Lil and Jasper turned away from the desk. It should have worked perfectly. After school, Jasper and Lil had told their parents they were going to the park for a kick. Jasper had already worked out the bus route to the TV station, and had calculated that their deal with Higsy and Richy should take no more than half an hour, so they’d be home in time for dinner.
But they couldn’t even get past the receptionist.
Ronaldinho looked up from outside. He saw Jasper’s drawn face and knew he had to do something. Behind him he heard the tyres of a bicycle courier coming down the drive. He gave a small whimper and burst out of the tree.
‘Aaahh!!’
The bicycle courier swerved to avoid the fluffy white terrier as it ran across his path. He tried to steady the bike but bumped up the kerb and somersaulted head first into a bunch of shrubs. Parcels rained down on him as the bike came to a bouncing stop just outside the doors of the station.
‘Oh, my goodness.’ The receptionist took off her headset and hurried outside to help the courier.
Ronaldinho looked at Jasper through the window as if telling him to make it quick.
‘Thanks, boy!’ Jasper ran to the sliding glass door that led to the station interior, but it wouldn’t open.
‘She pressed something to let Badger’s dad in.’ Lil ran behind the desk and started searching. ‘Here it is.’
The door opened and the two of them ran through just as the receptionist helped the hobbling courier inside.
Jasper and Lil tried to look casual as they walked down the long corridors of the station.
‘Where do you think they might be?’
‘Not sure,’ Jasper replied as he stared at the many doors coming off the hall around them.
They heard a voice behind them. ‘Which one’s for Higsy?’
‘Black. One sugar. Richy has it white.’
They turned to see a nervous-looking teenage boy carrying a tray with two coffees. They stood aside to let him through as he repeated the instruction. ‘Higsy has the black, Richy has the white.’
‘I’d say they’re down there,’ Lil smiled.
They followed the teenager who turned down another corridor and into a room spilling out lots of light. Jasper and Lil shot behind a door opposite and waited for him to leave.
Within seconds, he backed out of the room and yelled behind him, ‘Thanks, guys, you’re the best. I’m your biggest fan.’ He skipped back down the hall.
Jasper and Lil edged towards the bright room.
‘There they are,’ Jasper whispered.
Inside the room were Higsy and Richy. They had make-up smocks over their clothes and were sitting in chairs in front of large mirrors with lights all around the edges.
‘Now’s our chance,’ Lil whispered, but Jasper couldn’t move. In front of him were two of the best soccer commentators in the world and he was only metres away from them.
‘Jasper!’ Lil tried again.
‘I can’t do it. It’s Higsy and Richy.’
‘I know. That’s why we’re here.’ Lil saw Badger’s dad and the other suits walk into the corridor behind them. ‘And there’s no time to back out now.’
She shoved Jasper inside and he stumbled forward, landing face first in a giant tub of moisturiser positioned between the two famous hosts.
‘Now, that’s an entrance,’ joked a woman with a powder puff and long, streaked red hair.
Jasper pulled his face from the tub of cream just as Badger’s dad walked into the room.
‘And this is the make-up department.’ He showed the other men in suits inside. ‘I’m sure you know Richy and Higsy, the two finest sports commentators in the business.’
There were some polite hellos and chitchat as Jasper held his breath, hoping Badger’s dad wouldn’t recognise him through the face cream as the kid who had punched his son.
After Higsy and Richy had signed some autographs, Badger’s dad turned to leave but stopped to look at Jasper.
‘Who’s this?’
Jasper froze.
‘My cousins,’ the make-up artist said. ‘Hope you don’t mind. I said I’d show them around.’
Lil flashed her a smile.
‘Sure,’ Badger’s dad said. ‘Shall we?’
He ushered his guests outside as Jasper gasped in a gulp of air.
‘You want this?’ The make-up artist handed him a wet towel.
‘Thanks.’
‘I’ve never liked Mackenzie,’ said the make-up artist, her mouth twisting like she’d just swallowed a fly. ‘I’ve worked here for five years and the man still doesn’t know my name.’
Richy frowned. ‘So you’re not Mia’s cousins?’
