A Goal for Joaquin

by Jerry McGinley

  * * *

  When Joaquin’s friends finally met with their principal before school Monday morning, Mr. Tobias couldn’t have been more supportive of the idea of hiring Buzzy Budzinski to coach the soccer team. He assured the kids that Buzzy was one of the best liked and most trusted employees in the school district. With his experience as a player, he was a natural choice. He promised he would do everything possible to convince the school board that the team deserved a chance. The kids left his office with renewed hope and enthusiasm.

  With Mr. Tobias’s support at the next school board meeting, the soccer proposal passed by a vote of 6-2. No one voiced any opposition to Buzzy taking the coaching job. Mr. Morganson and one other man still opposed the plan, but they received no support from the other members. After the meeting, Joaquin and his friends were ecstatic. Their many months of struggle had finally paid off. In September they would be on the field wearing the green and white colors of the Willowdale Shamrocks. They celebrated that night by driving to Madison and pigging out on pizza and cheese bread.

  * * *

  The next day the work continued. Kari organized a general meeting for all players who had signed up for the team. The meeting was held in the cafeteria after school the following Monday. Every player, including the eighth graders, attended. It was decided that everyone should try to get together at least once a week during the spring and summer to work on conditioning and to play pick-up games. Attendance at these sessions would not be required, and Coach Budzinski wouldn’t be involved in any way. That way the gatherings couldn’t be considered illegal practices. The State Association was very strict about organized practices held before the official starting date. The main reason for getting together was to get to know each other and to have a chance to become familiar with everybody’s style of play. Joaquin looked out the window during the meeting, wondering when the snow would melt so that they could get out on the field.

  * * *

  Two days after the meeting, Joaquin was surprised at lunch when Monte approached his table. Joaquin was eating with Julio, and when Monte appeared, they both motioned for him to sit down at their table.

  “Hey, Joaquin, I heard you guys got your team approved. That’s cool.” Monte said as he sat down next to Joaquin. “I was wondering if you were still looking for a keeper. I ain’t played for a while, but I’d kinda like to give it a shot.” He ran his long fingers through the wild strands of red curls on his head. “I been thinking about it since you talked to me that day, and I think it might be fun. I like the idea of playing for a coach like Buzzy instead of the usual dorks that run most jock teams around here.”

  “Sure, Monte, we’d be glad to have you,” Joaquin replied enthusiastically. “We were talking about asking you again before the school year ended.” Joaquin nodded his head and looked over at Julio who also gave an approving nod. “In fact we’re starting to get together on Tuesday and Thursday nights as soon as the snow’s gone to kick a ball around and get to know each other better. They’re not scheduled practices, and nobody has to show up if they don’t want to, but I think it’ll be fun.” Joaquin looked at Monte to see his reaction. Monte flashed a smile and said he’d like to be included.

  “Let me know when you’re ready to start playing,” Monte said as he stood up and patted Joaquin on the shoulder, “I’ll be there with bells on. I’m even trying to talk a couple of my boys over there into coming out for the team too. Schaeffer, the guy with the pierced nose and eyebrow, played a little soccer before he moved here. He’s thinking about joining the team.”

  “Great,” said Joaquin pretending to be excited about having Monte’s friends join the team. “We’ve got fifteen commitments so far, but it’d be nice to get two or three more.”

  “That’s cool!” Monte said as he turned and walked away.

  “I’m not sure the girls are going to be very excited about having Monte and his friends on the team,” Julio said with a worried look on his face. “They’re not real thrilled about the whole Monte idea.”

  “Well, what are we going to do?” Joaquin raised his voice enough to indicate his irritation at Julio’s remark. “Are we going to pick out who we let come out for the team based on how they look? I told you about what happened to me at Lakeshore. I don’t want that same thing to happen to somebody here. Let’s give the guy a chance. Who knows? Maybe he’ll turn out to be really good.”

