Specky Magee and the Spirit of the Game

by Felice Arena

  Grub called his players in. Specky struggled even to walk.

  ‘Well, now you have some idea of how hard you can push yourself,’ said Grub, staring intensely into each of the player’s faces in turn. ‘I reckon some of you gave in too easily, and I want you to go away and ask yourself the question – did I squeeze every last bit of energy out of myself?’

  Grub paused before going on.

  ‘If the answer is no, then do something about it. Bayless, you did yourself proud. Edwards, well done. Molopolous, everyone should look at you and learn something from your effort. Spiro Molopolous refused to give in. He may not look like an athlete, but he’s mentally tough, and that’s what we love to see. The rest of you have got work to do. Now get your boots on and let’s do some ball work.’

  Specky walked slowly over to the oval. He was still breathing heavily, but feeling better than he had a few minutes ago. He had given his all in the beep test and he was disappointed that Grub hadn’t mentioned him.

  ‘Not a bad warm up, hey, Speck?’ said Michael, as he jogged past and gave him a good-natured bump on the way. ‘The old guts must be feeling a bit empty after you left your lunch on the basketball court.’

  Michael bolted off onto the oval as if he had just got out of bed.

  Specky shook his head in disbelief and he completed the ball work that followed in a state of total exhaustion. It was all he could do to complete the basic skills of marking, handballing and kicking.

  Specky knew he wasn’t training anywhere near as well as usual after the exhausting beep test. He also knew that coaches always asked players to ‘train as they play’. A lot of players train really well at the start of a session when they are feeling fresh and full of energy. The mistakes start to come when fatigue sets in – concentration drops and the mind begins to wander. They forget to focus on the training drills and their mind begins to play tricks on them. Specky could feel himself starting to concentrate more on when training would finish than on the drills Grub had given him to do. A game of football will often be decided in the dying moments because a tired player makes a very basic mistake. For this reason, coaches often take more notice of the way a player trains at the end of a session than at the start. Specky tried to focus his tired mind and body on the drills.

  When Grub finally blew the whistle and called a halt to the session, almost all Specky’s State team-mates let out a collective sigh of relief – all except Michael Bayless.

  ‘That dude’s not human,’ whispered Specky to Brian as they hobbled toward the change rooms.

  Michael was running around amongst the players asking if anyone wanted to do some extra tackling practice.

  ‘I think you might be right,’ mumbled Brian, who was also feeling the effects of the session.

  ‘Yeah, definitely not human,’ Specky repeated as he slumped onto the rub-down table, wondering again if he was really capable of making it into the big league.

  ∗∗∗

  Specky couldn’t remember the last time he’d had such a tough workout. His body felt like jelly, and his sore muscles screamed with every step he took. As he shuffled gingerly out of the change rooms, he looked up to see Christina waiting for him.

  ‘Hi,’ said Specky, finding it painful even to smile.

  ‘Hi,’ replied Christina, giving him a hug that hurt every muscle in his arms and chest.

  ‘Did you just get here? I thought you were going to come and watch me train and…’

  Specky stopped. He had seen Christina’s eyes fill up with tears.

  ‘Hey, what’s wrong?’ Specky asked softly. ‘Has it got something to do with the text you sent me today? The big news?’

  Christina nodded. She dropped her head onto Specky’s shoulder and began to cry. Specky put his arms around her to comfort her.

  ‘Woohoo! Magee – the love machine!’

  ‘Nice one, Magee!’ yelled some of the other boys streaming out of the change rooms.

  Specky ignored them as Christina continued to sniffle.

  ‘Hey… um… I’ll be over with your old man,’ said Brian, walking by.

  Specky nodded. He noticed Christina’s father and mother were waiting patiently in their car for her. They waved. Specky waved back.

  ‘Why are both your folks here? Has someone in your family died?’

  Christina raised her head and wiped away her tears with the back of her sleeve.

  ‘No, no one’s died,’ she sniffed. ‘It’s just that we’re leaving.’

  ‘Leaving?’ Specky asked, confused. ‘Where are you going? On a holiday?’

  ‘No, we’re leaving Melbourne,’ said Christina, biting her bottom lip. ‘Dad was offered a job in Sydney last Friday. We’ve been packing all weekend and we’re leaving now, for good. I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t know how.’ Christina started to sob again. ‘I wish we weren’t going. I don’t want to say goodbye to you, Speck.’