‘No,’ Lil admitted.
‘How did you get in here?’
Jasper wiped the final clumps of cream from his face. ‘Ronaldinho.’
‘The Brazilian striker?’ Higsy looked around.
‘No, my Maltese terrier.’
Higsy frowned. ‘I don’t think you kids should be in here.’
‘We have a favour to ask.’ Lil nudged Jasper in the arm to pull him out of his daze.
‘Maybe we should call security to show you out,’ Richy said.
Jasper couldn’t let that happen, and finally his mouth started working.
‘We’ve got this kid in our soccer team and his name’s Aamir, and he’s from Afghanistan until he escaped with his family because of all the war and he loves soccer and I think he’s going to be a World Cup player one day he’s that good, only I punched another kid in the middle of our last game and got a red card and now Aamir’s parents think soccer’s violent and won’t let him play anymore, which is all my fault and if you could do an interview with him and a story on how good he is his parents will see how happy soccer makes him and they’ll let him play again and he may even end up playing for Australia and he’d have you to thank for it.’
Jasper stopped and took a breath. Lil shot him a proud smile.
Richy and Higsy exchanged looks.
‘Listen, kid. That’s a good story and I’m sorry for your friend …’
‘Aamir,’ Jasper interrupted.
‘Yeah, Aamir,’ Higsy said. ‘But if we went out and did a story on every kid who thought he was going to be in the World Cup, we’d never have time to commentate. Now, you’d better go before security catches you in here.’
‘Yeah, because the last kid they caught wandering around without permission hasn’t been heard of since,’ Richy laughed.
Jasper just stared.
‘That was a joke,’ Higsy said.
‘I know,’ Jasper answered, not laughing. ‘It’s just I think you two are the best and I’ve watched you since I was kid when my grandad first got me into soccer. He even met you once when he used to play. He says you guys really know your stuff.’
‘That’s nice, kid, but we meet a lot of people,’ Higsy said. ‘Now you really should get going.’
Richy reached into the side of a briefcase. ‘How about we give you some autographs?’
Jasper watched his plans fall apart like the ground was crumbling beneath him.
‘Who should I make it out to?’
‘Jasper,’ he sighed, wondering how he was ever going to make it up to Aamir for ruining his soccer career. ‘Jasper Zammit.’
Richy began writing.
‘Wait a minute, kid,’ Higsy said. ‘Zammit. And your grandad used to play. He’s not Skippy Zammit, is he?’
Jasper perked up. ‘He said that’s what they used to call him.’
Richy laughed. ‘Skippy Zammit! He was one of the greatest players this country’s ever seen.’
‘He loved his soccer.’ Higsy shook his head. ‘Trained harder than just about anyone who played.’
‘And one of the greatest ambassadors for the game.’ Richy tapped the table in front of him. ‘I tell you what, kid. We’ll do you a deal,’ he offered.
Jasper stood taller. ‘Anything.’
‘Your grandfather hasn’t done any interviews since he re
tired from soccer. Just plain refuses. You get us an interview with him and we’ll do your interview with Aamir.’
‘Yeah,’ Higsy added. ‘Maybe doing a story of an up-and-coming kid isn’t a bad idea for a new segment anyway. Who knows, we may film the next Ronaldo or Ronaldinho.’
There was a bark from under the make-up bench.
‘What are you doing here?’ Jasper picked up the small terrier, who had snuck inside while no one was looking. ‘I told you to stay outside.’
‘Are there any more of you in here?’ Higsy asked.
‘No, he’s the last,’ Lil smiled.
‘Okay, now you really should go.’ Richy wrote down a number on a photograph of himself. ‘Call this number and speak to Terry, she’s the producer. Tell her what we talked about and she’ll make a time to come and film your friend and interview your grandfather.’
Jasper took the number as if he was being handed a million dollars.
‘Could you go with them, Mia?’ Richy asked. ‘They’ll need to be shown out if they’re going to stay out of trouble.’
‘Thank you.’ Jasper looked at Richy and Higsy as if they’d just saved his life. And as he held Ronaldinho to his chest and walked out of the TV station, his dreams of becoming an international scout, a soccer star and a UN representative became very real once again.
