by Felice Arena
‘Man, that was close,’ puffed Danny, bursting into the hallway of his house.
‘Too close,’ panted Robbo.
‘Where’s the tracksuit top?’ asked Specky, also trying to catch his breath.
Danny and Robbo shot each other a look of horror.
‘Oh no,’ moaned Danny. ‘I left it on the Johnson’s front lawn!’
‘Great,’ responded Specky sarcastically. ‘Now they know it was someone from the team. I just hope they won’t work out that it was us.’
‘Screamer might get into more trouble because of it,’ said Robbo, hopefully. After seeing the carved footy tossed into the fire, like that, Specky couldn’t help but hope that he would. But then he pictured Screamer’s tearful face and his father shouting at him – he didn’t deserve that, no matter how mean he was.
‘Yeah!’ said Danny. ‘Who cares if his dad gets stuck into him. He deserves it.’
‘Come on, guys,’ Specky said, a bit reluctantly. ‘He’s obviously having some problems with his dad. That might be why he is like he is.’
Danny and Robbo looked at each other as if to check they had heard Specky correctly.
‘Um hello?’ said Danny, shaking his head. ‘Didn’t you just see what happened to your carved footy?’
‘Yes.’ Specky winced, dreading the thought of telling Cedric. ‘But we don’t know what it would be like if our dads were as hard on us as Screamer’s old man is on him.’
‘Well, I don’t know – we were all sucked in by him,’ Robbo said, looking guilty. ‘I’m so sorry, Speck. We thought he was our mate.’ On that note, the three friends made their way back into the lounge room to catch the last quarter of the game on TV.
But Specky remembered how happy Screamer appeared to be when invited to the sleepover and how his attitude had changed when his father appeared. Maybe he really isn’t that bad, Specky thought, feeling slightly guilty for having judged him so harshly. Maybe he did want to be friends.
‘Can you believe that, after last week’s thrashing, Essendon clobbered Port Adelaide tonight?’ said Danny, as they pulled out their sleeping bags.
‘Yeah, and Matthew Lloyd kicked the most goals he’s ever scored in a single game. That was sensational,’ added Robbo.
‘What’s wrong, Speck?’ asked Danny, noticing that Specky looked stunned and a bit pale.
‘Nothing, I think I had too many of your mum’s cannoli, that’s all.’ shrugged Specky. Once again, Specky’s premonition had come true. Even though he wanted to brush it off as another coincidence, he now started to wonder if the carved footy might indeed have had some special power behind it. Did Cedric know about its power? Did it really possess some kind of magic? Was that why Cedric had loaned it to him? Another rush of guilt came flooding over him as he remembered what had happened to the carved football.
I can’t believe it’s gone. I should’ve looked after it … Specky tightly shut his eyes trying to stop himself from thinking about it, but it was no use.
Cedric trusted me with it, he thought, anxiously. He’s gonna kill me.
That night, he didn’t get much sleep.
Finally the morning of the Great Footy Quiz arrived and Specky and his friends were seated at the Camberwell Public Library alongside eighty or so other kids ready to take the multiple-choice test.
Each contestant was given a lead pencil and an eraser by one of the coordinators supervising the exam, after they were matched to their ID cards.
Specky glanced over at Robbo and Danny; they looked as nervous as he was.
‘Okay, you can now begin. You have two hours. Go!’ announced one of the coordinators, pacing along the rows of tables.
Specky jotted down his name and the registration number he been assigned at the MCG. He turned over the cover page and was relieved to see that he knew the answer to the first question:
1. Who was known as Mr Football?
a) Malcom Blight
b) John Nicholls
c) Ron Barassi
d) Ted Whitten
Specky circled d, and, for a moment, he wondered if Johnny had picked the same answer 2000 kilometres away. He imagined him in the Katherine Library taking the quiz with Cedric patiently waiting for him. His mind drifted again to the carved footy.
‘Don’t think about it now, just focus on this,’ Specky said under his breath, glancing down at the next question:
2. Which Carlton great was famous for wearing a headband?
a) Bruce Doull
b) Anthony Koutoufides
c) Alex Jesaulenko
d) Stephen Silvagni
Specky automatically thought of Christina as he marked a as his answer.
