Specky Magee and the Spirit of the Game

by Felice Arena

  Everyone stood still. But there was just the sounds of the river and the rustle of leaves.

  ‘Oh man! Who dropped their guts? That’s foul,’ groaned Robbo in the darkness.

  ‘Yeah, that reeks,’ said Gobba.

  ‘Danny, was that you?’ choked Specky, cupping his hand over his nose.

  ‘Well, I can’t help it,’ Danny said apologetically. ‘I’m still busting to go to the toilet.’

  ‘Are you sure you haven’t just gone?’

  ‘Shh!’ Brian hissed. ‘I just heard something.’

  Specky and his mates froze.

  ‘What is it?’ whispered Specky.

  ‘It came from our camp.’

  The boys all whipped round and peered through the trees to catch a quick glimpse of a shadowy figure entering their tent.

  ‘Holy crap!’ gulped Gobba. ‘There is someone there.’

  ‘See! I wasn’t making it up,’ Danny gasped. ‘He’s probably out to kill us. I’ve seen it in movies – like those freaks that live in the bush and murder people. We should just get out of here.’

  ‘Yeah, I’m with Danny on this one,’ added Gobba.

  ‘Shut up!’ said Brian in a loud whisper. ‘He’ll hear us.’

  ‘What are we gonna do?’ Specky asked, looking to Brian to take the lead.

  ‘Everyone pick up a big stick – something really solid,’ he said. ‘We’ll surround the tent and confront him. He can’t take all of us on.’

  ‘But he could have a gun and blow us away,’ squeaked Danny. Everyone turned and glared at him. ‘Well, he could,’ he whispered back.

  Specky and his friends followed Brian back toward the campsite.

  ‘We know you’re in there,’ announced Brian loudly. ‘Come out slowly and don’t do anything stupid or we’ll call the cops.’

  ‘And we have guns, so you can drop yours,’ Danny added.

  The tent shook. Specky’s heart was racing. While they wouldn’t admit it to one another, he could see his mates were just as frightened as he was. Suddenly, a leg appeared from inside. This was it. All the boys inched forward with their sticks raised above their heads, ready to strike.

  ‘Dad?’

  It was Mr Edwards.

  Specky exhaled.

  ‘G’day there,’ smiled Brian’s dad. ‘Your mother thought I’d better check up on you boys. And I’ve brought a cake and some hot Milo for ya so don’t shoot me.’

  An hour later, they were still joking about Danny’s close shave with a so-called murderer.

  Danny didn’t care. Mr Edwards had kindly driven him back to the house to use the toilet, and dropped him back again.

  But when they were curled up in their sleeping bags in the tent, ready to call it a night, Danny wouldn’t drop the subject.

  ‘You know, I’m glad Brian’s old man showed up, but it still doesn’t explain the shadow I saw,’ he said. ‘It wasn’t him.’

  ‘For the last time, it was a kangaroo. Now get to sleep, will ya?’ complained Robbo.

  ‘Maybe next time you should bring the Gladiator as your bodyguard,’ said Gobba.

  ‘Well, maybe I should – she’s tougher than all of you put together. And stop calling her the Gladiator. It’s Maria.’

  ‘Ah, true love,’ Gobba stirred. ‘You two are the new Christina and Speck – since they live in different cities now.’

  ‘Hey!’ said Specky, not appreciating Gobba’s dig.

  ‘Well, it’s true, Speck,’ added Robbo. ‘It’s amazing you’re still going out. When’s the last time you talked to her?’

  ‘He hasn’t for a while,’ Brian said, sitting up.

  ‘Only ’cause I’m grounded and I can’t use my phone or computer… Aren’t we trying to get to sleep here?’

  ‘You can use my mobile,’ said Danny. ‘Why don’t you call her now?’

  ‘I can’t call her now,’ said Specky quickly. ‘It’s too late and –’

  ‘No, it’s not. It’s only ten. Come on, call her.’

  ‘Yeah, call her, mate.’

  Specky knew his friends wouldn’t give up until he agreed.

  The mobile rang a number of times before a voice at the other end answered.

  ‘Hi,’ said Specky. ‘Um, who’s this?’

  Specky quickly hung up.

  ‘What’s going on? Who was it?’ asked Brian.

  ‘It was Screamer.’

  ‘Screamer?’ his mates echoed.

  ‘That dirty dog. The old Screamer is back,’ said Danny. He sounded almost pleased.

