“Yes, Dad?”I ask, not liking this at all.Every fiber in my body is telling me to flee from this table.To run to AJ’s, lock the door, and never come back here.
“‘Yer coach and I ’ad a little chat today.”
“Oh?”I ask, trying to stay very calm.I’m not the only gay kid on the team.But none of them havemydad.My brain, as helpful as ever, creates a highlight reel of everything it could possibly be.My chest tightens in dread.Even if I wanted to run to AJ’s now, I couldn’t.My legs are rooted to the chair.I’ll be sitting here for all of time, moss growing on my body and the same horrified look on my face.
I shift the image from my head and try on a neutral expression while listening to my heart try to escape from my chest.
“You’ve been transferred,” he says, breaking me out of my fear.
“I’m sorry.It won’t happen again!I promise!”I blurt out, as my face burns red with the memory of the kissing game with Craig.My eyes are too heavy to look up at him, and instead I stare at a spot on the table.Then realization dawns on me.“Wait.What did you say?”
My dad looks like he wants to circle back to my initial outburst, but instead, he starts to smile.The last time I saw him smile was when he recounted the tale of how our club won the treble—the three main trophies in English Football: The League Cup winners, the Football Cup winners, and the European Cup winners.I wasn’t alive at the time, of course, but whenever Union loses, he puts on the highlights of that amazing season.He sheds a tear every time and tells me, “Those were the days.”
“You’ve been transferred, son.And it’s a big one!”
“Wait, why would they get rid of me?Which team?”This is all going too fast.
“They ’ad no choice!Not when one of the best teams in London comes knocking.If ’yer were at t’ Union Academy, of course, things would be different, but ’yer not.The London Hornets have a great youth Academy, not Union level but it’s still good.”Another dig, reminding me that I’m not quite as good as I think I am.But with this news, does that mean I actually am?My mind is whizzing in all directions.I have been transferred to the London Hornets.In London.Away from my family and my friends.However, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime.So why do I feel like my dad isn’t wholly happy?If Iwasin the Union Academy, sure, I could be closer to getting into the England set-up.I need to make my family proud.No matter the sacrifice of moving away from them.And AJ.
“What about AJ?”I ask hopefully.
“What about ’im?”My dad seems delirious with happiness, and for the first time, I look at my mum; her face gives nothing away, she only gives me a quick flash of a smile.
“Well, I don’t want to go if he’s not coming too,” I say, and fold my arms across my chest.
“Don’t be so daft.He’s been holding ’yer back.Think of how many goals ’yer would ’ave scored if ’yer didn’t keep passing to ’im!”His face burns red, like he’s mad at me for passing to my teammate.
“I still bag thirty a season.”
“And ’yer could get even more without ’im.Football is about scoring goals, son.”
“It’s about the team!”I shout, trying to get him to listen.
My dad just waves me away.“They’ll teach that out of ’yer.Don’t ’yer worry.You’ll be playing for t’ England squad in no time now.”
That makes my heart flutter.Other than playing for Union, playing for England is my ultimate dream.
“When do I start?”
“Next month,” my dad says with the biggest smile I’ve quite literally seen ever.Not even the ‘Treble Memory’ comes close to this.
“Wait, how is this all going to work?What about school?My friends?AJ?”I ask.
My dad’s eyes shift, and his smile broadens and suddenly, I don’t like that smile at all.It looks like a big bad wolf smile.
The Warm Up
AJ
Kyle has been in my room, sitting on my bed for the past forty minutes, and has only said four words.Those four words were the worst four words I’ve ever heard, but now he won’t talk.Won’t look at me.I put a hand on his shoulder and squeeze it.
“Wanna play a game of EAFC?”I ask, hoping to lift his spirits.
I’m moving to London.How can those four words cause so much pain?
Kyle nods his head, meaning yes.So, we have some progress, but there is still a tightness in my chest.My room is big; it’s filled with random stuff all related to football.My bedspread is a super unique design of our team’s crest.I’m lucky to have and not need, but the only thing I want is moving away.I’d give up everything to have my best mate with me.
I try to make as much chit-chat as I can, but it’s evident he is not ready to talk about it.One thing’s for sure, his dad sucks.And so does Coach.How can they break up the best strike force the league has ever seen?How could…how could they take my best friend away?