‘All those Blues legends – I bet she would have loved answering that one. I wonder how she’s doing?’ he thought, smiling. He had been thinking more of Christina lately and how she was the only girl he had ever thought about.
Question after question, the time ticked by.
‘One hour to go,’ announced the quiz coordinator.
Specky panicked slightly; he was less than halfway into the test and he realised he would have to pick up the pace. He looked over at Robbo and Danny and saw that their heads were buried in their quiz papers, their pencils frantically scrawling in front of them. Specky hoped they were doing well.
44. If Melbourne kicked 11 goals and 14 behinds, and Collingwood kicked 9 goals and 8 behinds, what would Melbourne’s winning margin be?
a) 28 points
b) 27 points
c) 24 points
d) 18 points
Specky re-read the question several times.
This is a tricky one, he thought.
As he wrestled for the answer, Specky was distracted by a girl sitting directly behind him. She had a very bad head cold and no tissues. She sniffed continuously until it got to a point where all she could do was wipe her snotty nose across the back of her hand. Specky witnessed it all when he looked back over his shoulder; he couldn’t believe how gross it was.
As he was turning back to his test he noticed two boys sitting alongside him – they were coughing every few seconds. Suddenly Specky realised what they were doing – they were coughing out the answers to each other. One cough for a, two coughs for b, and so on. For a moment, Specky wasn’t sure what he should do. It wasn’t in his nature to dob anyone in, but it bugged him that he had studied so hard and these guys were cheating. Fortunately, one of the supervisors had also cottoned on to their sneaky plan, and he asked them to leave without completing the rest of the exam. About fifteen minutes later, the first quiz paper was handed in.
That was quick, thought Specky, as he approached the 70th question.
70. What are the correct dimensions of the MCG?
a) 170 × 150 metres
b) 160 × 138 metres
c) 180 × 140 metres
d) 154 × 133 metres
Einstein should be here! he thought, knowing that his eccentric teammate would have circled the correct answer instantly. Gus hadn’t entered the contest because he and his family had gone away during the school holidays, but Specky remembered his running commentary on the Friday night football, and circled b.
It wasn’t long before most of the kids in the library had completed their tests, including Danny and Robbo. They pulled faces at Specky as they handed in their papers and left the building. Specky nervously chewed the tip of his pencil, conscious that he was one of only a handful left.
‘Five minutes to go, everyone,’ warned the supervisor.
Specky had only three questions left to complete.
98. When was the Grand Final first won by a non-Victorian team?
a) 1990 b) 1992 c) 1993 d) 1998
99. From the above question, which team was it?
a) Port Adelaide
b) Brisbane Lions
c) Adelaide Crows
d) West Coast Eagles
100. Brisbane Lions champ Michael Voss made his AFL debut in what year?
a) 1990
b) 1991
c) 1992
d) 1996
Specky took in a deep breath and smiled to himself. He may have missed out on Michael Voss’s autograph and photo but having had the chance to sit next to him and ask him hundreds of questions about his life, he knew he would get this answer, for sure.
‘Thanks, Vossy,’ he whispered, as he circled c.
‘Time’s up.’
Specky couldn’t believe that he had made it just in time. He briefly thought of Johnny and wondered if he’d finished around the same time.
Later that afternoon, Specky was back at home taking it easy, but he was still fretting a little about the quiz, doubting the answers he had picked. He had compared notes earlier with Robbo and Danny. Both felt they did extremely well, but Danny was especially confident.
‘I reckon I aced it,’ he had said.
Specky hopped on the computer, hoping to find Christina on-line. He wanted to know how she had gone with the test. Her screen name was nowhere to be seen, so he surfed the Net for a while hoping she would appear – but she didn’t.
‘Simon, can you get us some milk and bread?’ yelled his mother from downstairs.
Specky obliged and headed out to his local milk bar. When he got there he bumped into the last person he was expecting to see. Screamer was coming out of the store just as Specky was about to enter.
