Whippersnapper

by Felice Arena

  ‘Woah,’ says Anne ‘I’ve never seen her do that before. Not to someone she doesn’t know.’

  Dogs are highly intuitive and sensitive animals. Everyone knows that. They sense fear. Sense danger. I wonder if Macy senses it’s me?

  ‘Yeah, well, maybe she does know me.’ I shrug. ‘Look, I wasn’t breaking in. Truly. I’m the man who was in the bus accident with Gus. I was coming around to see his parents. But they’re not here. And, well, I was desperate to use the bathroom. You wouldn’t believe how many times a day old people have to pee.’

  Annie pulls an eeeww expression.

  ‘Look, please don’t report me to the police or mention this to my folks, I mean, the Delfinos,’ I add.

  Annie continues to stare at me suspiciously. It’s a tense, awkward moment – especially since now I really do need to pee.

  ‘Okay, I won’t call the police,’ Annie says. ‘Only because Macy likes you. You can’t be all that bad. But I will have to tell Mr and Mrs Delfino.’

  ‘Go ahead. Tell them,’ I say, as if I don’t care. ‘But remember, they’ve been through a lot, and they don’t need more problems. I haven’t stolen anything, so why stir things up? I’m just an old man who wanted to use the bathroom. Actually, I’m bursting to go again.’ I look back at the house.

  ‘No way!’ snaps Annie. ‘You can’t go back in. And gross!’

  ‘Fine,’ I grimace, holding it in. ‘Force a poor old man to use the public toilet in the park! I’ll probably get mugged. Thanks a billion!’

  I limp off as fast as I can. Back to George’s place, where the whole family is waiting for me.

  CHAPTER

  15

  ‘Dad!’

  ‘Oh, George, where have you been? We’ve been worried sick!’

  Doris and Gayle rush towards me as I step through the front door.

  ‘I just went for a walk. I’m fine.’

  ‘When I woke up, you were gone,’ says Doris, holding my arm tightly.

  ‘Dad, you should’ve left a note or something,’ says Gayle. ‘We thought you’d wandered off and got lost. We were about to call the police.’

  That’s all I need – the same police officers I just met turning up and seeing me in this house.

  ‘I’m fine,’ I say again. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t leave a note. Seriously, everything’s fine.’

  I speak too soon. As I step into the kitchen, I find that everything is not fine because Corey Barnes is sitting at George’s table with Hannah. They’re chowing down on burgers with a man who must be their dad, Kevin.

  ‘Hey, here he is!’ Kevin announces with his mouth full. He stands up, pulling a napkin out of his collar. He shakes my hand. He’s a giant of a man. I see why Corey is so freakishly big. ‘The happy wanderer is back – nice to see you’re up and about,’ he says with a sleazy-car-salesman grin. ‘See, Gayle, I told ya! You and Doris had nothing to worry about – can’t keep this old warhorse down. Isn’t that right, George?’

  I don’t know what to say. I nod, my eyes fixed on Corey.

  ‘Hey, Gramps,’ he mumbles, in between sucking on a Coke and playing with his phone. ‘You better?’

  I just nod nervously. Even though I know he won’t recognise me, I’m still just a bit scared of him. I slowly sit down, half-expecting him to pick on me.

  ‘Well, here’s the junk food you wanted, Dad,’ Gayle says, placing a cheeseburger on a plate in front of me. ‘CJ, don’t drink all of that, please. That’s for everyone to share. In fact, I’d rather you had water. The chemicals in those drinks are bad for you, so enough is enough, please. I read that –’

  ‘Leave it, Gayle,’ snaps Kevin, angrily. ‘It’s just a drink! Stop harping and get off the boy’s back, will ya?’

  Woah, he’s aggressive, I think. I know Gayle’s hard to shut up sometimes, but no one deserves to be spoken to like that. He’s so in your face – I’m starting to see where Corey gets it from.

  Poor Gayle. She sits back in her chair without saying another word. I look at Doris. She pulls a face at me that very clearly says, ‘Don’t get involved.’

  For a moment everyone eats in silence. It’s weird. And totally awkward. Hannah gets bored and leaves the table to watch TV. I wish I could join her.

  ‘So, CJ, tell your grandfather your good news,’ says Kevin, finally breaking the silence. ‘Tell him about your game.’

