Forgiveness is the process of stopping angry or resentful feelings toward one another for an offense, flaw or mistake. Forgiving someone is one the most difficult task for one to do because it is in one’s nature to keep the emotion of anger or resentment built up inside and not let it out. In John Grisham’s Bleachers, Neely Crenshaw kept his anger towards his high school football coach, Eddie Rake, bottled up inside for 15 years, until he had to return to his hometown, Messina, because Rake was on his last leg. Rake was not the only person Neely had bottled up emotions about. He also had a hatred for the town of Messina because all they cared about was their high school football team. While Neely was in high school he thought that he ruled the world. “You count the years until you get a varsity jersey, then you're a hero, an idol, a cocky bastard because in this town you can do no wrong.” [Grisham, 15]. But he learned quickly that after one would graduate, that they were soon forgotten, like a sock with a hole in it. …show more content…
Even though Neely did not truly accept his apology then, he sure did now. Neely went on after accepting Rake’s apology and forgiving him and thanked Rake for being a good man and being like a father to many. He thanked him for teaching him that “success is not an accident” [Grisham, 231]. While Neely and other players were at Silo’s cabin in the woods, sharing memories, Neely decided that he has had enough of memories of the glory days, “Give it up, he told himself. You’ll never be the hero again. Those days are gone now” [Grisham, 238]. As Neely is leaving he tells the boys that he will come back once a year. Once has left, he now knows that all is forgiven in the town of Messina, and he can finally come