12 Yards Out

by Javi Reddy

  James’ widened his eyes before proclaiming: “The suits. He must have infiltrated them. They’re at your house all the time. Especially, when I’m there. They’re not the law. They must be his men.”

  “It’s very, very possible,” Layla said as she rocked restlessly back and forth.

  “But what if he comes here and threatens to kill Amritha if you don’t give him what he wants?” she said.

  Jay got up and stretched his arms out.

  “That’s why I need to get fit again. Because we’re going to find out where she is. We’re going to go to him before he comes to us. You’re not a murderer, James. You’re my chance to get her back. And who knows, maybe, we’ll even get your jacket back,” he winked at James.

  “He can keep that bloody jacket. I want his head though.”

  Chapter 29

  4 September 2013. Dr Linder

  Three days before the final of the Staffords Cup, Keith, Coach Zondi, Amritha and Jay anxiously made their way to the MediWorld Mews in Sandton. They solemnly walked through the sliding glass doors, with Jay hobbling along behind them. It was a mere three days until his dream match.

  Three days to heal the damage from the previous game. Amritha and Keith helped guide him through—the three of them felt a strange sense of seniority inside the hospital. There were children everywhere, and sick children made everything worse. No matter how beauteous the outside of a medical locale was, the inside was still filled with the same people: patients. And when the patients were this young, Jay couldn’t help but feel glummer.

  The best type of clinic was an empty one. How did doctors manage, knowing their jobs would never be done? His father’s voice ran through his head. Courage is not comfort. Jay tried to remain positive. He got injured in a big game. At least, he got to play in big games. He continued to limp across the corridors. A child shuffled a pack of cards aimlessly, another opened a candy-cane and licked it, without a grin.

  The boy with the pack of cards walked towards Jay. His head was bandaged. Jay expected him to stop and beg him to pick one. The kid never did. There was no magic here. Jay passed a ward with two bald girls, playfully throwing a ball to each other. They waved when they saw him and he managed an awkward wave back. How many of the machines that were weaving past him had belched out the worst of results to panicked onlookers?

  Jay passed a little kitchen area. There were microwaves, a fridge and cheap plastic chairs haphazardly arranged across the area’s glossy floor. His nose immediately picked up a vile smell. It was coming from whatever was about to be served from beneath the cheap Tupperware that the nurses were taking out of the microwaves. Jay wished that these kids had a Layla in their life to cook for them.

  Soon, he and his entourage had reached the doctor’s door. He moved Keith’s arm off his shoulder. He could make the rest of the way. Coach Zondi and Jay entered Dr Linder’s room, whilst Amritha and Keith stood outside patiently. He would tell them the results of his x-ray as soon as he got back, as well as what the doctor had prescribed for him.

  Doctor Linder was a tall, blonde man who had received his Radiology degree from the Umeå University in Sweden. He was born in South Africa, but because of his Swedish heritage, moved to Northern Sweden to broaden his medical knowledge and get in touch with his roots. In the end, he was surprised at how much he missed his country of birth, so after bidding farewell to family in Umeå, he came back to S.A. Shortly after, he married an Afrikaans woman from Stellenbosch two years after meeting her on a wine tasting tour in her hometown.

  After Jay’s last medical debacle with his father, he couldn’t be blamed for wanting to stay away from doctors in Rosebank—especially older, greasy ones with bad hairdos. Dr Linder’s thick, blonde hair was set neatly across his large head in a comb-over fashion. He neatly placed a large brown envelope in the centre of his desk as Zondi and Jay sat tensely across him in maroon-leather seats.

  “Good morning, Jay. How are you today?”

  He did not sing the words out like many other doctors did when they were trying to deliver bad news in a positive tone. He was frank and it made Jay far more comfortable.

  “I’m okay, I guess. Just a little pain. Nothing too serious.”

  “Good.”

  He took out the x-rays from the envelope and walked over to his x-ray illuminator. He switched it on and slid both the x-rays under its light.

