by Alex Wheatle
I followed my team out of the changing room and into the gym. Cheers echoed around the hall. There were about fifty spectators, three of them being Mum, Greyback and the Brat. There was no sign of Dad.
The team we were playing was Biggin Spires Tech, a school from a town about fifteen miles away. Their players were all wearing identical basketball socks, shorts and sweatbands. They even had numbers on the backs of their purple vests. Their kit looked many ratings better than our basic green vests and blue shorts. We all glanced at each other, very worried.
Their PE teacher started the game. He was dressed in a proper referee’s shirt. I sat on the substitute’s bench with Bruno Tardelli and Mr Purrfoot. Every two seconds Purrfoot leapt up in the air as if he was sitting on a bucket full of piranhas. He complained about everything. The referee ignored him and that made Purrfoot scream and jump even higher. Every so often I glanced into the crowd. When Mum saw me, she smiled.
Then I spotted Carmella. Muscle Freak was with her.
They sat on the floor in the corner with their backs against the wall. At first, I tried to pretend I hadn’t seen them. But I couldn’t help myself. The insides of my stomach felt like there was a tiny mouse going cadazy with a pair of scissors. I watched them more than the game. At least Muscle Freak didn’t have his arm around her. I thanked Yoda he wasn’t kissing her. That would’ve killed me.
I lost track of the score as I spied on Carmella and Muscle Freak for the next fifteen minutes. Mr Purrfoot had taken to the sidelines of the court shouting instructions, but he suddenly yanked my arm. “Welton! You’re on!”
I looked into the crowd. Mum and Greyback were on their feet clapping. On the opposite side to them, I spotted Dad. He was still in his work overalls. His paint-specked hat was pulled over his eyebrows. He clenched his right fist and yelled, “Go on, Welllltttonnn!”
Everyone heard Dad. They all looked around. Mum side-eyed Dad and half-grinned. I couldn’t help but smile, a warm feeling in my stomach. I kept on saying to myself, Don’t run into the wall, don’t run into the wall, don’t run into the wall.
Mr Purrfoot pulled me close to him and whispered in my ear. “Don’t try any fancy tricks or moves. When you get the ball, try to pass it on to one of the other boys. That’s all I want you to do … Oh, one last thing. Look where you’re going. Let’s not have another wall incident.”
“All right, sir,” I said.
I suddenly realised I didn’t know what the score was. Behind one of the baskets, a Year Seven kid was operating a manual scoreboard. We were losing 26 points to 30.
My first touch of the ball was tragic – Bruno Tardelli passed me an easy ball and I dropped it. One of the opposing players collected the ball, jet-heeled down to the basket and scored.
Trevor Laing ran up to me. “Focus,” he said. “Keep your eye on the ball and try to ignore the crowd.”
I nodded. I glanced at Carmella, then looked away.
My next bit of action was slightly better. I managed to catch the ball after our opponents had tried to score. I pushed out a quick pass to the Great Smo and after a few more passes, Trevor scored. To hear the crowd cheering was brilliant. And I had played my part. Everyone clapped, including Carmella and Muscle Freak.
I started to relax. I never tried to do too much. I just kept on passing the ball to my team-mates.
Two minutes to go. Biggin Spires were leading 46 to 45. Mr Purrfoot’s face had turned red. He looked like he was about to give birth to a giant basketball. My legs were tiring. My vest was sticking to my back. Sweat was dripping between my eyelashes.
One of their players had attempted a long shot. It bounced on the edge of the basket but didn’t go in. Trevor made a mighty leap and caught the rebound. He tried to get a pass to Valin, but he was tightly marked. Trevor passed to me. I caught the ball and went down-court.
Purrfoot was going proper bonkers, yelling, “Pass to Valin! Pass to Valin!” I made sure I stopped well before the brick wall. I looked up, ready to give a pass.
I couldn’t quite get the ball to Valin, so I bounce-passed to Bruno Tardelli. He had two defenders blocking his progress, so he threw the ball to the Great Smo. Catching the ball easily, the Great Smo lined up a shot, but a defender parried the ball and it headed towards me. Time was running out. The crowd were on their feet.
