heart lifted and his mind raced with positive thoughts. That brief introduction seemed a little too brief, but completely sincere. Although he couldn’t quite understand how shy Daryl appeared to be, it had given the player an endearing side that Todd wouldn’t have thought he had. He supposed Daryl may be like that with new people, or perhaps the other lads had gone a little over the top in their opinions of Todd, making him feel compelled to come to the house to say hello. But whatever, he’d made Todd feel like royalty with the way he’d timidly stepped into the room to shake his hand.
After several minutes of wondering what Cherrie would say if he told her he’d just met Daryl Atkins, he picked up his club provisioned mobile.
For a moment, he debated whether to call her and let her know what had happened since Sunday, and that he was training with the reserve team for one of the biggest clubs in the country. And that he’d just met the man she said she’d shag with no questions asked. But he decided not to, it would probably piss him off to hear her scream down the phone, not being able to see her eyes glow and her nose pinch.
He wanted to tell her in person, give her a complete surprise at the end of a cozy dinner, complete with champagne bucket and ice. Besides, the words of the boss echoed in his head. All that stuff is secondary now; it’s the team I must focus on.
After throwing his mobile onto the bed, he went down to the pool to join the lads.
6
Friday came around and it seemed to Todd that the week had flown by. He’d met most of the first team. He’d even had a few training matches with them, and although they were a tough bunch to tackle, he liked to think he’d fitted in seamlessly with their style and stamina.
At the end of lunchtime, he was about to head to the locker room with the rest of the reserves when Wayne told him to head back out onto the field and continue training.
“No need for alarm,” he said. “I just think you could do with getting to know us a little better seeing as you’re in your first week here.”
Josh McKenzie, Craig Manning, and Leo Cox were kicking a ball around the field. Jason Collier trained alone at the side of the pitch, running with the ball at his feet.
Todd wondered if this extra training session with the big names meant something. Wayne’s words - about the boss wanting to get someone new on the first team this season - floated in his head.
After stretching, he kicked around with the three first team players, while Wayne took goal. The players seemed eager to be on the pitch with Todd again and for half an hour they had an energetic game.
Although still nervous with them, Todd maintained focus on the ball, for he knew that back there in the club building, the great man would be watching and quietly deciding how long it would be before he put Todd on the bench for a first team game.
He made sure he impressed those watching eyes and executed his most agile moves. Twice he got the ball past Leo, a mixed race guy with pale chocolate skin and powerful legs. Josh McKenzie was another tough one to tackle. He was the one who extinguished any away team attack during a match. With his fast feet and supple moves, he had a knack for spinning the ball anyway he wanted in a microsecond. But twice in the half hour or so they played, Todd gained control and slammed the ball past Wayne.
At the end of play, they stretched and took a slow sprint around the pitch. Todd noticed Jason Collier at the far side of the field doing sit ups. He’d been working out alone for much of the last hour and it seemed the older player was taking things easy.
Wayne called time and told the first team players to head inside, but he told Todd to do a couple of reps around the field before finishing up. Todd shrugged and started sprinting. Wayne was pushing him, seeing what he was worth. And with the boss sure to be watching from his office window, Todd focused on his breathing and
After several minutes of wondering what Cherrie would say if he told her he’d just met Daryl Atkins, he picked up his club provisioned mobile.
For a moment, he debated whether to call her and let her know what had happened since Sunday, and that he was training with the reserve team for one of the biggest clubs in the country. And that he’d just met the man she said she’d shag with no questions asked. But he decided not to, it would probably piss him off to hear her scream down the phone, not being able to see her eyes glow and her nose pinch.
He wanted to tell her in person, give her a complete surprise at the end of a cozy dinner, complete with champagne bucket and ice. Besides, the words of the boss echoed in his head. All that stuff is secondary now; it’s the team I must focus on.
After throwing his mobile onto the bed, he went down to the pool to join the lads.
6
Friday came around and it seemed to Todd that the week had flown by. He’d met most of the first team. He’d even had a few training matches with them, and although they were a tough bunch to tackle, he liked to think he’d fitted in seamlessly with their style and stamina.
At the end of lunchtime, he was about to head to the locker room with the rest of the reserves when Wayne told him to head back out onto the field and continue training.
“No need for alarm,” he said. “I just think you could do with getting to know us a little better seeing as you’re in your first week here.”
Josh McKenzie, Craig Manning, and Leo Cox were kicking a ball around the field. Jason Collier trained alone at the side of the pitch, running with the ball at his feet.
Todd wondered if this extra training session with the big names meant something. Wayne’s words - about the boss wanting to get someone new on the first team this season - floated in his head.
After stretching, he kicked around with the three first team players, while Wayne took goal. The players seemed eager to be on the pitch with Todd again and for half an hour they had an energetic game.
Although still nervous with them, Todd maintained focus on the ball, for he knew that back there in the club building, the great man would be watching and quietly deciding how long it would be before he put Todd on the bench for a first team game.
He made sure he impressed those watching eyes and executed his most agile moves. Twice he got the ball past Leo, a mixed race guy with pale chocolate skin and powerful legs. Josh McKenzie was another tough one to tackle. He was the one who extinguished any away team attack during a match. With his fast feet and supple moves, he had a knack for spinning the ball anyway he wanted in a microsecond. But twice in the half hour or so they played, Todd gained control and slammed the ball past Wayne.
At the end of play, they stretched and took a slow sprint around the pitch. Todd noticed Jason Collier at the far side of the field doing sit ups. He’d been working out alone for much of the last hour and it seemed the older player was taking things easy.
Wayne called time and told the first team players to head inside, but he told Todd to do a couple of reps around the field before finishing up. Todd shrugged and started sprinting. Wayne was pushing him, seeing what he was worth. And with the boss sure to be watching from his office window, Todd focused on his breathing and
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