  “You were lucky. No bones were broken from the actual tackle. You have an eversion injury, where your ankle rolled inward and the foot outward. It’s not as common as an inversion, but it can happen, especially in a sport where you’re constantly involved with rapid movement when your foot is planted on the ground.”

  “How severe is it?”

  “Well, there may be no bones broken, but the ligaments inside the ankle itself are slightly damaged. That’s why you can walk. But not without pain. You’ll have to have lots of rest and ice the ankle when you get home. Apply the ice for 10 to 15 minutes, every hour. I’ll also prescribe you some mild painkillers that’ll help with the swelling. Are you allergic to anything?”

  Coach Zondi gave Jay a tired but stern look. He had not said anything. He just stared at the doctor as he’d been giving them his diagnosis.

  “I’m epileptic. So, I’m allergic to penicillin.”

  The doctor looked up and immediately stopped scribbling on his pad.

  “Are you on control medication for your condition?”

  “Yes. Epilim.”

  “CR 500?”

  “That’s the one.”

  He continued to scribble.

  “Good. Don’t ever forget to take your tablets.” Jay nodded as politely as possible.

  “So, doctor, when will I be able to play again?”

  Dr Linder took off his reading glasses and placed his elbows on the table as he clasped his hands. He leant over towards them.

  “The Staffords Cup final is this Saturday, isn’t it?” Zondi and Jay looked at each other slightly startled. “I can’t advise you to play, Mr Chetty.”

  Zondi exhaled fairly loudly and Jay bowed his head. “But at the same time, I can’t tell you not to play.”

  Dr Linder ripped off his prescription and waved it to Jay to collect.

  “I used to play for Umeå FC Reserves. Some of the greatest years of my life. It’s your last game of the season. Realistically, you could play one-half. But whichever half you choose to be a part of, make sure it counts.”

  His wink was the most emotion Jay had witnessed during the whole consultation. Outside Linder’s office Zondi uttered the only words he spoke that day: “So, which half is it going to be?”

  7 October 2013. 2:44 PM

  Jay and James had licked their plates dry—thanks to another of Layla’s fine dishes. The latest wonder to come out of her kitchen was a fish curry. It was just as spicy as her last dish, but James had surprisingly grown fond of hot food. When the food was as good as it was, he could cope with a few extra chillies coming his way.

  “That really must have been the toughest decision of your life,” Layla told Jay as she began to clear the table.

  “You know, I really thought it would be, but I had stopped becoming desperate.”

  “How so?” James asked as he helped clear the massive white bowl Layla had used to serve the rice.

  "I really wanted to help Rosebank win, that aim was still there, but the final wasn’t about me. I’d learnt that after everything I’d been through in the build up to it, they were Rosebank, with or without me. I guess it felt good building that sort of fabric of a team rather than focusing on my personal glory.

  "Zondi had laid the foundation for future generation teams to come in and win, the Rosebank way, and that was something that I’d always carry with me. When he asked me which half I wanted to play in, I didn’t expect myself to be as calm as I was. I knew that I was lucky that I’d get to be a part of the final, at all.

  "Also, when I went to that hospital, something just sent a chill down my spi
ne. I saw those kids; my life was okay. Missing one game would mean nothing if it helped me recover to enjoy a longer career down the line. In the end, I thought that the best half to play in, was no half at all. I didn’t want to be a liability. That was not how I wanted to be remembered in Rosebank colours. I had a hat-trick in the semi-final, and that was more than enough to end with.

  “I was with Amritha when I made my mind up.”

  5 September 2013. Play, Jay

  Restaurant booths are peculiar gateways to the intimacies of two hearts. Whenever Amritha would spot one, amongst the normal tables within a restaurant, her eyes would light up. She’d run over excitedly and sit down on the long leather seat. She’d grin, waiting for Jay to join her. He’d always go and sit on the other side of the booth and give her his own foolish grin. She’d look at him with her eyes warning him: ‘if you don’t get your butt on this side of the booth, there’ll be trouble, Chetts.’