  “That’s fine with me, Joaquin,” Julio answered, “I’m just telling you what Kari and Meta are going to say.”

  “Well, I’ll talk to them.” Joaquin said as he picked up his tray and started to leave. “Anyway, if Monte’s as bad a student as everyone seems to think, he probably won’t be eligible anyway.”

  Julio was right about Kari and Meta’s lack of enthusiasm with the idea of having Monte Rose on their soccer team. Joaquin tried to explain that it was a public school team and everybody deserved a chance to play, but the girls still argued that Monte was going to hurt the program. “Just look at how he dresses and who he hangs around with,” Meta protested. “How are we ever going to get kids and teachers to support our team if they see Monte starting at a key position. Everyone is going to think we’re a bunch of dirtballs running around out there.”

  “So just because we don’t like the way he looks, we should ban him from playing on our team?” Joaquin asked. “Well, what if some people don’t like the way me and Julio look because we’re Hispanic, or what if somebody doesn’t think you and Kari and Cocoa should play because you’re girls? We might as well get Coach Sommers to come over here and pick out the players that have the right appearance and attitude. Is that what you want?”

  “No, that’s not what she’s saying,” Kari said. “It’s different with Monte. We’re not against him because of his race or sex. We just don’t like the way he acts and dresses. Those aren’t characteristics he was born with. They’re choices that he makes. It’s not the same as what you’re talking about.”

  “I don’t see the difference,” Joaquin argued. “I played on a team where you were judged by how you looked. I don’t want any part of that again. I think you should give Monte a chance. You really don’t even know him. You’re just judging him based on what you think he might be like. Maybe he just needs a break.”

  “All right, we won’t say anymore about Monte. If he stays out of trouble and really makes an effort to help our team, then we’ll stand behind him,” said Meta. “But if he becomes an embarrassment, then you can be the one to tell him he’s not wanted.” She paused then smiled at Kari. “Who knows? Maybe he’ll actually help us win some games.”

  “Good,” said Joaquin, “I’m willing to give the guy a chance, and if it doesn’t work, I’ll be responsible.”

  “Okay, now that we have that straightened out, why don’t you get a shovel and go out and clear the snow off the practice field so we can start playing soccer. I’m tired of just talking about it all the time. I’m ready for action.” Kari tossed her glove at Joaquin as she spoke. She had regained her old smiling expression. “I don’t know why you’re so concerned about having a good goalie,” she continued, “because with me playing sweeper the ball will never get that far anyway.”

  “Yeah, right,” Joaquin teased, “with you in front of the goal the other teams should let us have two goalkeepers.”

  Kari tossed her other glove and it hit Joaquin on top of the head. The Monte Rose issue was settled. The apparent crisis was resolved.

  Chapter 16

  So the winter gradually turned to spring, and the snowy fields turned to mud. Joaquin looked forward to the rebirth of his soccer dreams. Every morning he got up early enough to run three miles before he had to go to school. He had recently acquired a companion for his early morning jaunts—a year old golden lab-collie mix named Duke. His father had heard about the dog from his supervisor at work. It was not exactly the puppy that Joaquin had been promised for Christmas, but it was a well-trained and playful dog that Joaquin couldn’t resist the f
irst time he saw it. His old owners were moving into a retirement complex that didn’t allow pets, so they were thrilled to find a good home for Duke. The boy and the dog became immediate friends, and everyday they took a brisk tour of the countryside. For Joaquin it was a way to get into shape for soccer, and for Duke it was a way to discover the sights, sounds, and scents of his new home.

  Life in the country agreed with the entire Lopez family. Maria spent countless hours in the barn and pasture playing with Chief and Rocky. After just a few weeks she had gained a great deal of confidence working with the horses. Mr. Jensen, the former owner, still stopped by at least once a week to show Maria various tricks to get the horses to follow her commands.