  ‘Yeah, we won last night. We’re through to the big one again.’

  ‘Sorry?’ I say, my mind still on Gayle.

  ‘His basketball game,’ says Doris. You do remember that CJ plays basketball? He’s a champion at it.’

  ‘Really? I wouldn’t say that.’ It comes out before I can think it through.

  ‘What?’ Corey and Kevin say in unison.

  ‘Tell me more about your game,’ I say, moving it along.

  ‘It was our qualifying final last night. We’ve gone through the whole season undefeated. We crushed Johnson High by twenty-three points. And now we’ve gone straight to the grand final for the third year in a row. We’ll have a week’s rest while the loser teams play it out.’

  Brag much? Man, this kid is full of himself.

  ‘And tell Grandpa your score for last night’s game,’ says Kevin. ‘Listen to this, George.’

  ‘I beat my all-time scoring record. Shot twenty-five last night,’ Corey says smugly. ‘Could’ve got more if I wasn’t fouled off in the last two minutes of the game. Friggin’ ref had it in for me.’

  ‘CJ, watch your language!’ says Gayle.

  ‘No, he has every right to be upset,’ Kevin barks. ‘The ref was a loser.’

  ‘We’ll, you are known in the league for being a dirty player,’ I say as I bite into my burger. ‘It’s not the first time you’ve been fouled off.’ Everybody stops eating and stares at me. ‘I’m just saying, you’ve gotta watch your fouls … um, lad.’

  ‘I wonder who you’ll end up playing against,’ says Kevin, trying to ignore what I’ve said.

  ‘I don’t care.’ Corey shrugs. ‘We’ll smash whoever we play.’

  ‘Ha, in your dreams!’ Doris gives me a warning look, but I don’t care. I’ve got to support my team – I’m not taking it. ‘Pennsbury High has an awesome team this season. I’d watch out for them if I were you. This could be their year.’

  ‘Oh, Dad, you’re just saying that because of your history with the school.’ Gayle smiles as if I’m joking. ‘You say that any time a sporting team from Pennsbury High gets close to making a final. I know it’s the first time that their basketball team has made it since you coached there, and I know your friendship with Henry and Scott, God rest his soul, means that you’re pretty excited for them, but we also know that your allegiance will always be with your grandson. So, CJ, don’t worry, Grandpa is just having fun with you. He’s still on your side!’

  ‘Whatever,’ says Corey. ‘As if I care anyway.’

  My right knee is wobbling uncontrollably under the table. I’m clenching my teeth. My jaw is tight. I can’t stand the smug look on Corey’s face. It’s killing me! I wouldn’t even be here if it weren’t for him. It’s hard to keep the anger and hate I have for him at bay. I want to shout at him. I want to let it all out. Oh, forget this! I’m not going to hold back any longer. I’m gonna let rip.

  ‘The truth,’ I say, ‘is that you and your team suck, Corey. Yep. You heard right! The Winston High Hornets blow big-time. And you’re going down, dude! Go Pennsbury Panthers!’

  I grin a little when I see Corey’s jaw drop. Yeah, take that, bean head. Someone has finally told you the truth about yourself.

  ‘George!’ Doris gasps.

  Kevin is clearly furious. His voice is deep and hostile. ‘I hope you’re joking,’ he says. ‘Otherwise I’m downright offended. What’s come over you?’

  ‘I’m not joking,’ I say to him. ‘I’m deadly serious. I don’t want Corey to win - I don’t want him to play at all. Do you know why? Because he should be punished for putting a kid in the hospital –
a kid who’s fighting for his life. Corey should be ashamed of himself.’

  I shoot the dirtiest look I can at Corey. He looks in shock now, and I’m happy that he also looks guilty. Yep, he has guilt written all over his face.

  ‘Now listen here!’ Kevin stands out of his chair.

  ‘Kevin! Let it go,’ pleads Gayle. ‘He’s just out of the hospital.’

  ‘I don’t care,’ he snarls. ‘I won’t have anyone talk to me or my son like that. CJ’s done nothing wrong.’

  ‘Really?’ I say, also standing up. I’m shaking all over now. I can’t back down, but I’ve never gone one-on-one with an adult before. Keep going, I tell myself. ‘Nothing wrong?’ I say. ‘He took off with my bike – Gus’s bike, then he dumped it in the middle of the road and caused a horrific accident.’