  He loved that look. Just how he loved the trivial things that anyone in love, loves. Amritha’s facial expressions made him fall for her. That childish hope that gleamed in her eyes before Jay would walk onto the field. That shy, anticipatory look when he was about to kiss her, and that booth look. In her excitement, she’d rush to one side and forget that he was going to pull off his usual antics. Eventually, he’d come over to her and she’d smother him and whisper in his ear: “You’re not getting away that easy.”

  The day after Jay’s visit to the doctor, he and Amritha visited the Ice-Cream Parlour. A bar by night, they actually served ice-cream by day. Amritha wanted to treat him to his favourite—a Bar One Super Sundae. She prayed the sweetness would help eclipse the bitterness of backing down just days before the biggest game of his life. Jay had to have faith in his teammates to bring the cup home. He’d still get his medal if they did because he’d participated in the minimum of five games for the season.

  “For the hundredth time, I’m fine. Promise.”

  “Tough guy. Trying to be tougher than ever?”

  She pressed her nose into his cheek. Their sundaes arrived and she fed him some of her Peppermint Crisp Tower.

  “Not bad. It’s no Bar One, but it’ll do.”

  “What about this?”

  She planted a long, deep kiss on his grateful lips. “Isn’t this romantic?”

  Jay’s heart almost stopped as he pulled slightly away from Amritha. Vinny’s eerie voice intruded and broke the moment. Jay held Amritha closely again.

  “You don’t appreciate the love of a good woman, my boy. So, maybe you really do belong on the other side of this booth.”

  Vinny had walked in with a group of boys, Jay’s age, but they seemed stronger than he was, with their muscles clearly more developed than his own. Two of them gripped Jay by the arms and forced him up and over to the other side of the booth. Vinny slid over next to Amritha. He casually dipped the long silver spoon into the Peppermint Sundae and licked it as devilishly as ever. He did so whilst staring at Amritha, the lust in his eyes burning through every inch of her. “This is delicious. Absolutely delicious! Did you order this?”

  She did not answer.

  “I must say, princess, your taste in dessert is far better than your taste in boys. What happened to you? You used to appreciate the finer things in life. Like being with a winner.”

  He clicked his fingers and in walked Thishen. His stride was even more arrogant than it was that night at the party. He walked like he owned the Ice-Cream Parlour and every other room in Johannesburg.

  “Hey babe,” he whispered coolly to Amritha. He rubbed his finger up and down her chin. “Don’t touch her!”

  Jay managed to wriggle free from the other two on his side of the booth and leapt towards Thishen. If he thought the first two were strong, then he was in for an unpleasant surprise. Thishen lifted him up and held him in mid-air as Jay charged towards him. He smashed his forehead into Jay’s right cheekbone. Jay hit the deck like a limp balloon. Thishen was about to kick him in the ribs when Vinny intervened:

  “Enough! I didn’t bring you here to end this before it’s even begun. Sit down.”

  Thishen was caught in two minds, which only lasted a few seconds. He saw the graveness in Vinny’s eyes and pulled away. He leant against another booth and let Vinny continue. Vinny held his hand out to help Jay up, who refused it.

  “Suit yourself. How’s your fitness by the way? Are you going to play in this final?” Jay clutched his cheek that felt like it’d been hit by a bulldozer.

  “It’s none of your business. Is that why you keep coming to me? You think you’re putting me off? Well, all I see is a frightened man who doesn’t know whether he’s going to win on Saturday or not.”

  “You may have had a case if you were as good as you think you are. But you’re not going to beat the record of 35 goals in one school season. You’re on 32 with one game left, and that game is against my team. You’ll be lucky to even get one goal with that pathetic ankle of yours.”

  “It doesn’t matter if I get the goals or not. We’re going to win because we’re better than you. We’ve been the best all season and we’ll prove that on Saturday.”

  Jay slowly lifted himself off the ground. “35 goals in a season? That’s impressive. If I don’t break it, that’s fine. Whoever has that record must have been some player.”