  She hugged Specky again. He was lost for words. Suddenly the aches he felt from training weren’t half as painful as the pain he was feeling inside.

  On the ride home from training, Specky stared out the back-seat window, stunned by Christina’s sudden departure.

  While Mr Magee kept Brian busy up front with small talk about his art gallery, Specky replayed in his head what had just happened.

  Although he and Christina comforted each other by promising that they were still a couple – that they’d email as often as they could, and see each other during the holidays – he knew deep down it would never be quite the same.

  For a moment, Specky wondered if Christina knew it too, as he pictured her and her parents travelling up the Hume Highway toward the harbour city.

  ∗∗∗

  ‘So, here’s your pad. Hope you don’t mind the cot in the corner of the room. Mum and Dad are gonna turn it into the baby’s room when you’re gone,’ said Specky, showing Brian his room.

  ‘This is great,’ said Brian, dropping his suitcase on the floor. ‘So, when’s your Mum due?’

  ‘In about six weeks. Now, there’s one thing you should know,’ Specky added. ‘Alice hogs the bathroom. So try to wake up early or you’ll never get in there.’

  ‘I heard that,’ came a piercing voice from the hallway.

  Specky’s older sister, Alice, appeared at the door.

  ‘Hi, Brian. Welcome to our crazy house,’ she said, folding her arms and leaning against the door. ‘I wouldn’t listen to a word my brother says. He’s full of it. We have another toilet downstairs.’

  ‘I’m talking about having a shower, you drop-kick,’ said Specky. ‘No wonder we have a water shortage in this country – Alice uses it all.’

  Brian grinned.

  ‘Dinner’s ready!’ Mrs Magee shouted from the bottom of the staircase.

  ‘Like you can talk,’ snapped Alice. She turned to Brian. ‘I hope you’re not like my loser brother here – reading the sport pages on the loo for an hour.’

  Brian shrugged. ‘Nah, not really.’

  ‘Dinner, everyone!’ Mrs Magee shouted again.

  ‘Oh, one rule for you, Brian…’ added Alice over her shoulder as she walked out the door.

  ‘Lay off him. He just got here,’ muttered Specky, pushing his sister along the hallway.

  ‘Don’t take this the wrong way,’ continued Alice, as she led Specky and Brian down the stairs. ‘But no one, and I mean no one, goes into my room. Otherwise I will have to kill ’em.’

  Specky pulled a face at Brian. ‘Welcome to my world.’

  Around the Magee dinner table, Alice dominated the conversation – which was fine by Specky as his mind was still on Christina.

  ‘Mum, please?’ pleaded Alice. ‘Dad? I’m going to be sixteen in three weeks, don’t you think I deserve to celebrate it?’

  ‘Definitely, but your mum and I have said numerous times that you can’t have the party you want. Sixty people and hiring a DJ is way too big for us to handle, especially with the baby coming. Maybe we can do that for you next y
ear or when you turn eighteen, but not now. You can have a small gathering – six or seven of your friends – if you like.’

  ‘Yeah, great,’ Alice said sarcastically.

  ‘More potatoes, Brian?’ asked Specky’s mum.

  ‘Yes, thanks,’ said Brian politely as he heaped his plate.

  After the punishing training session that they had just endured, Specky and Brian knew that they had to ‘re-fuel’ their bodies with carbohydrates and re-hydrate with lots of water. Potatoes were one of the great sources of carbohydrates and Brian was making the most of the Magee hospitality. Specky was still feeling ordinary after his big afternoon, but forced himself to eat and drink as much as he could.

  ‘And, Brian, please know we want you to think of this as your home now. If you want a snack later, you don’t have to ask. You know where the fridge is, okay?’

  Brian nodded. ‘Thanks, Mrs Magee.’

  ‘Simon, why are you being so quiet?’ asked his mum.

  ‘He’s in mourning,’ Alice blurted out. ‘The love of his life has left him without any warning. Christina’s moved to Sydney.’

  ‘What? How do you know?’ snapped Specky.

  ‘Dad told me.’

  ‘Sorry, son.’

  ‘Actually, I knew, too, darling,’ confessed Mrs Magee. ‘Are you okay? Your father said Christina was crying. I remember when I was your age… my first love…’

  ‘Mum!’ said Specky, cringing. ‘Everything’s cool. We’re still together… sort of. Can we talk about something else?’

