by Nancy Star
“Really?” Annie said. “That’s really generous of you. I know it wouldn’t be very good news for you if Charlotte left the team.”
“Charlotte is a great kid,” Gerri said. “She should do what she wants. Now talking about good news, you want to know what’s good news for you?”
“Sure. What?”
“You are about to experience the world of socca-magic firsthand.”
“What do you mean?” Annie asked.
“Socca-magic is what happens when you start running after a ball,” Gerri explained. “All of a sudden, all the crazy thoughts cluttering your head fall away, like magic.”
That sounded good to Annie. And as soon as the practice started, she discovered Gerri was right.
Thirty
Vicki read the revised schedule. “We’ve got a game on Halloween?”
Her schoolmarm tone made Winslow cringe. “Have I ever penalized someone for missing a game for religious reasons?” he asked.
“Who are you?” Vicki said. “Who said Halloween is a religious holiday? It’s a regular holiday. An important holiday that everybody celebrates.”
Winslow laughed. “Please. If it were up to you every day would be an important holiday. What is the problem here? I promise you, we’ll buy a pumpkin, which you can put on the front step so a teenager can have something to smash. All right? Feel better? Problem solved?”
“The problem is the kids should get the day off so they can go trick-or-treating.”
Dinah poked her head into the bedroom. “I can’t go trick-or-treating?”
It was dirty tricks, Vicki bringing this up with Dinah lurking about, especially when she was on her crutches, looking like a little injured bird.
“We’ll just celebrate it another day, all right?” Winslow asked.
“That’s a good one,” Vicki said. “What’s she supposed to do? Ring doorbells the day after Halloween? What do you want her to say? ‘Trick or treat, and by the way do you have any candy left?’ You can go with her. You walk up and down the block ringing doorbells on November first and see what happens.”
“All right. So she’ll go the day before.”
“Even better,” Vicki said. “Ding-dong. ‘Did you get your Halloween candy yet?’ I don’t think so.”
“Is that the problem?” Winslow asked. “Candy? All right. Tell you what. Dinah, I’ll buy you all the candy you want. Whatever you want. You can have the best Halloween stomachache in town.”
“You have to change the game,” Vicki said. “The girls will be totally bummed if they can’t go trick-or-treating. And the parents will be totally pissed.”
“How can you expect me to support a holiday that completely revolves around the overconsumption of sugar? I have spent years teaching the girls about proper nutrition and fitness. Halloween could undo everything.”
“I can’t go trick-or-treating on Halloween?” Dinah asked again.
“Dinah,” Winslow said. “How can you even think about going trick-or-treating with those crutches?”
“I’m going as a car crash victim,” Dinah explained. “With gauze around my body. And fake blood on my face.”
“You have to admit,” Vicki said, “it’s a hell of a great idea.”
“It’s ridiculous,” Winslow muttered.
“I already got the fake blood and the gauze,” Dinah said. “And I have the crutches. Mom said maybe we could all dress up like car crash victims. Like it was a family accident.”
“You are both out of your minds,” Winslow said. He put on his shoes and stomped downstairs.
“Why is he mad at me?” Dinah asked.
Vicki stroked her daughter’s fine hair, and began to redo her braids to make them tighter. “He’s not mad at you.”
“Is it because I got a red card?”
“No. That wasn’t your fault. He’s not mad about that.”
Dinah lowered her voice. “Maybe I shouldn’t be on the team anymore.”
“Dinah, you stop that. There wouldn’t be a team if you weren’t on it. You think Daddy would want to coach a bunch of strangers?”
“If they were talented strangers he would.”
Vicki shook her head. “No way. If you leave the team, Daddy leaves the team. That’s the way it is. He’s just cranky because he’s tired, that’s all.”
Vicki pulled the second braid too tight. Dinah put her hand to her ear but didn’t say a word.
“Don’t worry about this,” Vicki said. “I promise you, you’re going trick-or-treating.”