  I want to add, ‘The bus driver died because of what he did. We all nearly died,’ but the freaked-out expression on Corey’s face throws me off a bit.

  ‘He can lie all he likes about leaving the bike at the house,’ I say instead. ‘But if he hadn’t taken it in the first place, I wouldn’t be in this mess.’

  ‘But you’re fine now,’ says Kevin coldly. ‘What mess?’

  ‘The boy in the coma. That mess!’ I recover quickly. ‘And it’s all because this… this…’ I’m struggling to find the right word, my hand now pointing, wobbling, directly at Corey. I’m so upset. Resentful. Angry. ‘It’s all because of this, this, upstart … this know-it-all … this whippersnapper!’

  Okay, I don’t know where that came from. Maybe that was a little bit of George that got left behind.

  Corey’s dad, surprisingly, doesn’t respond. Well, at least not for a few seconds. Then …

  ‘Let’s go, everyone!’ he orders, grabbing his jacket from the back of the chair.

  ‘Please, Kevin, I was just going to make some coffee,’ says Doris, trying her best to ease the tension.

  ‘No, thanks,’ Kevin says, his eyes locked on me. ‘We don’t want to be around someone who treats his own flesh and blood with so much contempt. Boys will be boys, George. Maybe you’ve forgotten what that’s like.’

  Before I can gather my thoughts, everyone has cleared out.

  Doris shakes her head at me while I finish off my cheeseburger. ‘So, what have you got to say for yourself?’ she says.

  I swallow my last bite and take a swig of Corey’s Coke. I refuse to feel guilty.

  ‘All this talk about basketball and I almost forgot what I have to do tonight.’ I burp. ‘I’ve got a game to go and see!’

  CHAPTER

  16

  Henry and I pull up in front of my school – or more like screech to a slamming halt. Woo-hoo! That was awesome! I convinced Henry to let me drive. Yep, finally one good thing about being old. Okay, so I almost hit four cars, a cat and a letterbox, and I think Henry might have had a small heart attack, but that was friggin’ epic! It’s the most fun I’ve ever had, and now I’m totally pumped to see tonight’s game.

  It took some slick talking to calm Doris down after I told her I needed to see Pennsbury High play in the elimination final. She thinks it’s my way of getting back at Kevin and Corey. I told her it wasn’t, that I just wanted to be there out of respect for Henry and for Coach Anderson.

  She bought it, but then she only let me out of the house if I wore warm clothes. So I’m in a hideous wool cardigan she apparently knitted for George a couple of winters back – I’m boiling up.

  I pull the cardigan off, but then I remember I’m wearing the ugliest striped shirt I’ve ever seen. Why do old people wear such awful clothes? Are they going blind?

  Henry and I enter my school’s gym. Immediately we’re hit by a wave of music thumping loudly off the walls. This place is going off! The gym is totally packed. Most of my school has turned out. The walls are decorated with our school colours – black and orange. The opposition team, the Manning High Giants, is already on the floor warming up. Their supporters, decked out in blue and white, have also shown up in full force. Clashing chants of ‘Go, Giants! Go, Panthers!’ bounce off the ceiling.

  Henry and I shuffle past the excited crowd, straight to the best seats in the house – right behind Pennsbury High’s bench. Suddenly, the gym erupts. My teammates have just jogged out onto the court.

  ‘Yeah! Woo-hoo!’ I shout. ‘Go, Panthers!’

  Henry smiles at me and pats me on the shoulder. My friends look pumped and raring to go. Bobby. Charlie. Will. Elliot. Dwayne. Ryan. They’re all there – except me. My gut is churning. This is so unfair. Why me? Why did this have to happen to me? Why did it have to happen now? I should be out there!

  ‘George, are you okay?’ Henry asks.

  He can see that I’m upset. Actually, upset is an understatement. I try to pull myself together.

  ‘Yeah, I’m okay.’ I nod. ‘Just emotional, you know. For Scott, for you, for the boys.’

  Henry puts his arm around me. ‘You’re a good man, George, a good man.’

  I watch my teammates warm up. Bobby is playing up to the crowd a little. He’s letting loose on some three-pointers. Or should I say, trying to. As our Power Forward he’s much better at taking inside shots. He’s tough and strong. And he’s unforgiving to the opposition’s Forwards. His determination to block and stop every move makes him a real force on the team. But three-pointers aren’t his speciality. Surprisingly, though, he just popped one in!