  Long before the ground was thawed enough to plow, Miguel Lopez was marking out and fencing in an acre of land for his garden. He had already ordered tomato and pepper plants from a greenhouse in town, and he spent many hours looking through seed catalogues deciding what would grow best in his garden. In the evening he joined his wife on long leisurely walks along their road. Both were becoming more and more aware of emerging plant life as well as the returning migrations of geese, ducks, robins, and redwing blackbirds. The days were not long enough for the Lopez family. It was amazing how much their lives had changed during the last year.

  At school Joaquin’ friends were able to focus more on schoolwork and other events besides soccer. Julio was busy practicing for the track team, and Kari and Meta had both gotten part-time jobs working two evenings a week at the new Super-Saver grocery store. Joaquin was pleased to see Monte Rose in school almost every day. His attendance had improved dramatically after deciding to go out for the soccer team. Though he still hung out with the same crew of skateboarders, he was always friendly to Joaquin and assured him almost daily that he was keeping up in all his classes and wasn’t going to have any problem meeting the academic requirement.

  Of course, Tuesday and Thursday nights were reserved for soccer. At first, Joaquin was pleased to see the positive attitudes and the blossoming skills of his future teammates. Nearly all of the players who signed up for the team attended both sessions each week. Even Monte showed up on a regular basis. His ability to guard the goal was awesome. With his long body and wide wingspan he was able to cover an enormous amount of space. Even though his moves needed polish and his physical conditioning wasn’t the best, he was clearly an impressive athlete. Even Kari and Meta had to admit that his presence was going to be a real asset to the team. Everyone had high hopes for the fall season.

  Joaquin usually saw Jessica and Brian on weekends. He had finally passed the exam to get his driver’s license, so he was able to get back and forth to Lakeshore quite easily. Brian, of course, was envious of Joaquin and his new team. Since he had quit the Lakeshore team, Brian hadn’t played any competitive soccer. He wished he could transfer to Willowdale so that he could play there, but his parents had no intention of moving to a new school district just so their son could play a sport. Frequently, he drove over to Willowdale on Tuesday and Thursday nights to join the scrimmages. Joaquin’s friends were glad to have him there because they were always short of players when they tried to field two teams. Though not the best player on the field, Brian showed that he had enough skill and experience to make him a strong addition to the team if he could somehow figure out how to switch high schools for the fall semester. Joaquin offered to let Brian move in with the Lopez family for a semester, but Brian said his parents would never go for such a plan. He was doomed, he concluded, to watch his friends play and to think about what it would’ve been like if his school had not hired Coach Sommers. It was agreed that Brian, Joaquin and Julio would find a club team to join during the summer.

  Quite often Jessica watched the informal soccer matches, but she couldn’t be talked in to joining the action on the field. She explained that she just didn’t have an interest in playing. Instead she sat on the sideline and read a book, looking up frequently to see how everyone was doing. Jessica and Cocoa had become very good friends, a situation that made Joaquin rather uncomfortable. He wasn’t sure why. He guessed it was because he and Jessica were seeing each other quite often, going to movies and taking long country walks, yet sometimes he still had a difficult being with Cocoa without feeling a certain attraction. Cocoa never did anything to encourage this feeling, but with her looks and personality, no encouragement was needed.

  For the most part the spring scrimmages went smoothly, but there were times when Joaquin started to question how committed some of the players were. He had a growing feeling that the team was losing some of its enthusiasm. One particular night in early May, there were only nine players at the scrimmage. Julio was at a track meet, Monte had gone to Milwaukee for a rock concert, and several others were simply not there for some reason or other. Of course, the practice sessions were set up to be informal, and attendance was in no way mandatory. Yet Joaquin was bothered by the poor turnout.

  “I hope people take soccer more seriously when the regular season starts next fall,” he said to Kari and Cocoa as they were loosening up before the scrimmage. “I don’t want to play on a team if nobody cares whether we win or lose. I think we should be doing some windsprints and calisthenics at these practices. ”

  “I thought we scheduled these get-togethers so we could play soccer and have fun.” Cocoa said without looking up from her leg stretches. “I don’t think we should be having big serious practices. That’s not even legal till the middle of August.”