JOHNNY SAYS:
Mastering control of the ball is one of the most valuable skills you can learn. If you can control the ball, you can take or retain possession for your team, so don’t give it away recklessly to opponents by poor control or risky moves.
‘Do you think he’ll make it?’
‘I’m not sure, but I don’t think you asking me every ten seconds is going to bring him here any faster.’
‘It’s just that …’
‘You want everything to go perfectly.’ Lil smiled at Jasper. ‘I know. Aamir said he’d work out a way to be here.’
It was Saturday, and Lil and Jasper waited with Josie and Tricky beside the soccer fields, looking out for Aamir. The grounds were starting to fill with the usual Saturday morning soccer crowds but this would be no usual game. Higsy, Richy and the camera crew had all arrived, and as long as Aamir turned up, a soccer legend was about to be born.
At least that’s how Jasper saw it.
Higsy and Richy had been swamped by kids and parents asking for their autographs, but Jasper knew time was running out and Aamir had to arrive in the next few minutes or their plan would fall apart.
Coach Wallace didn’t know Aamir had been banned from playing, so when he didn’t turn up for training the previous Tuesday, Jasper had explained that there’d been a family emergency.
‘Oh,’ Coach answered. ‘Tell him I hope he’s okay and we’ll see him at the game.’
Jasper hated not telling the truth, but the way he saw it, the future of one of soccer’s rising stars depended on it, and everyone would understand when they knew it was for such a worthwhile cause. They’d probably even thank him for it, maybe he’d even get his own interview on TV, or maybe …
‘Ow!’
‘Sorry, kid.’
Jasper rubbed his head where the sound recordist had banged into it with his boom pole.
‘Is he here?’ Terry, the producer, asked.
Jasper stared, mullet-like.
‘He’ll be here any minute,’ Lil answered confidently.
‘When he arrives, send him straight over. We’re ready to start.’
Even though he didn’t think it could, Jasper’s heart beat even faster.
‘What kinds of questions do you think they’ll ask us?’ Tricky was flicking his hair so it would sit just right for his big moment on TV.
‘They only want to interview Aamir,’ explained Josie.
‘Yeah, but once they see me in action, they’ll want to class it up by putting me on TV as well.’
‘There he is!’ Jasper sprang forward and almost tripped over.
Aamir ran towards them with Nadia following closely behind.
‘Sorry we’re late,’ Nadia puffed. ‘It was a little harder than I thought.’
‘What did you tell them?’
‘We’re at the library.’ Nadia winced. ‘I’ve never lied to my parents before.’
‘Ah, Aamir.’ Coach Wallace walked over. ‘Ready for your big moment?’
‘Yes, Coach.’
‘Oh, and I hope that family emergency is all right now.’
Aamir gave a confused frown.
‘It’s all fine now,’ Jasper jumped in. ‘We’d better not keep the crew waiting any longer.’
‘No, you’re right.’ Coach stepped aside.
Jasper held out Aamir’s shirt as if he was sending him out as the striker for Manchester United. He put his hand on his shoulder. ‘Good luck.’
Aamir flashed Jasper a huge smile. ‘Everything is okay now.’
He quickly got kitted up and Jasper ushered him over to the interview area.
The coach led the rest of the Rovers onto the field to begin their warm-up as Aamir shook hands with Higsy and Richy and answered questions as if he’d been doing it all his life. Jasper had worried he’d be shy about his English and maybe have trouble answering, but he sailed through without any problems.
They wrapped up the interview and Aamir hurried onto the field to join in the pre-match preparation.
Higsy smiled and walked over to Jasper. ‘He’s a natural at interviewing. Now let’s see how he does on his feet.’
The camera crew moved down to the field to get footage of Aamir warming up.
The coach and ref oversaw the coin toss, and the game against the Reds began.
‘Shouldn’t you be down there too?’ Higsy asked Jasper.
‘I got a red card from hitting that kid last week.’
‘That’s right, that’s what started this trouble in the first place. Attack the ball never the player. I’m sure Skippy would have taught you that one.’