  Vinny leant into Jay.

  “I certainly was, my boy.”

  Jay stopped rubbing his cheek. “You…you played?”

  "I didn’t just play, I destroyed. Defences and other teams’ chances. And do you know why I wanted you to play for me so badly? Because I saw a little bit of me in you. I haven’t seen talent like yours in a while. But you lack the one thing that can take you to the top. You lack the arrogance to be a winner. You’re weak because of the kindness you show towards others. I would have turned you into the finished article. I would have prepared you for what’s next. The real world out there.

  "You think they’re going to want some spoilt prince on their side? Or someone who is street wise? You could have been the greatest. Instead, you chose to side by those rich fools whom you call teammates and that old man who is slowly losing touch with the modern game.

  “On Saturday, you’ll face a team that combines speed, skill and strength and everything that it takes to make it in this new age of football, and the greatest part will be watching all those deluded people who’ll make the trip from their northern suburb safe-houses to Soweto. We’ll undo a dream that they’ve been craving for years, in a matter of an hour. It’s going to be so, so, delightful. See you for the finale…superstar.”

  He gulped down another spoonful of Peppermint Sundae. He got up and grinned at Amritha. “I hope I get to see more of you around.”

  He clicked his fingers to his minions who followed him out the Parlour. Jay sat back down next to Amritha.

  “I need to ask you something.”

  “What is it?” Amritha dabbed a cool tissue against Jay’s face.

  “If I play on Saturday, would you still love me?”

  “If you finished my sundae, I’d still love you.”

  He kissed her as passionately as she kissed him earlier.

  “Play, Jay. Play and put an end to him. I never wanna be alone in a room with him or his filthy grin again.”

  Chapter 30

  7 October 2013. 7:50 PM

  Jay, Layla and James sat outside, gazing at stars. As they marvelled at the tranquil beauty the evening brought to them, James knew how fleeting that tranquillity would be. The time to go after Vinny was nearing. He didn’t expect Layla or Jay to come up with a plan. It had to be him. As the days drew on, his forehead crinkled, his teeth ground and his heart beat faster.

  There was no perfect way to protect those he loved without any harm coming to them. They would never be the same after this.

  “So, darling, let’s get back on track. What happened after they put a bag over your head, outside the Tab?” Layla asked him.

  “We drove for a
few hours and stopped here and there. I couldn’t make out anything. The only thing I really remember was a faint melody in the background. I couldn’t, for the life of me, figure out what the tune was.”

  “Was it sad or joyous?” Jay continued looking at the stars.

  "A little joyous, I guess. But I can’t even be sure of that. Anyway, after the tune played out in the background, we drove and drove until I passed out. Before I knew it, I was thrown out onto a dirt surface and kicked a few times in the ribs. Eventually, the bag was taken off my head. It was broad daylight and Vinny was in front of me. I lay on the ground as he licked a Fizz Pop and told me that every single cop in Johannesburg was looking for me. It would only be a matter of time before they found me and I would be arrested.

  “I had supposedly shot a man in front of a witness, and my jacket was left behind as evidence. My fingerprints were all over it and the gun. Whilst I was blindfolded back at the Tab, they had placed the gun in my hand. There was certainly enough to incriminate me.”

  “Did you recognise where you were when they took off the blindfold?”

  “Yes. I was right outside the Ace Stadium, and more significantly, it was the day of the final.”

  “How’s that possible?” Jay knitted his eyebrows.

  “I had been unconscious for over two days. Which explained why my head was so sore. They untied me and left me there, lying on the ground without any hope.”

  “But you still came to the final, even though you’d been through the wars,” Layla placed her arms around his neck.

  “It was a chance I had to take. I had nowhere else to go, and I knew that you’d be there. Thankfully, you believed everything I said. You said you’d help me.”

  He kissed her to acknowledge her unyielding faith.

  “Before that though, there was the small matter of a game that the whole of Joburg had been waiting for,” he continued.