  “That’s right,” Kari agreed, “and after all the hours I put in getting this team started, I don’t appreciate being called a loser.” The look in her eyes showed she was angry about Joaquin’s comments.

  “I didn’t say you were a loser,” Joaquin said. “I just think maybe we should try to accomplish more.” Joaquin could feel a tightening in his shoulder muscles. He twisted his neck back and forth to work out the kinks. He knew he should change the subject, but there was more he wanted to say. He dropped into a sitting position and began stretching his hamstring muscles. With his face nearly touching his extended thigh and knee, he conveniently avoided eye contact with his friends. “It’s not going to be easy competing against schools that have had programs for several years. I just don’t want to go out and look stupid.”

  “Well, nobody wants to lose, but that doesn’t mean we have to be at each other’s throats. Personally, I want to have fun, and I was working to get this team started long before you moved here.” Kari’s words came out in a quick staccato burst. “Maybe you’re the one who needs a better attitude.”

  There was a long pause before anyone spoke. Realizing he wasn’t going to get support for his opinion, Joaquin decided it was best to keep his comments to himself. Cocoa and Kari walked to the center of the field and started passing a ball back and forth. They talked to each other in voices too quiet for Joaquin to understand. He jogged down the field and joined a circle of younger players working on passing and juggling skills. The scrimmage that night was very subdued. Joaquin felt bad that he had created a barrier between himself and the girls who had made him feel so welcome when he first moved to Willowdale. He decided he’d be best off keeping his concerns to himself.

  Chapter 17

  Another near catastrophe hit the team about two weeks before the end of the school year. Joaquin was at his locker before school one morning when Monte Rose tapped him on the shoulder and asked if they could talk for a minute. They walked to the cafeteria and sat down at a vacant table.

  “I got problems in my physical science class, dude.” Monte spoke without his usual carefree grin. “I’ve been working really hard in there to get my grade up to passing, and I’ve been doing fine. I got a D on one test and a D+ on another. ”

  “That sounds good. What’s the problem?” Joaquin cut in.

  “The problem is the last test we took. I really booked for it, you know, and I actually understood what I was supposed to do. So I take the test, and it seems pretty easy. I figure I did all right.
Then when Hewett gives back the papers yesterday, there’s a big, fat zero on top of mine. I try to talk to him after class and he tells me to see him after school.”

  “So did you talk to him about it.”

  “I went into his room after school last night, but he wasn’t around. So I stopped in this morning, and he accuses me of cheating on the exam. Said I got an 84. That’s a B minus, man.” Monte looked proud when he said it. “But Hewett says there ain’t no way I could get a B minus unless I cheated. He said he didn’t know how I did it, but he just knew I cheated.” Monte paused and ran his long fingers through his hair. “I should’ve known better. It doesn’t matter what you do. If you’re labeled a dirtball, you get treated like a dirtball. I can’t play soccer next year if I get an F in science.” He leaned back and looked up at the ceiling.

  “He can’t do that,” Joaquin said. “A teacher can’t give you a zero on a test without proof that you cheated.”

  “He says he can do anything he wants. It’s his word against mine. Who do you think people will believe?”

  “Well, I say we talk to Mr. Tobias. He’s been real fair with us before. I bet he’ll listen to you.”

  “Yeah right. Mr. Tobias and me have had plenty of talks, but I don’t think I’m on his list of favorite students. Man, it’s hopeless. I did all that work for the last six or seven weeks, and where did it get me?” Monte paused then answered his own question. “It got me right back where I started—nowhere. Man, nobody’s gonna give a guy like me a break. You and your buddies better get yourself another keeper.” Monte stood up a headed toward the front door. Joaquin started after him, but he didn’t know what to say to him so he let him go.