Macb by Neil Arksey

Author:Neil Arksey
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780141925684
Publisher: Penguin Publishing
Published: 2008-10-31T00:00:00+00:00

9

STRIKERS

It hadn't been a good week for the team's morale. Dunk's ‘accident' had been followed by a lurking police presence at school – the investigation. Accounts of the incident in the newsagents had become widespread, rumours rife. It had all become too much for Don and Mel; finally losing patience with the whispers and glances, they had lashed out. Pranett, an annoying year-sixer, had caught the full force. He'd been sent home with a nose bleed, two black eyes and a chipped tooth. Don and Mel had been suspended. They would not be playing.

In a cramped, smelly dressing room with only one light, Mr Powell was doing his best to reorganize the team and raise spirits. But it was uphill all the way.

Mac was one of the more buoyant. ‘So what are this lot like?’ he asked.

Mr Powell dangled a seriously soiled sock from his finger tips. ‘If these facilities are anything to go by – dishevelled and disorganized.’

‘And stinking too, sir?’

Mr Powell lifted the sock at a distance from his nose and sniffed, gingerly. ‘Not a little!’

Boys laughed, in spite of the fetid air. Wags pretended to choke.

‘I wouldn't want us to get too complacent,’ said Mr Powell, ‘Haddon High's own changing room is probably five star.’ He attempted to jam the door open. ‘When you're ready, out you go. There's no point staying in here longer than necessary.’

As boys finished changing and left the room, Mr Powell ticked them off, one by one, on his clipboard.

Banksie was first out. Over by the pitch, among a crowd of mostly opposition supporters, he spotted Mrs MacBride sipping from a steaming cup. No distance was too far for her to travel, she had made it to each game. She waved and smiled. Testing the grass for dryness, Banksie sat and inhaled deeply through his nostrils. ‘Fresh air,’ he gasped, ‘at last!’

‘In there's a blinkin' danger to health. Jake ‘Big Hands' Gregg, the team's goalie, paused panting in the doorway. ‘It ought to be fumigated.’

Mr Powell nodded.

‘Bombed more like!’ Mac tried in vain to squeeze past Gregg's large frame. ‘Let me out!’ he gasped, feigning suffocation. ‘I'm gagging.’ When Gregg obliged, Mac staggered forward to sniff the clean air. ‘Ahh… beautiful!’

Nathan Woddis trotted out behind. Compact body, frowning face. ‘I reckon they put us in there to poison us,’ he grunted, ‘but it ain't gonna work!’

Mr Powell checked his list. ‘You'll be playing at left-back. I'm sticking Sonny Patel on the outside.’

‘Suits me.’

Sonny's smiling face appeared at the door. ‘And me!’

Mr Powell waved him out. ‘Come on, the rest of you – let's have you!’

Honey-skinned Anton Ridley came next, locks tied back in a ponytail.

‘You would have been starting on the bench,’ said Mr Powell, ‘but due to our unfortunate circumstances, you'll be taking the place of Melvin Thomas.’

Ridley nodded and sat. Tall Jamie Wallace sat down beside him.

‘Left-wing,’ said Mr Powell. ‘I'm expecting great things from you, Wallace. Young Harry was waiting to jump in your boots, but he now has to cover for Cappri.

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