51
Nick
“Why the long face? Are you sad because all this is already over?” Jamie asks, winding me up as the kids do their final warm-up of the summer.
“I can’t wait to be rid of your fucking face.”
“Come on. It wasn’t so bad in the end.”
“It absolutely was.”
“Shame…”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“There’s a position open for you.”
I look at him, waiting for him to spit it out. Why does he always have to speak in code?
“The junior team are looking for a coach.”
“Are you taking the piss?”
“I thought you might be interested.”
“What? Going from coaching uncoordinated kids to coaching brainless teenagers? No, thanks.”
“Do you have any other options?”
“I’m sure I’ll come up with something.”
“As usual.”
“You know I always land on my feet.”
Jamie smiles. “Even cats waste their nine lives eventually.”
“What have cats got to do with it?”
“How many lives have you got left, Nick? From what I’ve seen over the past few years, not many.”
I sigh and sit down on the stands. “One, Jamie. I only have one left.”
“Then make sure you don’t waste it. I’d miss your stupid face.”
I smile tightly at him as he walks away, calling the kids in for a team meeting. I bet they’re all just as excited as me for this little adventure to be over.
At least it’ll be one less thing to think about – even though I have no idea what I’ll do tomorrow. I haven’t come up with a plan yet, what with everything else that’s been going on. And to be honest, I don’t even know what I want to do. Maybe I’m not ready to look for a new career path – especially not if it’s a step up. I’m getting old. Everyone keeps telling me so; I might not make the climb. I don’t think my lungs or my legs have the strength anymore. I may not get the chance. Or a future.
“Hey, coach.” One of my little protégés approaches me. “We’re ready for the match. Are you coming?”
I stand up. “Are you seriously ready? Ready to be tackled, to have people jump all over you? Ready to fall face-first into the grass and shatter your bones?”
He looks at me without batting an eyelid. “Yeah, we are. Are you?”
The unbearable, destructive pain spreading through my chest gives me the only response. And it isn’t one I wanted to hear.
* * *