  Danny’s mobile rang. It was Christina calling back. Specky wouldn’t answer it, so Danny took the call.

  ‘It’s Danny… Yeah, he did, but he had to go and put the fire out… Yeah… We’re camping. In Rivergum… Right, okay… Yeah… Hey, that’s nice… Um, okay… Yep, catch ya later.’

  ‘What did she say?’ asked Specky.

  ‘Did she explain why Screamer was there?’ added Gobba.

  Danny told them that Christina and her family had met up with Screamer and his parents for the evening – they were all having ice-cream together at the Opera House.

  ‘Woah, mate,’ said Robbo. ‘You must be cheesed off.’

  ‘Nah. I knew he was going to catch up with her. He told me he would.’

  ‘Then why did you hang up on him?’

  Specky shrugged. Hearing Screamer’s voice on the phone had taken him by surprise – and now he didn’t know how to feel. His stomach was churning.

  ‘It’s no big deal,’ he said. ‘I’m going to sleep.’

  ‘Good idea,’ said Brian. ‘Night.’

  ‘Night,’ said the others, reluctantly.

  Early the following morning, Specky and his friends woke to the sound of a car horn. Ernie and Brian’s dad had driven out to the campsite to pick them up.

  Ernie said Lizzie had prepared a huge cooked breakfast for them, so they’d have all the energy they’d need for the big match.

  Specky and Brian drove back into town with Ernie, and the others went with Mr Edwards. Specky sensed that Ernie’s early wake-up call was based more on nerves than his wanting them to have a good breakfast. He could tell Brian was thinking the same thing. He asked Ernie how he felt.

  ‘Lad, sometimes I think I have rocks in me head,’ he replied, staring at the road. ‘I reckon we could be in big trouble today.’

  ∗∗∗

  ‘Whoa, look at the crowd,’ gasped Brian as he and the boys drove to the Rivergum home ground early that afternoon. ‘We haven’t seen a crowd this big here in years.’

  Even Specky was taken aback by the huge turnout. It was nothing like the last time he had been there. The entire town of Rivergum and a larger than usual contingent of Sovereign Grove supporters had shown up for the big clash. Parked cars hugged the entire boundary, while clusters of barrackers from both sides gathered behind the big sticks at either end.

  As Specky and his mates followed Brian toward the change rooms, Specky waved at Alice and Mrs Edwards on the sidelines. They were soon joined by Mr and Mrs Magee.

  ‘Look at Biff, Bluey and Moz, thinking they’re so great,’ said Brian, pointing out the Bull Ants. Already dressed in their gear, they were jogging out to the ground for a warm-up. The Sovereign Grove fans were cheering loudly.

  Specky saw Biff sneering in his direction and punching his fist into his hand.

  ‘Yeah,’ he replied. ‘They look like they mean business, too.’

  ‘All right, boys, hurry up and get changed,’ ordered Ernie, who was dressed and ready to play.

  Lizzie handed out the red-and-grey striped jumpers.

  ‘This is unreal,’ Danny said, slipping one over his head. It was way too big for him. ‘Hey, these change rooms don’t have a roof.’

  ‘I can’t believe we’re actually gonna play in a seniors side,’ added Robbo.

  ‘Don’t get too excited,’ said Ernie, sounding miserable and doing a quick head count. ‘It’s worse than usual. There’s only ten of us, assuming Matt
shows up. Ben, I know you wanted to call the game, but we won’t have a game if we can’t get the numbers.’

  ‘But my assignment for Dennis Cometti…’

  ‘Come on, Gobba,’ urged Specky.

  Gobba reluctantly agreed, and a jumper was thrust into his hands.

  ‘Right, that’s eleven,’ said Ernie, who kept sticking his head outside the door to see if anyone else was coming.

  ‘You better give me one of those as well,’ exclaimed Mr Edwards, putting his hand out for a jumper.

  ‘But, Dad, what about your crook back?’ asked Brian

  ‘I’m trying not to think about it. I’ll do my best.’

  Specky saw Brian smiling proudly at his father.

  ‘I’m playing this time and there’s not a blasted thing you can do about it, Doris!’

  Everyone turned around to see Ivor Richards stomping his way into the change rooms.