“I won’t worry,” Dinah said, and she hobbled off to bed.
Vicki went to the kitchen and put up a pot of water. When the tea was perfectly steeped, she called Winslow from his study.
He came in and sat at the table, waiting to be served. Vicki filled the teacup and put it before him. Then she walked back to the sink.
Winslow stared at his tea. “Where’s the sugar?” he finally asked. Vicki knew he couldn’t drink his tea without sugar.
“I’m so sorry,” Vicki said. “I threw the sugar away. Good thing, right? I would have thrown it away years ago if I had known how bad it is for you. I mean, from what you told me tonight I realize I’ve been practically poisoning you. Are you sure you feel okay?”
The phone rang. They stared each other down.
Vicki got up. She checked caller ID. It was the plumber. “What’s up, Roy?”
Winslow shook his head and mouthed that he wasn’t home.
“I need to speak to Winslow,” Roy said.
“Is there a problem at the Plex?” Vicki asked.
“No. It’s nothing about that.”
“What can I do for you then, Roy?” Vicki asked.
“Is Winslow there? I need to talk to him.”
“If you tell me what it’s about, maybe I can help you,” Vicki said.
“I think Winslow will want to talk to me himself.”
“He might,” Vicki said. “But he’ll never know you called unless you tell me what it’s about.”
There was silence on the line, Roy trying to decide if he should bother telling Winslow’s wife, or just try back another time.
“He’s hard to get, Roy,” Vicki said. “Believe it or not, I’m your best shot.”
Winslow pantomimed slitting his throat. Vicki had given Roy too much time already.
“Okay, Roy,” Vicki said. “I got to go.”
“Wait. Tell Winslow I want to make him an offer.”
“What kind of offer?” Vicki asked.
There was another long silence. Then Roy went on. “Maura told me there’s been some problems on the Power.”
“What kind of problems do you mean?” Vicki asked.
“I heard about the player injuries. Me and Maura, we were so sorry to hear about Dinah. Is she going to be okay?”
“Dinah is just fine,” Vicki said. “Thanks.”
Winslow looked up, alerted by Vicki’s icy tone.
Roy spilled the rest out fast. “The thing is, Maura told me you’ve got a big tournament coming up. And you might end up short a player. And Nadine, she’s really good. The only reason she wasn’t put on the Power in the first place is she didn’t start playing soccer till she was eight, so she kind of missed the boat there.”
“You know what, Roy? You were right. Your best bet is to talk to Winslow at the Soccer-Plex. He is so busy he’s practically never home anymore. So why don’t you call him at work. The phones are in. You can leave a message. Tell him exactly what you told me. How good your daughter is and all.”
“I want to offer Nadine to him,” Roy said. “Because I know he needs someone to guest in the tournament. Because of what happened to your daughter.”
“Because of Dinah. Thank you, Roy. You should definitely tell Winslow that on the message too.” Vicki stared at Winslow and shook her head.
“Okay,” Roy said. “That’s what I’ll do. Believe me, as soon as Winslow puts Nadine on the field he’ll see what I’ve been talking about. Plus she has
the same number.”
“Pardon me?”
“As your daughter. Maura told me Nadine has the same number as Dinah. So it’s almost like it was meant to be, you know?”
“The other phone is ringing, Roy,” Vicki said. “I got to go.”
She hung up. “That was frigging unbelievable. Roy called to say he knows we’re short a player for the tournament. And he wants to offer you the opportunity to put Nadine on the team in Dinah’s place. The best part? Nadine and Dinah have the same number. So it’s meant to be.”
“What a fool,” Winslow said.
“What a jerk.” Vicki reached into the cabinet and pulled out the sugar bowl.
“What complete and utter nerve.” Winslow helped himself to three heaping teaspoons.
Vicki licked her finger, dipped it in the bowl, sucked the sugar off, and said, “People have no idea.”
