by Craig Smith
note...”
“Yes?”
“You do know that our first match is going to be next weekend?”
“No way,” replied Gunter. “Aren’t we going to practice first?”
“Yes three times a week. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.”
Gunter smiled. He wondered what he had gotten himself into. “We practice today?”
“No, only starting next week.”
Gunter sighed at least it gave his side some more recovery time.
2:15pm
Siswe made his way to the bike shed, and was surprised to see that Gunter was standing in front of the bike.
“What’s up, Gunter?”
“I’m afraid I can’t let you ride home.”
“Why is that?” Siswe felt perplexed and worried.
“I’ve invested a lot of time and effort into being your friend and I don’t want you to throw it all away by taking risks you don’t need to take.”
“Really?”
“And besides, I would miss you if anything happened to you.”
Siswe smiled. “I was thinking of pushing the bike all the way home.”
“No need for that. I’ve already arranged with Mary that you can drive home with us.”
Gunter pushed the bike and they loaded into the back of Mary’s new car. She had traded in the Volvo for a huge 4X4. The bike easily fitted in the back. Once they were all strapped in they drove off.
“Siswe?” asked Mary. “Gunter tells me you’re going to start training for the bike race, but you can’t train because of your arm. I was thinking, how does an exercise bike sound? James had huge plans to ride in the Cape Argus bike race, but got a week into his training program and quit. How would you like his exercise bike?”
“I couldn’t, you have done too much for me already.”
“Don’t worry. It’s collecting dust and we can’t think of a better use for it, we can drop it off tomorrow?”
“Thank you so much!”
“And do you need a lift to and from school while your arm is healing?”
“Thank you, but I’m going to start going with my uncle again, he has recovered from the shock of the incident, but I want to ride with him just to make sure he’s okay.”
“You’re a kind young man.”
Thursday 4th April 7:30am
Siswe jumped into his uncle’s taxi. It was the first time he had been in it since the attack, and it was the first time he was seeing his uncle. His uncle had a huge black eye; it was bruised and puffy.
“Uncle Ellis, your eye?”
“Don’t worry, son, those ruffians might have busted up your uncle’s face but they will never destroy my pride and self-respect.”
“I’m sorry you had to go through it all, it’s all my fault .”
“Don’t worry boy, I always thought Jacobs was a bad apple. I doubt you could have done anything to stop him.”
“True, he was very determined.” Siswe didn’t like dwelling on sour subjects for very long. “Where is Melody today?”
“She was still getting ready when I came past her place, we’re going to swing on by to pick her up.”
A few minutes later they were outside her place and she came running up. Once she was inside she leaned forward and put her head in between Siswe and Ellis. She seemed to be very cheerful for a change. “How are my two favourite men doing this fine morning?”
Siswe couldn’t help but laugh. It was the most out of character thing he had ever heard her say.
“Hey! What’s so funny?”
“Nothing, Melody.”
“I think she likes you,” said Uncle Ellis with a smirk.
She gave the old man a light punch on the shoulder. “
“Don’t you encourage him!”
“So it’s true?” asked Siswe bewildered.
Her face contorted a little as if she was fighting some conflicting emotions. “You did save my life, and that I do have to thank you for.”
Siswe never thought he would see the day where Melody said something that nice about him.
“It was a pleasure.”
“Good, but it doesn’t mean anything else okay?”
“If you say so.” Siswe smiled.
“I still think she really really likes you.”
“Just drive, old man!”
The old man chuckled.
Saturday 6th April
Mary dropped Gunter and Siswe off at the movies in the morning. Siswe was going to spend the night at the Johnsons and they were surprised to see when that they got back that all the lights were out in the house. Gunter commented on it, but Mary just said that James and the others were most probably watching a movie in the lounge and had the lights off for better effect.
Gunter opened the door and stepped into the kitchen. The lights suddenly came on and they heard people shouting “Surprise!” Gunter almost had a heart attack and clutched Siswe’s arm for a brief moment. Siswe was almost every bit as surprised
Gunter looked at the familiar faces. There seemed to be a mixture of friends there. There were a few of Amy’s friends including Melody, a few of Fred’s friends and some of Gunter and Siswe’s friends. Most of all Gunter was happy that Debbie was there too.