  He was decked out in playing gear like the outfits Specky had seen in the photos over Ernie’s bar. He had on his old, woolly, short-sleeved Rivergum jumper, big baggy white shorts, woolly red-and-grey socks pulled up to his knobbly knees and the funniest-looking footy boots Specky had ever seen. They were black leather and covered his ankles, and had four little white diamonds on each of them. They were in immaculate condition, and shined so brightly they almost glowed.

  Behind him an elderly woman, who was obviously his wife, Doris, was laying down the law. ‘Ivor, you silly old man. You’ve got arthritis in both knees. Your hip’s gone. You can’t see past your nose. And you know what the doctor said about your heart.’

  ‘Heart!’ roared Ivor, thumping one hand against his chest. ‘I’ll tell you about heart, Doris Richards. Me heart mightn’t have many years left in it, but it still pumps red-and-grey blood through my veins. And I’d rather me old ticker give out on me while I’m running around doing what I love most!’ Ivor turned to the team.

  ‘Listen up, you lot,’ he declared. ‘Can you hear the Bull Ants’ supporters out there? They’re saying the Redfins are finished. They’re saying we should disband the club. If we can’t pull together and win this game, then what sort of town are we? We might as well pack it in if we can’t even put up a fight for what we believe in. We’ve got to play, for every man and boy who ever pulled on the Rivergum colours.’

  The veteran player stood there defiantly – wiping a tear from his face. Specky thought it was the most inspiring speech he had ever heard. It was the speech that Ernie might have given if he had been allowed to tell anyone that they were playing for their very survival.

  Everyone in the change rooms sat in complete silence, until Doris made her way toward Ivor and wrapped her arms around him.

  Then everyone cheered and clapped wildly.

  Doris grabbed Ivor by the hand and walked him over to Ernie.

  ‘You better put this old bugger on the team, Ern. I reckon today you can use him to get your starting numbers. But pull him off straight after the first bounce or you’ll be answering to me.’

  Ernie gave her a hug and assured her he would look after Ivor.

  Ivor leant over and gave his wife a kiss on the cheek. ‘Thanks, darl,’ he said. Then, with a wink, he told her, ‘I promise I won’t get into any fights, love. And, you better look after these. They’re the only ones I’ve got.’ With that he whipped out his false teeth, put them in a hanky and held them out for Doris.

  Doris took them without batting an eyelid.

  ‘Simon, if even old Ivor’s on the team, what about your dad?’ asked Mr Edwards, above the laughter and applause.

  Specky snorted nervously. ‘I could ask, but he’s never played footy before. Doesn’t play any sport, really.’

  ‘Doesn’t matter,’ said Ernie, pacing about nervously. ‘We need him. We’ve got a ton of spare boots and shorts, all sizes, that we’ve collected over the years, haven’t we, Lizzie?’

  Lizzie nodded, opening up a locker filled with footy apparel.

  ∗∗∗

  ‘Me?’ Mr Magee laughed, as if someone had told the best joke in the world.

  ‘I know, Dad, that’s what I told ’em, but they need to fill a team,’ said Specky.

  ‘Well, if Brian’s dad thinks I’m…’

  Specky’s dad trailed off, distracted by his mobile ringing.

  ‘Yes?’ he said. ‘Well, Dieter, I’m not sure if I do.’

  Alice, standing next to them on the sidelines, gasped when she heard it was the Great McCarthy.

  ‘Well… right… okay… Well, I appreciate that… Thank you, Dieter.’

  ‘So,’ said Mr Magee, flipping the phone closed and turning to Alice. ‘That was Dieter.’

  Specky could tell that his sister was desperate to say something, but she managed to keep her mouth shut. His father continued.

  ‘I know that Dieter told me the party was his fault and that he pressured you into having it, but he was calling to say how sorry he is. To say how much he misses you. Do you have anything to tell me, Alice?’

  Specky saw Alice’s eyes welling up with tears.

  ‘He didn’t pressure me into having the party, Dad,’ she said, finally. ‘It was all me. It was all my fault. He actually tried to talk me out of it.’

  ‘Thank you,’ said Specky’s dad. ‘We already knew that, but I needed to hear you say it.’

  ‘What?’ sobbed Alice.

  ‘Dieter’s father called me during the week. To tell me how miserable Dieter’s been. Your mother and I discussed it last night, and we’re considering whether we should let you see him again once your punishment is over.’

  ‘Really?’ squealed Alice. ‘Thank you! Thank you! You’re the best parents ever!’