Thirty-one
POWER POINTERS—October 15th!!! News of the Day
FIELD BEHAVIOR ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Because of several isolated incidents at our recent home games, I am sorry to report that some of our players are displaying an acute lack of confidence on the field!! This Tentative Field Behavior cannot be tolerated! Tentative Field Behavior can spread like a disease, from player to player within seconds!! I am therefore putting in place a new program that will ensure this behavior will not recur!
Beginning immediately, all players are to arrive at the field one and one-half hours before game and/or practice time for a Team Field Check! Team Field Checking is a wonderful way to help players gain confidence on the turf!!
Full participation is mandatory! Latecomers will find themselves plucking splinters out of their bottoms because of time spent as benchwarmers. No exceptions!!!
Note: Special Field Check vests are on order at the Winslow West Soccer-Plex Store. Details on sizes and price to follow!!!
Challenge of the Week Update: The girls tell me they are enjoying my latest good idea, the Winslow West Weekly Challenge. The Winslow West Weekly Challenge will continue to be held at the end of all Monday practices.
Congratulations to our first ever Winslow West Weekly Challenge Winner, Evelyn Murphy!!
For those who were unable to stay to the end to watch, Evelyn successfully juggled the ball two hundred and sixty-four times! Evelyn told her teammates that she has been practicing juggling a minimum of two hours each day! Sometimes more! Sometimes in the house!!
While I do not recommend juggling in the house (any soft ball will work well for this purpose), it is a reminder that soccer is nothing more than a sport where hard work is its own reward!!
Congratulations also go to Shelby, who juggled the ball seventy-five times, and most surely would have done more had we not run out of daylight!
Game Update: As you know, we have a game scheduled for the 31st of October, otherwise known as Halloween!
To make sure we all get to enjoy this very important holiday, Barbie and Ken have generously volunteered their home for a postgame Halloween Celebration! Please make sure all girls pack a costume in their soccer bags, as a costume contest will be held at the end of the day!!
Prizes for best costume will be: First Place—a one-hour private training session with yours truly! Second Place—a half-hour private training session with yours truly! And so on!
Note: On Halloween we will be facing the Holder Crush, a team that has managed quite an impressive record this season. Remember: Our Halloween festivities will be better enjoyed if we are coming off a well-played (that is winning) game!!!!
Special Notice for Great Play in the East Meadow Tournament:
Evelyn—Passing to yourself! A brilliant idea! Bravo for an incredible combination of precision ball handling, speed on the field, aggression in tackle, and excellence under pressure!!!
Jolie—We are so happy you agreed to take your new position as starting goalkeeper. Please do not get discouraged by the occasional loss. Goalkeepers cannot make up for sloppy defense or inefficient offense. We hope you continue your excellent record of no injuries, as it is always quite dispiriting to see a goalkeeper carried off the field, particularly in the first quarter.
Bobbi—We look forward to your return. Please send re- gards to Xavier, your physical therapist, whom I know quite well indeed.
Conference Update: As of now, only one family has confirmed their conference appointment with me! A Special Thank-You for Prompt Response goes to the Evelyn Murphy Family!!
Note: I am unfortunately no longer available by phone at home, as some people have been taking advantage of my easy accessibility. From this point on, I must ask everyone to hold all questions until your child’s upcoming conference! Therefore it is imperative that all parents call the Soccer-Plex immediately to confirm the reservation of your conference spot!!!!!
Good Luck to One and All from Winslow West!!!
Thirty-two
Winslow couldn’t understand it. Why hadn’t the mother called?
He walked up to the small office at the back of the viewing lounge and picked up the phone.
Marilyn answered on the first ring.
“Do you think there’s a problem with the girl?” Winslow asked. He noticed how hard he was gripping the phone and forced himself to ease up.
“Don’t worry,” Marilyn said. “The mother is going to call. I promise.”
“Did you give her an end date? A specific call by time frame?” Winslow asked.