“Pass to Valin! Pass to Valin!” Purrfoot screamed.
The referee glanced at his stopwatch. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted Carmella and Muscle Freak jumping up and down. The ball was in my right hand. The referee gripped his whistle. He sucked in a big breath. He prepared to blow. I sort of bowled the ball towards the basket. It hit the backboard and bounced heavily on the rim. All eyes were on the ball. The crowd hushed. I noticed Dad running forward to get a closer look. Mr Purrfoot watched with his mouth open. Purple veins suddenly appeared on his cheeks.
The ball rolled on the rim … and dropped into the basket. I couldn’t believe it! Forty-seven points to us! The Great Smo jumped on my back. Trevor Laing leapt onto my shoulder. Bruno sprang onto my other arm. Valin dived on top of my head. I collapsed under the weight.
By the time I got up, the game was over. We had won by one point. Clapping and cheering rang in my ears. Dad ran onto the court. He almost knocked me over before lifting me up, shouting, “Welllltttonnn!”
It was kind of embarrassing to be picked up like that, especially in front of Carmella. Mr Purrfoot wasn’t too happy with Dad running on the court in his work boots. Dad returned to the sidelines after Purrfoot gave him a filthy look.
We shook hands with our opponents. I could feel this hot glow in my chest. Oh, sweet Yoda! It felt good. I went over to Mum at the side of the court. I hoped she wasn’t gonna give me a super mum-hug in front of everyone, but she did. What was worse, she kissed me on the forehead. Luke Skywalker! Can you hear me? Will my humiliations never end? I wondered. Greyback was there too. He shook my hand. “That was brilliant, Welton.”
I had tried to hate Greyback from the first day I saw him, but now? I just couldn’t. He was … well, all right. I just hoped he wouldn’t die too soon and upset Mum.
Just as I was heading to the changing room, Carmella walked onto the court.
I waited for her. I shifted from foot to foot. My heart pumped harder than it had during the game.
Muscle Freak remained where he was. Maybe he was feeling sorry for me. It would’ve been too much if he was here to listen to what Carmella had to say.
“That was so cool, Welton,” she said. “I didn’t know you could play B-ball?”
She called me Welton! I wanted to kiss her just because of that.
“I … I can’t,” I replied. “It was a lucky shot.”
“Don’t put yourself down,” Carmella said, taking a step closer to me. “For your first game I reckon you were on the boards, man!”
I blushed. Good job I had a chocolate complexion otherwise I would’ve gone redder than Dracula’s blood sample.
“I saw you practising the other day,” Carmella said. “You, er … had an accident.”
“Er, yeah. Had issues with the wall.”
Carmella laughed. Unlike Coral, she hadn’t got any custard-cream crumbs in her mouth. “I was the one who called the ambulance,” Carmella revealed.
“You?” I said.
“Yes, me. I called them on my mobile when you were knocked out. Purrfoot asked me to.”
“Oh, er … thanks.”
“That’s all right. I was trying to catch up with you all week,” she said.
Oh, Yoda, my green holiness. Here it comes. She’s going to announce her wedding plans to Muscle Freak.
“Oh?” I replied. “What did you want to see me about?”
“Our date, stupid. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten? Weren’t we meant to go to the movies?”
“But, er, what about …? We were? Er, what about …?”
I was very confused. I glanced at Muscle Freak standing about five metres behind Carmella. He was chewi
ng something that made the muscles in his neck bulge out like rocks in a pair of skinny tights. I imagined him headbutting me and breaking my nose. Carmella glanced behind her and started to laugh.
“I … I don’t think it’s funny,” I said. “You can’t go out with him and me.”
She kept on laughing. She was holding her belly. She bent over. “That’s … that’s Sheldon. Sheldon Manley. He’s … he’s …”
“He’s what? Your new boyfriend? I kind of guessed that, Carmella.”
“No! No!” she said. “He’s my cousin. He’s just moved in with us from North Crongton. His parents wanted him to move out from there. He was getting into too much trouble and drama. He’s new to the school, so I’ve been showing him around.”
“Your cousin?” I replied. “Why … why didn’t you say?”