They paused for a second, standing face to face, staring at each other in silence.
Specky noticed that Screamer was wearing his Carlton tracksuit top. He wondered if Screamer suspected that he had been at his place last night.
‘How’s it going?’ asked Specky, offering to be friendly.
‘All right,’ responded Screamer, squinting suspiciously back at him.
Screamer’s eyes were red and puffy as if he had been crying again. Specky guessed that his dad probably had something to do with it. He was starting to feel really sorry for Screamer.
‘Look, I gotta tell you something,’ said Specky nervously taking a big breath. ‘I know … I know you stole my carved footy. I was there at your house last night – with Danny and Robbo.’ Specky was aware that he was rambling, but he kept going. ‘And I’m not gonna blame you for your dad throwing it in the fire; that’s not your fault. I saw how he got stuck into you. And, well, I just wanted to say I’m sorry if you got into more trouble because of us and I hope we can be mates. No hard feelings?’
Specky put out his arm to shake hands. He was surprised by his own actions – he thought he would’ve been a lot angrier about the carved footy being burnt to ashes and the way Screamer had treated him all season. He could see Screamer’s stern expression relax a little; he seemed almost touched by the attempt at reconciliation. But, as Specky leant forward to shake his hand, Screamer suddenly clenched his fist and, with an almighty swing, punched Specky right in the guts. It was a painful blow that brought tears to Specky’s eyes. He doubled over and Screamer charged off down the street.
16. winners …
Two weeks later, Specky was still feeling slightly foolish about his run in with Screamer. But he had resigned himself to the fact that he and Screamer would always be fierce rivals – like Carlton and Collingwood, or Freo and The Eagles, or Essendon and Hawthorn.
But today was not a day for thinking about rivalry, it was the day that the Great Footy Contest winners would be announced. The results would be televised later that evening on ‘Sensational Stuff’. It was also the opening day of Cedric Cockatoo’s art exhibit.
Specky anguished over wanting to see Johnny and his dad again and having to finally tell them about the carved footy. How was he going to do it? Reluctantly, he wandered into his dad’s gallery – slowing winding and twisting his way through the art-loving crowd.
‘Specky, man!’ called Johnny, who had spotted him first.
‘Hey, Johnny!’ Specky jumped, startled. ‘Great to see you.’
Specky tried to act cool and cover up his nervousness.
‘Straight after we finish here, you’re invited to come with me and my family to my coach’s house,’ he said, quickly. ‘She’s holding a party for my school footy team, so we can all see who the winners of the contest are on “Sensational Stuff”.’
‘Unreal,’ said Johnny, happy to go along with the plan. But then he looked at Specky, strangely. ‘What’s wrong?’ he asked.
‘What?’ asked Specky.
‘You’re sweating like a pig.’
Specky was sprung – his emotions had gotten the better of him.
If I tell him first, maybe he can help me with what I should say to his dad, he thought, taking a deep breath.
‘Um, Johnny there’s something I have to tell you …’
‘Hey, Squirt, Dad’s looking for ya!’ It was Alice interrupting him from out of nowhere.
‘This is my sister, Alice,’ said Specky, introducing her to Johnny. ‘She’s the future Mrs Crawford.’
‘No, I’m not,’ she snapped back. ‘Not any more.’
‘What?’ said Specky, in mock horror. ‘Why not?’
‘Rachel and I finally got to talk to him at Glenferrie Oval and let’s just say he couldn’t even remember my name.’
‘Well, what do you expect?’ said Specky. ‘Why would he remember you? He meets hundreds of people each week. I bet he was still nice to you, though.’
‘Yes, he was … but … awwrrh, what would you know?’ huffed Alice, turning on her heels and storming off into the crowd. Specky and Johnny laughed.
‘There you are,’ said Specky’s dad, with Cedric by his side.
‘G’day, young Specky,’ Cedric said, flashing one of his broad smiles.
‘Hi, Mr Cockatoo. Congratulations,’ Specky croaked, his stomach churning with nerves.