  ‘I would never be in a long-distance relationship,’ said Alice. ‘Too hard.’

  Specky ignored his sister. Mrs Magee continued.

  ‘I understand, dear, but there’s no need to be embarrassed,’ she said. ‘If it’s too painful, though, we’ll talk about something else. Brian, have you ever had your heart broken?’

  ‘Mu-um!’ Specky groaned.

  ‘Okay, okay,’ said Mrs Magee, raising an eyebrow at Mr Magee. ‘Brian, tell us a little more about Rivergum. I understand it’s very beautiful up there.’

  Specky sighed, relieved that his family had moved on. There was no way he was going to talk about how he felt in front of everyone. It was hard enough to believe that Christina was gone.

  Just as Brian was telling the Magees about his parents’ houseboat business, Alice’s mobile started beeping loudly. Mr Magee shot her an annoyed look, but he let her read her text message.

  ‘It’s Dieter,’ she said. ‘He’s in the area. Can he pop in for a few minutes?’

  ‘Who’s Dieter?’ Brian whispered to Specky.

  ‘It’s her boyfriend. He’s in Year Twelve. Everyone calls him “the Great McCarthy”.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Long story. I’ll tell you later,’ said Specky. ‘He’s actually pretty cool.’

  Specky’s parents agreed that Dieter could visit.

  ‘Great,’ said Alice, immediately standing up and running to the front door. She opened it to reveal the Great McCarthy standing on the front step.

  Specky couldn’t help smiling as Dieter pulled up a chair and joined them. While Brian was being introduced, Alice grabbed a plate for Dieter. He said he’d already eaten, but that there was always room for more.

  ‘So, Dieter,’ said Specky’s dad. ‘How are your VCE studies going? What universities are you looking at for next year? Still doing economics?’

  ‘Um… yeah, still doing economics. Doing pretty well,’ Dieter mumbled, shoving some more chicken into his mouth. ‘But I just bought this wicked DJ equipment. I’m mixing my own tracks these days. Actually, I’d love to try it out properly. Like at a birthday party or something…’

  Specky snorted. The Great McCarthy was being too obvious. Even Alice rolled her eyes.

  ‘Don’t even try, Dieter,’ warned Mrs Magee. ‘We’ve told Alice she’s only allowed to have a small gathering for her birthday.’

  Dieter had no comeback. For a moment everyone ate without speaking.

  ‘So, Legend,’ the Great McCarthy said to Specky. ‘I hear Christina’s out of the picture.’

  Specky shook his head in disbelief, and shot a dirty look at Alice. She screwed her lip up at him in return.

  ‘Don’t worry, bro,’ continued Dieter. ‘There are plenty of fish in the sea.’

  ‘What?’ coughed Alice. ‘What do you mean by that?’

  ‘I – I didn’t mean for me,’ stammered Dieter. ‘I mean… You’re my only fish.’

  Specky and Brian sniggered.

  ‘Excuse me?’ said Mr Magee.

  ‘No, I meant that there’s fish, I mean, other girls, for Speck out there,’ said the Great McCarthy. ‘Um… but I don’t have to go fishing because –’

  ‘I think you’d better give up while you’re ahead, Dieter,’ laughed Mrs Magee.

  By the time dessert was served, Brian had got back to talking about Rivergum. Specky hung on every word – fascinated by all the cool things city kids never got to do.

  ‘So, you go hunting for rabbits with ferrets? And you have your own motorbike? How big was the cod you caught?’ he asked, not wanting to miss a single detail.

  ‘But where do you go to shop? Or get a good latte?’ interrupted Alice, horrified by the thought of living so far away from the city.

  ‘Um, Mildura has some really good restaurants and coffee shops and stuff,’ said Brian. ‘And that’s not too far away from Rivergum.’

  ‘You don’t have to defend yourself, Brian,’ said Mr Magee, annoyed with Alice. ‘It sounds like growing up in the country would be filled with very rich experiences.’

  ‘Yeah, I like it there,’ Brian said. ‘You should come up with me one weekend, Speck.’

  ‘Yeah, sweet!’ Specky said, looking at his dad hopefully. ‘Dad?’

  ‘I don’t see why not,’ replied Mr Magee. ‘And maybe I should talk to your father, Brian, about hiring one of his houseboats for our wedding anniversary – it’s coming up soon.’