Jasper looked guilty. ‘He did. I just … forgot.’
The crew followed the action of the game, zooming in on Aamir, getting some great shots of him dribbling and controlling the ball, and even one time sending the ball through his opponent’s legs for a perfect nutmeg.
‘He’s good,’ Richy admitted. ‘Really good.’
Jasper beamed his scout’s best. ‘I know. I spotted it as soon as he had a ball at his feet.’
Nippy took a direct cross from Mugger, who sent it over a wall of defence and into the air in a chip shot that found Diego. Diego trapped the ball with his chest and guided it to his feet, giving Aamir just enough time to fake out his marker by pretending to run one way and then turn the other. While his marker was trying to regain his balance, Aamir accelerated away from him into free space, ready to accept Diego’s pass.
Aamir received the ball and looked up to see a clear line to the goal. He flashed a quick look at the goalkeeper to see which way she was going to lean, then, with very little force, he tapped the ball into the net as she leapt the other way.
‘That’s what Maradona used to do,’ Jasper pointed out.
‘He sure did.’ Higsy shook Jasper’s hand. ‘Looks like you’ve made a real find.’
‘Gotta go, kid,’ Richy said. ‘The crew will stay and get a few more shots but we’ll see you in the studio for Skippy’s interview.’
‘Ah, sure.’
As he waved Higsy and Richy goodbye, Jasper felt a strange tightness in his stomach. He hadn’t actually asked his grandad about the interview. He was sure he’d say yes, why wouldn’t he? Especially with a little prompting, or even a lot of begging.
He had to, didn’t he?
But Jasper couldn’t worry about that now. There was something much bigger he needed to deal with.
Aamir’s dad was thundering towards them, his eyes ablaze and his hands clenched into two white-knuckled fists.
This definitely wasn’t part of Jasper’s plan. His mouth went dry and the tightness in his stomach became more like a stabbing
pain, as if he’d been caught in a rabbit trap. His life, what little there had been of it so far, flashed before his eyes.
He watched as Nadia’s face filled with fear when she turned around and saw her father. He stood over her, his face rigid with anger. His voice was low and hard. Nadia nodded her head and walked over to the coach. Jasper kept watching as Coach Wallace listened to Nadia, then looked up, his face remoulded into a look of confusion. He signalled to the ref to call a time-out and waved Aamir over. As soon as Aamir saw his father, he knew what was going to happen.
Jasper went over to Aamir’s dad to try to explain. ‘It’s my fault. I made them do it. Aamir loves soccer and he’s really good at it. Please don’t be angry with them. I just thought if you …’
Aamir’s dad turned and left with a heavy step, followed by Aamir and Nadia.
As he got into the car, Aamir looked back towards Jasper, his eyes edged with tears, and it was then Jasper knew. He’d blown it, and this time it was for good. There’d be no way Aamir’s dad would let him play soccer now or ever again, and it was all Jasper’s fault.
JOHNNY SAYS:
Confidence is always important. If you tell yourself you will take the pass, block the ball or kick the goal, you probably will. Practising hard and approaching training and games with a positive attitude will also give you more confidence in your own ability.
‘Hello, and welcome to another edition of The Beautiful Game. I’m Higsy and he’s Richy, and we’re talking everything soccer.’
‘We sure are, Higsy, and have we got lots of soccer to talk about: all the goals, all the plays and all the soccer you can take.’
‘We talk to Dwight Yorke, get up close and personal with Harry Kewell, and get a behind-the-scenes exclusive of Brazil’s preparation for the next World Cup.’
‘That’s right, Higsy, and then we pull out the big guns with an interview with one of the greatest Socceroos this country has ever known. He championed soccer both on and off the field, and has a dream that soccer will one day become the most played and celebrated game in this country. He is the legendary Skippy Zammit.’
‘I can’t believe you got me into this.’
Nannu and Jasper were in the green room of Studio Two at the TV station. Jasper sat on a big red lounge while Nannu rubbed his hands together and paced in front of the TV monitor that was linked directly to Higsy and Richy’s show.
The Striker Page 8