Joshua Gallo is Brittany Gallo's twin brother and the son of Anthony and Linda Gallo. He is the type of boy that many girls have a crush on, though he remains unaware of it. Tall and attractive, he has cropped black hair, golden-brown eyes, and a captivating smile. Oh, and he happens to be the quarterback of the Gilford High School football team. I didn’t know how Joshua’s character would develop—would he be a nice guy, a bad guy, or just indifferent? The storyline seemed to unfold on its own.
Joshua is humorous and, like any growing boy, loves to eat. He is selective about who he dates, not because he is arrogant, but rather because he is waiting for the right girl. The following excerpt is from Torn Robes: Choices, where he realizes that the girl who caught his eye is Pastor John’s daughter.
Joshua sat in the back of the auditorium like always. His attention went to center stage when Pastor John stepped up to the microphone to answer Kimberly’s question. Joshua followed the pastor’s eyes when he was finished speaking. They rested on the girl he saw walking into the school a few days earlier with Sharise. “Father and daughter, got it.” He whispered.
Joshua loves football and is part of a talented team, which includes his best friend, wide receiver extraordinaire, Steve Marchetti. However, that’s a story for another time. Joshua is confused about the unexpected feelings he has for Sarah, a girl he has never met. He is determined to connect with her and goes to great lengths to achieve this, even rearranging his schedule to be in the same class as Sarah, as illustrated in the following excerpt from “Choices.”
“Look Joshua, I understand you want to take this class, but you’ll have to change your whole schedule around to fit it in. There are other electives you can choose that go perfectly with your schedule,” Amy Curtis pleaded.
“I understand. Although I would hate to miss the opportunity to learn from someone the School Board thought was so good that they asked him to move all the way from Nebraska to teach at Gilford High.”
“Okay. Okay. Far be it from me to hold a student back from greatness.”
“Thank you.”
Amy started the process, turning his schedule upside down.
Joshua has aa remarkable ability to persuade others, especially when the situation demands it. Just look at how he convinces his best friend to join him in taking Pastor John’s class instead of opting for a study hall. I mean, what student would choose an elective class over a study period?
What class do you have Tuesdays and Thursday mornings at 10:05?" Joshua asked.
“I don’t know. I haven’t even looked.” Steve pulled out a crumbled piece of paper from his pocket. Joshua grabbed the paper out of his hand.
“Let me see?”
“Hey dude, what are you doing?
“Look. You have study hall. You should take that God and Faith class with me.”
Steve laughed. “Are you nuts? Why would I want to do that instead of having a free period?”
“Because you would get two easy credits for doing nothing. Then you could get that free period next year when we’re seniors.” Joshua could see the wheels turning in Steve's head knowing he wanted to coast through his senior year.
“You think it’s an easy class?”
“Come on, how hard can it be? We went to Sunday school. We already know the answers. Look, I’ll even go to the office with you to get it changed.”
Without skipping a beat, Joshua put his arm around Steve’s shoulders and led him toward the school office.
Very persuasive indeed!
Most high schools offer an array of sports for students to participate in, and Gilford High is no exception, particularly since the fictional town of Gilford is situated in Massachusetts. Without hesitation, I can honestly say New Englanders are incredibly serious about their sports teams. The Red Sox took 85 years to win their first World Series, the Bruins have claimed six Stanley Cups, and the Celtics have won 18 NBA Championships. I love them all, but if I had to choose one sport, it would definitely be football. I am passionate about the game, regardless of whether it's at the college or professional level.
In the days following September 11, 2001, our nation was in a state of shock and disbelief. We were a wounded nation, but through our pain, we remained steadfast and united. Initially, the NFL was uncertain about the football season that year. However, it did take place, and after forty long years, the New England Patriots won their first Super Bowl. It was a miraculous playoff run and Super Bowl victory for a team named the Patriots. The word 'Patriot' embodies the spirit of our Founding Fathers and reflects the resilience of a nation that was brought to its knees just months earlier by a terrorist attack. Although one football game did not heal our nation, that victory lifted our spirits. Sometimes, God shines a light in the darkness, reminding us of who we are and what we fight for: God, family, and country.
Throughout the Torn Robes Series, Joshua grows as a friend, a brother, and a son. During a class discussion, Pastor John changes direction from his original question to explain the meaning of the name “Joshua.” He takes this opportunity to help Joshua see the significance of his name.
“Do you know what the name Joshua means?” John side-stepped for a moment.
“No,” Joshua answered shrugging his shoulders. He shared, “I never thought about it before.”
“In the Bible, Joshua is depicted as a great leader, a deliverer of his people. Joshua was appointed by God because he was a strong leader and a patient man. Patience is a great character to have in a leader on and off the field.”
“I’ll try and remember that.”
“Don’t just remember it, Joshua. Live it.”
Does Joshua rise to the challenge of becoming a true leader? I can't reveal that—no spoiler alerts here! See you in the next post!