  ‘We haven’t agreed, yet, young lady,’ said Mrs Magee. ‘You’re still not off the hook. You allowed Dieter to lie for you, and you let him take responsibility for something you did. It turns out that you’re the bad influence.’

  ‘I know. I know,’ Alice sighed, relieved that there was still some hope for her and the Great McCarthy.

  Specky smiled. He was happy for his sister, but realised he had no time to waste.

  ‘So, Dad, are you gonna play or what?’

  ∗∗∗

  Ernie appreciated that Specky’s dad had agreed to don a Redfins’ guernsey, even though Mr Magee had requested he be positioned so that the ball wouldn’t go near him. Ernie was thrilled when Mr Clarke, the district newcomer, turned up at the change rooms and offered to pull on the boots. His wife and his daughters, Mitch and Charlie, wearing red scarves to support the team, joined Mrs Edwards in the crowd.

  ‘Now we’re getting somewhere,’ Ernie muttered, still with a worried look on his face. ‘Matt Connelly just got in from his farm, too. So we’ve got fifteen all up.’

  ‘Still not a full side,’ said a slimy voice from behind them.

  It was Carl Sharkey.

  ‘What do you want?’ snapped Lizzie.

  ‘Now, now, Lizzie,’ smirked the coach. ‘This is meant to be a friendly. I just came in to see if your husband has got a team for us to play against. Otherwise, I could tell my boys to pack up now.’

  ‘Don’t flatter yourself, Sharkey,’ said Ernie. ‘We’ll get a full team.’

  ‘Yeah, well, you have fifteen minutes, otherwise… You know the consequences.’

  ‘What are you talking about, you two-faced –’

  ‘Lizzie, please!’ Ernie said, cutting her off. ‘It’s nothing.’

  ‘Yes, it’s nothing, Liz,’ sneered Sharkey. ‘The clock is ticking and your husband doesn’t have a full side.’

  ‘Yes, he does!’

  Everyone turned to see a group of men striding into the change rooms.

  ‘I don’t believe it!’ said Lizzie, rushing over to hug a couple of them.

  ‘What the?’ Ernie choked.

  Many of the Rivergum players moved in to shake the newcomers’ hands.

  ‘Who are they?’ Robbo asked Brian.

  ‘They’re Ernie’s old team-mates fro
m twenty years ago,’ said Brian with a huge grin. ‘That’s Rory Shinn, Peter O’Leary and Pasquale Panini.’

  They really are just like us! thought Specky, amazed. It’s Robbo, Danny and me in about forty years time!

  Peter O’Leary was a tall, lanky man who towered over the other two. Pasquale Panini was olive-skinned with a cheeky grin. And Specky wasn’t sure what it was about Rory Shinn that reminded him of himself – perhaps it was simply his sandy-brown hair and his obvious obsession for Aussie Rules.

  ‘Who are the other guys?’ asked Gobba.

  ‘They’re the Dawson brothers, and that big guy hugging my dad is my brother, James.’

  Brian weaved his way through the jubilant gathering to greet his brother.

  ‘All right! All right!’ shouted Carl Sharkey over the top of everyone. ‘What’s going on?’

  Everyone stopped talking and turned to the disgruntled coach. ‘What are you all doing here?’ he hissed.

  ‘We’re here to play,’ said Rory Shinn.

  ‘But why are you here to play?’

  Specky watched Coach Sharkey turned to Ernie, obviously wanting to say, ‘If you told them about the bet, it’s over for Rivergum.’

  ‘For Ernie’s birthday,’ replied Rory.

  ‘What?’

  Ernie looked just as surprised.

  ‘Yeah, young Brian called us all saying how this match was on and that it was Ernie’s sixtieth birthday coming up. He wanted to organise a gift – a full eighteen man squad to play for him. So happy birthday, mate!’

  Everyone swarmed around Ernie, who looked close to tears.

  Specky leant in to Brian and whispered, ‘That’s brilliant!’

  Brian grinned. ‘Yep. When Coach Pate said it was her birthday, I remembered that Ernie’s was this month, too. It’s a big one and I figured that if anything would get the old players back, this would be it.’

  ‘Nice one.’

  ‘Well, you won’t be needing me now,’ said Mr Magee, starting to pull off his guernsey. Good luck!’

  ‘No chance, Mr Magee,’ shouted Gobba, as he sprinted out the door, heading for Motormouth Mick’s makeshift commentary booth on the back of the ute. ‘You’re still on the bench. I’ve got an assignment to do.’