“Seriously, who does he think he is, dressing his hair like that?David Bloody Beckham?”Dad gesticulates to the TV with both hands outstretched.AJ does have a Beckham look about him—minus the tattoos, and if you substitute the blond highlights for black hair.Truth be told, I can’t take my eyes off him.
I take a sip of my tea, just as AJ makes a run-on goal; he slips past two defenders, shifts the ball to his left foot and slides it under the keeper.Wow.
“And that ladies and gentleman might be the quickest goal not only scored in the league, but also by a debut player.Welcome to the big leagues, Aaron AJ Johnson.At only twenty one years of age, he’s already made history.”The commentator purrs admiration for AJ, which is the antithesis of my dad who is screaming obscenities at the TV.
“No need to get worked up, dear.And besides, yer should be ’appy for ’im.Young lad from near our estate on t’ telly and making ’istory.”God bless Mum, always the optimist.
Dad grumbles something under his breath.I watch AJ’s face, it’s a full-on beaming smile.He makes a motion to kiss the badge, but grabs it instead.I don’t know why that makes my stomach turn funny, but it does.
“Listen, Son.When you get yer chance, you’ll do miles better.”
“But, Dad, he just broke the record for the fastest goal and he’s in the better squad—”
“Don’t give me that excuses shit.Yer ’ave a good team.His team is full of overpaid prima donnas.Your team, despite being full of bloody southerners, ’as heart and grit.And you.”
My heart swells at this.Despite my dad’sviewson my secret community, he has a heart of gold.It makes me wonder if he would be open to having a gay son.
“When you get your chance tomorrow, make the most of it, and stick it to the Blues.As yer know, in this house, the London Blues are almost as bad as any other northern team that isn’t ours.”Dad hates any team that plays in Blue, and there’s a whole slew of them.His special hatred is reserved for Manchester Blues though, and the Mersey Reds.
“Yes, Dad,” is all I can manage before AJ has the ball in the back of the net again.
“Oh my word, it’s the wonderkid AJ again.What a debut he is having.Five minutes played and two goals scored.This is unbelievable.Especially for a debutant playing away from home, and in front of a hostile home side.He’s shown nerves of steel.”
“Oh fuck off!”Dad says before launching the remote to the shag-pile carpet.
I watch as AJ does the same celebration.His perfect white teeth on show as he is swamped by his fellow teammates.
One thing is for sure, as soon as I get my chance, I’m going to take it with both hands…or well, both feet.
Chapter 4
AJ
Two goals on my debut isn’t bad.I wanted a hat trick, but the gaffer pulled me off at half-time as the tackles were becoming more aggressive on me.I managed to get a few of them booked, but not by simulation.I’m sitting in the physio room with an ice pack on my knee.The last tackle took me clean out, much to the delight of the home fans.We ended up winning the match 2-4, to a team that’s flying high.
We’ve extended our lead at the top of the table to six points with ten games to go, including a match against our rivals…my boyhood club.
If truth be told, I have mixed feelings about it.It’s always a tough game, tensions and tempers always skyrocket.The worst battle, though, is the one internally, as for the past eight years I’ve been at City—the club that for most of my life, I’ve been told to hate.I remember one time at school, a kid came in wearing a City top, and he was bullied so much his parents had to pick him up.This is my job.And I have a responsibility to the fans to give them my all.Money and morals are two things I don’t lack.
“Good work out there today, Johnson.How’s the knee?”Gaffer asks.
I manage to flex it without pain, despite the ice pack on.
“Feels good,” I say.“Thanks for giving me a chance.”
“Thank you for taking it.You hear what they’ve been saying about you?”
“No, sir, not yet,” I say honestly.
“You’re a wonderkid, the press were all praises for you, too.”
My face lights up at this.
“Doc, is Johnson going to be okay for the next game?”
“As long as he stays off it for the rest of the day and does light training tomorrow, he’ll be fine,” Doc says.
“Good.Johnson, you’re in the preliminary squad to face the Dragons in the cup next weekend.”