“I tried to. I tried calling you. No answer. Every time I saw you, you ran off … By the way, what were you doing with Coral Chipglider?”
“Er … I, er.”
“You’re not going out with her, are you?” Carmella asked.
“No! Course not. I was just walking her home …”
“She’s a bit cadazy. We all stay away from her. Even the teachers don’t mess with her.”
“She … she wanted to show me her house,” I explained. “Massive it is. Her front garden’s as big as a football pitch.”
“What else did she show you?”
I couldn’t help but think of Coral’s kiss. “Er … nothing … she showed me nothing.”
Carmella didn’t look convinced. “Hmmmm.”
“I didn’t stay at her place for long,” I said.
“So she showed you around her mansion, did she?”
“Not really.”
“Hmmmm,” Carmella said again. “I think you tickle her fancy.”
“Er … don’t know about that,” I replied.
“She didn’t try anything with you?” Carmella wanted to know.
“Nope.”
“Hmmm?”
Carmella gave me a Judge Judy look.
“That’s all,” I said. “Coral and me haven’t got anything going on.”
“So she won’t pollute me with her gob in the school corridor if she finds out you took me to the movies?”
With Coral being totally nuts, I knew that it was a possibility. But I couldn’t let Carmella know that.
“No … no!” I said. “Course not! She wouldn’t do that. We’re … friends.”
“So, when are you taking me to the movies?”
I think I flashed the biggest smile in the world since the Joker grinned at Batman in The Dark Knight. “Sat … Saturday,” I replied.
“Coolio,” Carmella said.
For a short moment we just gazed into each other’s eyes. It was interrupted by Mum. “Welton, hurry up and get showered and changed! I’ve got to put something on for dinner.”
“OK, Mum,” I replied, not taking my eyes off Carmella. “Car … Carmella, you’re on the same mobile number, right?”
“Yeah, why?”
“I’ve got a new phone. I’ll text you later to tell you what films are on.”
“Coolio.”
I couldn’t believe this was happening. Carmella McKenzie was saying coolio to me? It didn’t seem real. I closed my eyes and opened them again. It was happening.
“Welton!” Mum barked. “Go and get your shower! I haven’t got all night!”
“I’ll text you later then,” I said to Carmella. “After I have my dinner.”
“I’ll look out for it,” she said.
I made my way to the changing room feeling as tall as the Monks Orchard Christmas tree in the town square. Someone should’ve lit beacons like they did in Lord of the Rings. Priests in long robes should’ve banged bells in churches and firework folk should’ve let off a shipload of sky sparklers.
I turned around and Carmella gave me a little wave. Parents were talking amongst themselves, but there was no sign of Dad. I wondered if he was all right. At least he hadn’t made a scene. I was so happy he’d come to support me.
At the back of the hall stood a lone figure. It was Coral Chipglider. I hadn’t seen her during the game. She had cut off her hair and was wearing purple make-up. Coral glared at me for two seconds before walking off. Obi-Wan Kenobi, what should I do? I prayed she wouldn’t spit on Carmella.
Chapter 17
The Date
I showered twice that Saturday evening before I was satisfied I had deleted my BO. I brushed my molars three times. I even cleaned my tongue with my toothbrush. I used my deodorant stick on my armpits and all over my chest. I put on my black jeans and a pair of white trainers. I pulled on a plain black T-shirt. I was going to wear my lucky Darth Vader top, but I was worried Carmella would think I was a bit too old for it. I decided to wear my black denim jacket. I combed my hair and gazed into my bedroom mirror. Would Carmella want to sample this face?
The Brat collapsed in giggles as he sat on his new bed. “Who are you going to meet?” he asked.
“None of your business!” I replied.
“You’re going to meet a girl!”
I had one last look in the mirror and stepped out into the hallway. I walked into the kitchen where Mum and Greyback sipped coffees.
“How much do you need, Welton?” Mum asked. “Ten pounds, is it?”
“Er, no, Mum. I need twenty.”
“Twenty? Going to the pictures is not that expensive, is it?”
“Mum!” I said.
“I think Welton’s taking someone out on a date,” Greyback explained. “And, like most gentlemen, he wants to pay the way.”