  Mr Magee smiled at his wife.

  ‘What?’ screeched Alice. ‘Oh, that’s just great! Golden boy is allowed to go away for a weekend, and you two are thinking of a romantic getaway – which is totally gross, by the way – and I’m not allowed to have a little birthday party. That is so unjust.’

  Everyone ignored Alice’s dramatic outburst and quietly continued eating their dessert, but Specky got a kick out of seeing his sister squirm.

  ‘Well? ’ said Alice, finally, in her bossiest voice. ‘Mum? Dad? What have you got to say about that?’

  ‘Um, great dessert, Mrs Magee,’ said Brian. ‘Do you think I could have a latte with this?’

  Specky and his folks, and even the Great McCarthy, burst out laughing. Alice angrily shook her head, grabbed Dieter by the arm and stormed out of the room.

  ‘Well said, Brian,’ grinned Specky’s dad. ‘Welcome to the Magee family.’

  For the rest of the week, Specky helped Brian adjust to life at Booyong High. It didn’t take long for Specky’s mates to adopt him as one of their own, even though they had other pressing things on their minds, like how to get Monique’s attention.

  ‘What are they up to now?’ muttered Specky to Brian as they made their way over to Danny, Robbo and Gobba during a lunch break.

  ‘What d’ya reckon, Speck?’ beamed Danny. He was wearing a cardboard sign around his neck that read: Kiss me and save the animals for only a gold coin donation!

  ‘You’ve gotta be kidding,’ said Specky. ‘She’s not gonna fall for that.’

  ‘That’s what I told him,’ said Robbo.

  ‘Yeah, he’s lost the plot,’ added Gobba. ‘Tell him, Speck. Tell him he’s cheating.’

  ‘Well, it does look desperate, but –’

  ‘See!’ Danny interrupted. ‘Speck doesn’t think it’s cheating. All’s fair in love and war, I reckon.’

  Specky caught Brian giving him a look that said, ‘Your mate’s a little bizarre.’ Specky had to agree. He wished they would get over this whole Moniq
ue obsession and get back to talking about more important things – like footy.

  ‘Here she comes,’ said Danny.

  ‘Great. Just great,’ said Robbo sarcastically. ‘Tiger Girl’s with her. She’s probably told Monique not to go out with any of us. Typical!’

  But neither of the girls noticed Danny’s sign or paid any attention to Robbo and Gobba or Brian. They were making a beeline for Specky.

  ‘Hey, why didn’t you tell me?’ said Tiger Girl, lightly slapping Specky on the shoulder.

  ‘Tell you what?’ asked Specky.

  ‘That you and Christina have broken up. That she’s moved to Sydney.’

  ‘You’ve broken up?’ said Robbo, surprised that Specky hadn’t told him either.

  ‘I thought you’re meant to be his best mate,’ said Tiger Girl.

  ‘Yeah, what’s that got to do with anything?’ Robbo snapped back. ‘Why do girls always think that we waste our time talking about them all the time?’

  ‘Don’t get narky. I just thought you might notice that your best friend’s life is falling apart.’

  Specky rolled his eyes. ‘C’mon, guys. That’s not what’s –’

  ‘I’m not narky,’ Robbo interrupted.

  ‘Yes, you are.’

  ‘No, I’m not!’

  ‘Yes, you are!’

  ‘No, I’m –’

  ‘Time out!’ yelled Specky. ‘Christina and I haven’t broken up, so just relax, will ya? I’m sorry I didn’t tell you guys earlier, but this is crazy.’

  Specky explained the situation, while mentally cursing Alice for having such a big mouth.

  ‘So, does that mean if the job doesn’t work out for her dad, she might move back to Melbourne?’ asked Tiger Girl.

  ‘Um… no… maybe. I don’t know,’ grumbled Specky, annoyed at being put on the spot.

  ‘He can not get into the contest now – it’s too late,’ Specky heard Danny whisper to Robbo.

  ‘What? What did you say?’ asked Tiger Girl, turning to Danny. ‘And what’s with the dumb sign around your neck?’

  ‘I’m glad you asked,’ grinned Danny.

  Specky sighed, relieved not to have to talk about Christina. While the others were chatting, he reached into his pocket and glanced at the text message he’d received earlier that morning.