All to Play For by Eve Ainsworth

Author:Eve Ainsworth
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barrington Stoke Ltd
Published: 2022-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

The next day passed slowly. Lewis couldn’t bear to go outside and practise, and when Jermaine messaged him and asked if he wanted to meet up, he politely refused – making out he didn’t feel well. Instead, he spent most of the day watching YouTube videos on his phone and old match replays. He watched them with the sound down, so as not to upset his mum.

His mind drifted. It had been foolish of him to even think that he could be like one of these players. His life was so different. Why had he been stupid enough to think things could be any other way?

Later in the afternoon, his mum sat beside him. She took his hand.

“I know you feel sad,” she said. “But remember what happened to your dad? Football did him no good in the end. He might still be here if it wasn’t for that blessed game. Maybe it’s a good thing, eh?”

“But I’m not Dad,” Lewis whispered.

His mum squeezed his hand. “I know. But it’s not only that. Everything is different now he’s gone. I could never afford to pay for the clubs, boots and the kit, or to take you to the games …” She shook her head. “I’m sorry.”

But Lewis couldn’t look at her. Her sorry sounded flat and wrong. He understood that she was worried about money, but she couldn’t keep blaming the game for what happened to his dad. He thought of the photo of his dad that was now hidden under his pillow. Of him running down the pitch. The smile on his face was wide and his eyes were blazing with energy.

How could something be so bad if it made someone look so happy?

*

Later that evening, there was a knock on the door. Trevor barked in surprise. Hardly anyone visited them at this time. When his mum opened the door, Lewis heard her voice rise.

“Ashley! I wasn’t expecting you.”

“Can I come in, Mrs Marie?”

Lewis quickly sat up on the sofa, paused his phone and smoothed down his hair. He knew he must look a right state. He’d been lazing around most of the day.

Ash strode in. He looked down at Lewis’s phone, at the match Lewis had been watching, and grinned. “Hey, Chelsea–Arsenal, eh? That was a good one, right?”

Lewis nodded, feeling shy. “It was really tight.”

Ash shrugged. “I’m a Chelsea fan, so I’m glad they got that late goal. Who do you support again?”

Lewis’s mum walked in behind. “He’s Crystal Palace, like his dad.”

Ash nodded. “Ah, yes. Of course.”

Ash stood there for a moment or two and then turned to face Lewis’s mum again. “Mrs Marie, I’m sorry. I couldn’t let this go. I really want Lewis to train with us. I hate to see his talent go to waste.”

Lewis saw his mum’s cheeks turn pink. “But I thought I explained—”

“I know, and I totally understand that. So I’m coming to you with a different offer.” Ash smiled. “Lewis can earn his place. He can help me set up for practice and pack away after.

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