending shoulder injury. This left him with no scholarship money and he was forced to drop out of college just before earning his degree. He was devastated. Donavan knew that a college degree was essential to attaining a well-paying job in the adult world but he did not have any means of paying for college so that he could finish earning his degree. Donavan moved on to work at a dry cleaners in his home town and went on to marry his college sweetheart.
One day, Donavan and his wife had a baby boy named Asher. Asher made friends with all of the boys at school because he was the fastest on the playground. However, one boy made fun of him when he saw Asher sitting in the cafeteria with no food. His poverty was somewhat of a secret to the other kids at school but this really upset Asher because he was hungry. Asher went home and told his dad about what happened at school that day and this is when Donavan knew it was time to ask his old friend Donald for help.
By the time Donavan approached Donald for help, Donald was president of the United States. Donald was a multimillionaire and Donavan was sure he would help him and his family. However, Donald turned Donavan away and told him he has no loyalties to someone he hasn't talked to in years. Donavan was taken aback by Donald's cruelty to him and his families situation and vowed to get revenge on his old friend.
Author's Note: I decided to take an episode about Drona and Drupada from the Mahabharata and put a modern spin on it. Donavan is a made up character but I drew Donald's character from our current president, Donald J. Trump. Drona and Drupada grew up together and were like brothers so I made Donavan and Donald mimic their close relationship and explained why they were so close. I also thought it would make more sense if the two boys were close due to being in equal social classes at the beginning. I never understood why Drona and Drupada were such great friends if they always knew they were destined to live very different lives -- one with wealth and fame and one in poverty. This way, I gave some background for why one of the boys ended up struggling a little more than the other. Next, I incorporated Ashwatthama's role in this story as the character Asher. I thought it would be more relatable if he didn't have lunch in the cafeteria at school rather than a boy just asking for some milk in this time period and country. I kept the timing for asking the wealthier and more famous friend for help in the story the same, because I like how it was somewhat of a last resort type of thing rather than getting the feeling that Donavan is taking advantage of the fact that he has a rich friend from when he was little.
Bibliography: Guide -- Drona: Valiant Archer, Supreme Teacher by Katha.
Image Information: Baseball by Hector Rodriguez. Taken June 19, 2007 on Flickr.