“Ahhhhh,” said Mum. “That’s so sweet. Who’s the girl? Is it the one you were talking to after the game?”
“Mum! Can I have the money, please?”
“Do you want me to pick you up?”
“No,” I told her.
“You sure?”
“I couldn’t be surer, Mum. Stop mothering me.”
“When the film finishes, you say your goodbyes and come straight home.”
“Mum!”
“Angie,” Greyback said to Mum. “Welton’s a sensible boy. He won’t hang around.”
I think if I’d stayed any longer I would’ve hid Mum’s Netflix remote control and chucked away all her hair extensions. Can’t she remember how traumatic it is to prepare for a first date?
I headed out and made my way to the bus stop. It was 6.45 p.m. I was meeting Carmella at 7.30 p.m.
I had never waited so long for a bus. I started to think that Coral Chipglider was using the power of the Force to stop the bus arriving. Finally, it turned up at quarter past seven.
Getting off the bus, I checked the time on my mobile phone. Oh no! It was 7.31 p.m. I jet-footed to the shopping centre like I was being hunted by Bernice Cummings. I ran into people and nearly knocked a kid over. Some woman screamed at me, but I didn’t care.
I reached the cinema at 7.35 p.m. I climbed the steps to the entrance. Frantically, I looked around. There was no sign of Carmella. I noticed some boys hanging out. I heard someone laughing behind me. I turned around. It was Corrington Wingburter. He was with Broxslater.
Oh no!
They were both drinking cans of soft drinks. Broxslater’s thigh muscles bulged like the cheek of Godzilla who had been suffering from toothache.
“Look at Blakey!” cackled Wingburter. “He’s all dressed up!”
Broxslater looked me up and down like he was deciding which part of me he wanted to munch first. “Going somewhere?” he asked.
I didn’t answer. Broxslater’s moustache twitched.
“Tax for the Chancellor, Blakey!” Broxslater demanded.
Inside my chest I could feel this fizzing ball of anger bouncing off my rib cage. It was getting bigger and bigger.
“Are you deaf?” Broxslater threatened me. “Don’t make me repeat myself, Blakey. Tax for the Chancellor!”
Luke Skywalker magically appeared on my shoulder in h
is Jedi Knight cloak and whispered into my ear, The time is now.
“You’re … you’re not getting anything from me, Broxslater!” I said, my voice high-pitched. I couldn’t help but think of how neeky I sounded.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Carmella approaching. Broxslater took a long step towards me. He clenched his fists. He took in a big mouthful of breath. “So you wanna be banged up on the steps of the cinema, do you, Blakey?” Broxslater asked.
Carmella moved closer. Something in my head told me that I just couldn’t stand another humiliation. Not in front of Carmella. Not in front of anybody.
I tightened my right fist until the two thick veins in my wrist stuck out. Letting out a roar, I hit Broxslater with a right hook smack on the chin. He staggered back two paces and dropped on a step. He rubbed his chin with his right hand. “He hit me!”
I retreated two steps. My hand was killing me. I was sure I’d broken all the bones in it. Broxslater got up on his feet, rushed forward and dived on top of me, using my head as a punching ball. I tried to grab his arms to stop him. We both lost our balance and fell further down the steps.
“You hit me, Blakey!” Broxslater yelled. “You hit me!”
I think he couldn’t believe I’d had the nerve to lick him. He made me pay for that. There wasn’t a spot on my face that Broxslater didn’t punch. My left eye was closing, but out of the corner of my right, I could see Carmella. Her hands were over her mouth. She yelled, “Leave him alone! Leave him alone!”
Corrington Wingburter held Carmella back. That was when I went nuts. I wriggled myself free and jumped to my feet. With all my might I swung with both fists. I didn’t care where I hit Wingburter. I didn’t stop. Wingburter ran off. I kept on punching. Broxslater dropped to the floor. Then I felt somebody’s arms lifting me away. They were big limbs. For a short moment my feet didn’t touch the ground.
I turned around and saw someone wearing a security guard’s uniform. “Stop now, son,” the man said. “He comes here quite regular, bullying kids. I think this evening he’s learned his lesson.”