‘Dad, Specky’s invited us to his coach’s house after the exhibition to watch the Great Footy Contest on TV,’ said Johnny, cutting in.
‘Great! I’m happy you boys got together for that,’ said Cedric.
‘So am I,’ added Specky’s father. ‘And I’m sure we’ll be able to cook this at Coach Pate’s!’ He was awkwardly juggling a large barramundi and a handful of crays wrapped in newspaper. It was a gift from Cedric, all the way from the Northern Territory. Specky smiled as his dad wandered off to find a place to store the fish.
Specky and Johnny grinned at each other.
‘So, what did ya have to tell me?’ asked Johnny. Specky’s smile quickly vanished.
‘Um, well it’s actually something I have to tell your dad,’ he mumbled, feeling quite numb.
‘What is it?’ asked Cedric.
Specky couldn’t look directly at him. With his head hung low he told them what had happened to the carved footy. There was an awkward pause, and Specky felt terrible.
‘That’s all right, Specky Boy. There’s nothing you could’ve done. It’s not your fault,’ said Cedric calmly.
That’s it? He’s not going to yell at me? Nothing? thought Specky. It was definitely not the reaction he was expecting.
‘But wasn’t it special? I mean, it had some power behind it, didn’t it?’ Specky said, without thinking, taken aback by Cedric being so understanding.
‘Power?’ asked Cedric, looking puzzled.
Specky wasn’t sure if he should explain himself. He hadn’t meant to bring it up, and had second thoughts about asking if the carved footy had some sort of mystical Aboriginal power attached to it; he didn’t want to seem rude or ignorant. But Cedric asked again, coaxing it out of him. So Specky told him about the dreams and the premonitions.
Suddenly, Cedric broke out laughing – his stop-and-start snorting echoed throughout the gallery, making heads turn to see what all the commotion was about. Johnny joined in. Specky was totally confused and a bit embarrassed.
‘Nah, Specky Boy,’ said Cedric, chuckling between words, as he tried to regain composure. ‘It didn’t have any sort of Black-Fella magic or spell on it. I copied it from a Weetbix packet twenty years ago. You could get one in every pa
ck, but my cousin Michael took mine – so I made one for myself!’
Specky tried to smile with Cedric but he couldn’t help feeling somewhat disappointed with the truth. Cedric noticed.
‘Boy, I wouldn’t be too upset. Dreams are powerful things and my people have always respected their dreams; it’s a part of us, a part of our culture. Where do you think the images in my paintings come from? They come to me in my dreams. So, maybe there are no coincidences; or maybe, you have a bit of Black Fella in ya.’
Cedric’s face beamed again, and so did Specky’s, relieved that his friendship with Cedric and Johnny was intact.
‘Okay, Cedric, I think it’s time for some speeches,’ said Specky’s dad, returning, having found a place for the barramundi in the office fridge. He lead Cedric to the front of the gallery.
Specky and Johnny watched as their fathers spoke to the invited guests, and applauded proudly afterwards. The launch of Cedric’s exhibition was a huge success, with almost all of his paintings sold and interest from all over the world.
Around seven-thirty that evening, the exhibition was over and Specky and Johnny were off to Coach Pate’s house. By the time they got there, the lounge room was packed with Specky’s team-mates and their parents. As Specky introduced Cedric and Johnny to everyone, he scanned the room – Screamer was nowhere to be seen. Specky wasn’t all that surprised. He didn’t think that Screamer’s father would have let him socialise with the rest of the team. He hadn’t entered the contest, anyway.
‘This is going to be so unreal. I’ve just got this feeling that we’re all gonna be picked,’ said Danny, excitedly, joining Specky and Johnny.
Specky wished he shared Danny’s confidence. He had tried all day not to think of the contest and he didn’t want to get his hopes up. He knew that the odds were stacked against him and his friends, even if they had done well. He reminded himself several times over that it was a nationwide competition with thousands of entrants.
His mum told him not to worry. ‘I’m sure you’ve done well,’ she said. ‘You’re very talented, and you studied so hard.’