“What is all this for?” asked Gunter as Mary joined them.
“We thought that you had a really rough start to your stay here and both you and Siswe were in hospital, it was about time you had some fun. Don’t you agree?”
“Totally okay with me.” Gunter’s smile grew even wider.
“Me too.”
They went and mingled with the others. Gunter naturally gravitated towards Debbie and Siswe seemed to be doing the same towards Melody.
“Hey, Gunter!” breathed Debbie, as he came closer.
“Hi, Debbie, it’s really good to see you. You were very good at keeping this a secret from me.”
“I know, it was really hard. I was tempted to tell you a few times, but I didn’t want to ruin the surprise. The wait was worth it to see you so happy.”
“You’re too sweet.”
“Why, thank you.”
Amy started some music in the games room upstairs. The window had been repaired and the room had been redecorated since the attack.
“Would you like to dance?”
“I would like nothing better.” She smiled broadly.
Siswe and Melody followed their lead and joined them to dance upstairs.
“Sorry if I have two left feet, I’m not very good at this,” said Debbie, stumbling a bit while dancing.
“Don’t worry, I’m not the best dancer in the world either.” To prove the point Gunter almost lost his balance.
They both laughed. Gunter could easily say without a doubt that it was the best day he had since he had been in the country, and by the look on Siswe’s face it was the best time he had had in a very long time too.
Saturday 13th April 1:45pm
The stadium was packed with pupils from both schools. They were dressed very colourfully and they weren’t shy about letting their team know that they supported them. Ryan sat next to Gunter on the bench.
“This is the most people I’ve seen come to an opening game in a long time, Gunter. I think they come to see some of your Viking heroics in action.”
“You think so?”
“Well it has to be something.” Ryan seemed to spot something out of the corner of his eye. It was Siswe.
“Good luck for the game, Gunter. I know you’re going to knock them dead.”
“Thank you, Siswe.” Gunter was happy to see that Melody was by his friend’s side.
Gunter felt pumped and ready for the game, but he was wondering where Debbie was. She had said she would watch the game. She said she wouldn’t miss it for the world. The referee called the players on to the field. Gunter stayed back. Both groups of supporters cheered loudly. Just as he was about to run out on to the to field, someone tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around. He found penetrating
green eyes looking at him, and before he knew it her lips met his. It was like a explosion of emotions. The crowd’s noise faded away and all he could feel and hear was Debbie.
Their lips parted and they smiled at each other.
“I think they’re waiting for you.”
Gunter turned to looked at the field. Both teams were looking at them and his coach was tapping his foot. “So they are.”
“Good luck, my Swedish boy,” she said.
Gunter winked and ran out on to the field. He felt like a million dollars.
“Ready to play now?” asked their coach.
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. Remember your training and keep your eye on the prize.”
“Will do.”
The referee blew the whistle. The first few minutes the teams ran back and forth, like two fighters parrying, trying to find their opponents’ strengths and weaknesses. The other team, the Bluewing Crusaders, were pretty good and their best quality was their defense, but their offense left quite a lot to be desired. About ten minutes into the game, they were at a stalemate and Gunter’s still-recovering side was giving him some trouble. Ryan came running past him and threw him the ball and shouted: “Go for the drop goal.”
Gunter almost froze with the ball in his hand. Half the other team were charging towards him. He only had a few moments to react. He looked up at the posts, dropped the ball and kicked it as hard as he could. The players stopped and watched as the ball went flying towards the posts. The ball looked like it was off to the left. The ball hit the post, but bounced to the right and went through the posts. The home team’s crowd erupted. Gunter couldn’t believe it; he had scored the first few points of the game.
In the second half of the game Gunter took a quick breather and searched the grandstand. He spotted Debbie, she waved. He gave a small wave back. The ball landed at his almost unmoving feet, and a couple moments later someone