“No. My gut told me not to,” Marilyn defended herself. “My gut told me if I pushed her too hard it wouldn’t work out.”
Winslow closed his eyes. “How long does your gut tell you I need to wait? Because, frankly, if they’re not interested in me, I’m not interested in them.”
“We need this girl, Winslow. Evelyn has turned out to be a big disappointment.”
“I think Evelyn is quite good,” Winslow said.
“She’s not a team player. If she can’t take the ball the whole way, she doesn’t bother trying. What’s that about?”
Ahh, Winslow thought. She’s jealous. “Let’s give Evelyn some time, shall we? There’s always a period of adjustment when one takes on a new player.”
“By the way,” Marilyn said, “what position are you thinking of for the new girl?”
The jealousy was more serious than he’d imagined. He could use that. “Possibly midfield. We could do with another strong player in midfield.” He knew Marilyn would like that answer. Midfield was Evelyn’s position.
“That is a great idea,” Marilyn said. “I love that idea.”
Winslow smiled. “All right then. If I don’t hear from the Flemings tonight, will you follow up tomorrow?”
“Just give me the word and I’m on it,” Marilyn said.
Winslow hung up the phone and laughed at how easy it was to get people to do what he wanted.
“Hello?” a voice called. “Winslow? It’s me. Freddy.”
Damn, Winslow thought. The last people he wanted to talk to were Rose’s father, Freddy, and his silent appendage of a wife.
He checked his watch. They were early. Why were people like Freddy always early? Why must he waste his time talking to Freddy at all, when what he wanted to do was to think about Charlotte Fleming? Was that too much to ask? That he have a moment, one single moment, to sit and think about Charlotte’s possibilities?
“Winslow?” Freddy bleated. “Are you up there?”
This was not how he’d organized it. He’d organized it so the parents of the top players would get the first conferences. After he pumped up those parents, they would go home and pump up their daughters, who would come to practice and pump up the weak players, who would then maybe, if he was lucky, go home and practice for five minutes for once in their lives.
It wasn’t to be. First Evelyn Murphy’s mother called and said Evelyn had a doctor’s appointment. Then Marilyn canceled because of car trouble. Disappointing Tia had a reading tutor. And he was left with this, Freddy and his wife, a woman so
quiet that for all he knew she didn’t even have a tongue.
Why couldn’t he be having a conference with the Fleming parents? He’d love to discuss Charlotte’s footwork, her instinct, her joy on the field. He yearned to talk about her raw, uncorrupted talent.
He laughed out loud at the wonder of it. Even Shelby, whom he’d gotten when she was seven, played as if she’d passed through someone else’s hands first.
He closed his eyes to regain his calm. With a player like Charlotte it was only a matter of fine-tuning. Some softening around the edges. He glanced at his hands and was not a little surprised to see them trembling.
“Winslow?” Freddy called out.
Winslow checked his watch again. They’d been waiting five minutes. All right—eight. Eight minutes and already Freddy had a chip on his shoulder you could see a mile away.
Winslow slowly climbed down the stairs.
“We’ve been waiting ten minutes,” Freddy said.
“Well, the good news is you don’t have to wait any longer.”
Rose stood behind her mother.
“Hello, there,” Winslow said. The written instructions had been very clear: Do not bring your daughter to the conference. Why did he bother spending his time writing those damn things when people didn’t bother to read them?
“Rose,” he said, “tell Parker I’d like him to practice with you while I talk to your parents.”
“Okay,” Rose said.
She always did what he asked her, right away, without question. Fact was, he wished she didn’t. He wished she’d challenge him, curse at other players, throw a shoe, spit. Something that would give him cause to put her off the team.
“Tell him I’d like you to practice your headers,” Winslow said.
“Okay,” Rose said, and she skipped off to find Parker.
“Headers,” the mother said. It was the first time Winslow had ever heard her speak. “I hate headers.”
Winslow glanced at her, thinking she was joking. Then he remembered with whom he was dealing.