  ‘Go, Bobby!’ I shout, my voice getting lost in the buzz.

  There’s Will. It’s not hard to spot him. He’s the tallest on our team. He’s our Centre. When he’s on, his rebounding is fierce. Elliot’s good, too, but he looks a little overwhelmed by tonight’s turnout. He’s our Small Forward, which means he’s our most versatile player. He can do it all – shoot, pass, dribble and rebound.

  And there’s Ryan and Dwayne. They’re also versatile players. With me out of the team they’ll probably alternate from the bench and will have to cover my position – Shooting Guard.

  I don’t want to sound as if I’m blowing my own horn, but I’m the best on the team when it comes to shooting – especially outside shooting, popping in the big three-pointers, just like Bobby did a few moments back. I love it. I know Ryan can nail them too, but only if he’s not feeling pressured or if we’re playing a weaker team. And Manning High is not a weaker team. This game will definitely test him. It will test them all.

  And there’s Charlie! He’s our Point Guard. He’s the shortest in the team and the fastest. Dribbling and passing is his thing. And he’s great for creating scoring opportunities. I hope he can tonight.

  ‘Way to go, Charlie!’ I shout.

  Charlie looks up. He spots me. He gives me an unsure half-wave. I wave back like some mental case – a big, flapping gesture. Charlie nods – embarrassed – and goes back to warming up. Okay, I’ve got to rein it in a bit. Even Henry is now looking at me a little confused.

  ‘Henry! George!’

  It’s Principal Franklin. He looks nervous. He has sweat pouring off his face, not to mention those massive armpit stains.

  ‘Thanks for coming,’ he says, shaking our hands.

  ‘George, I’m sorry I didn’t get to talk to you at the funeral, but I’m so happy that you’re okay. I know Dad is thrilled. He’s hoping to see you on Sunday. Anyway, I can’t talk. I have to coach – can you believe it?’

  ‘No, I can’t,’ I say, deadpan.

  Principal Franklin chuckles nervously. He’s always been a total geek, and he seems so out of his comfort zone here.

  ‘I just told the boys to focus on what Scott would have wanted from them. Just to play the way they’ve played all season,’ he says quickly. ‘There’s not much else I can say to them. I want us to win for Scott’s sake and, George, trying to coach in front of you, a Pennsbury High legend … it’s overwhelming.’

  ‘Relax, Tony,’ says Henry. ‘Whatever happens, happens. The boys will be okay. And so will you.’

  ‘Yeah, just make sure the team doesn�
��t let Manning High get out in front first,’ I say. ‘If they do, they’ll be hard to stop. Manning likes to lead and dictate the flow of the game. They’re known for forcing the opposition to play defensively. That’s what happened to us last time, and it shut down our scoring. We were too worried about stopping them.’

  The buzzer signals the start of the game. The gym erupts.

  ‘Um, thanks, George,’ says Principal Franklin. ‘Much appreciated. So let me get this right. Don’t let Manning play, um, defensively?’

  ‘Offensively!’ I snap, as he steps away to join the team. Woah! This is going to be tough.

  The buzzer sounds again. The teams are ready to play.

  Everyone is stomping and cheering at the top of their lungs. The moment has arrived. Game on.

  CHAPTER

  17

  The Manning High fans roar. The Pennsbury High crowd is dead silent. First quarter is over.

  I look up at the scoreboard: Giants – 23, Pennsbury – 8.

  Just as I predicted – Manning High had charged in front. My teammates are shell-shocked.

  ‘Come on, pull it together!’ I shout.

  ‘They look shattered,’ says Henry. ‘Don’t be too hard on them, Georgie. They’ve been through a lot this week.’

  I nod to Henry, but deep down I know that we’re better than this.

  ‘Principal Franklin!’ I call out. ‘I mean, Tony!’

  Principal Franklin looks back at me.

  ‘Get Ryan and Charlie to drive the ball quicker. They need to step it up. Tell everyone to pick up the pace – and to take a shot when they can. They’re over-thinking it. Will’s been forced out of the game – get him and Bobby under the basket again.’

  Principal Franklin nods, but I’m not sure how much he understood. I watch him pass my message on to my teammates. I catch Bobby and Charlie looking up at me curiously.