Azura's POV
"Our penultimate piece of buisness." Cairo says as covered mannequins are wheeled into the living room of the biggest Airbnb the national team is renting here in Nashville.
We're Nashville ahead of our second SheBelieves match which is against Norway.
"No pictures allowed, but here are our world cup jerseys." Cairo says then the covers on the mannequins are taken off which reveals our world cup jerseys
The first one is our home jersey.
The second is our away jersey.
These are so much better than the mens teams shitty jerseys for the 2022 World Cup.
"Where are the stars above the crest?" Emma asks causing the designers to let out a deep breath then smile.
"The place where these were made ran out of the thread we choose so they're bulk ordering more and it'll be all good by the World Cup." One of the designers says.
"Was that a point of contention?" Alex asks.
"We thought you all would be pissed." The designer says.
"You explained so we're good." Kelley says.
"What color will our shorts be?" Sofia asks.
"The same blue as the away kit." One of the Nike people say. "The home kits shorts will be solid and the away kit will have stars on them as well."
"The socks for the home kit and away kit are the same blue as the away jersey." A different Nike lady says.
"What about the availability to the world?" Talia asks. "Like can you keep up with demand this time?"
"Absolutely." The designers say.
"We'll see." Talia says.
"How long will these be our jerseys?" I ask.
"For the 2023 World Cup and the Paris Olympics." One of the designers says. "We're gonna get you all new designs every two years.
"It's good for sustainability." A different designer says.
"When will we start wearing these?" Lindsey asks.
"At the April Camp some of you will take pictures in them to drum up attention with the public then you'll start wearing them in the three may friendlies before the World Cup." Cairo says.
"Sweet." Emma says then the jerseys are rolled away.
"And finally we need to discuss the inter-squad friendly in April." Cairo says.
Finally.
I don't have to keep this stuff a secret anymore
"46 players will be called up for the April window, but only 23 will be in the squad against Sweden then an additional group will be called up for the inter-squad friendly." Cairo says. "And like I said it is a glorified try out for the World Cup squad so if you half ass it then you probably won't be going to South Africa."
It'll be cool to have the World Cup in South Africa.
"Once we're all in Cincinnati, we'll do a draft for who goes on what team." Cairo says.
"What'll the teams be?" Rose asks.
"We're turning it into a charity match so the match will be Team Martin v Team Nwigwe." Cairo says then everyone looks at my twin and I.
"The match will benefit my charity, the Nwigwe Foundation, which is a childhood leukemia research and awareness foundation." I say.
"And it'll benefit my charity, the Sofia Foundation, which is a teenage breast cancer research and awareness foundation." Talia says.
"And there will be a charity auction so if you could bring some things to that camp if you get called up then that'd be great." Cairo says.
Everyone nods then Cairo looks at her watch
"The bus'll be here in 10 minutes so go change then meet outside." Cairo says.
"Come on Munchkin." I say as I pick up Kehlani. "Let's go change."
- - - - -
"What's that?" Adelaide asks as she looks at some pictures Athena sent me.
"The groups for Athena's Softball tournament in a week or so." I say as we make our to the area of Nashville we're gonna be working in today.
Part of Nashville got hit by a tornado at the end of January so we're gonna go to the area affected and see what we can do to help.
I didn't even know there were Tornadoes in January.
"Do we have a game that weekend?" My wife asks.
"A home game against North Carolina so hopefully we'll be able to go to most of the games." I say.
"Yay." My wife says.
"Hey Azura?" Catarina asks causing me to look up towards the Brazilian born woman.
"Yes?" I say.
"I mean no disrespect and I'm really just curious, but how come you don't have a Māori tattoo tribal design?"
"Because I am only a kiwi through adoption so I don't feel like it's appropriate for me to get a Māori tribal tattoo." I say. "I believe the tattoo is called a Tā moko by the way."
"Oh." Catarina says.
"Azura where do you train in Kenya?" Sam asks.
I'm wearing one of the Kenya running tops I was given by some of my Kenyan running friends.
"Kaptagat, Kenya." I say. "It's 5 and half hours north west of Nairobi."
"Is that where all the Kenyan's train?" Crystal asks.
"The elite ones do." I say.
"Why do you think it helps?" Sam asks.
"It's 8200 feet above which, given the lack of oxygen, helps athletes produce a higher concentration of red blood cells and hemoglobin when training." I say. "This, in turn, gives the runners an advantage when they return to lower altitudes to race."
"Oh." Sam says.
"Um there's a good article by World Athletics called What it takes to become a Kenyan distance champion." I say. "It pretty much tells you what it's like."
"Sweet."
"Azura do your testosterone levels get checked every time you race?" Ashley Sanchez asks.
The Saturday before we met up for SheBelieves camp, I ran in and won the Miami Marathon for the second straight year so this isn't a random question.
"Mine get checked every three months." I say. "It's supposed to be six months, but I'm not giving any of my competitors ammunition to say I don't deserve what I've won."
"Same." The other intersex ladies on the team say.
"And you're all within the testosterone limit?" Rose asks.
"Yep." Myself, Tobin, Christen, Emma, Cairo, and Talia say in unison.
"How do they test?" Lynn asks.
"Blood." I say. "I just add it on to the bloodwork I get done for my cancer doctor."
"Oh." Lynn says as we pull up to the area affected by the tornado.
"Geez." Someone says as we stop.
Once the bus stops, all of us get off the bus then we grab our tools from the cargo bay below the bus.
"FUCK." I hear a lady shout behind me so I turn around and see a lady with an obviously blown tire.
I also see her jack just broke.
"Hey some of you come help me." I say as I walk towards the lady.
"Alright." Cairo says then she, Emma, Astrid, Talia, Tobin, and Jucinara follow me.
"Ma'am do you need some help?" I ask.
"Well unless you have a jack I'm fucked." The lady says.
"I do." I say as I squat next to the busted tire where the spare tire and the wrench thing is. "Lift on three."
Cairo, Emma, Astrid, Talia, Tobin, and Jucinara nod then they squat down and grab the car
"3...2...1." I say then Cairo, Emma, Astrid, Talia, Tobin, and Jucinara lift the car.
Once the back end of the car is lifted, I unscrew the bolts for the tire that's flat, take the bad tire off, put the spare tire on, then I screw in the bolts for the new tire.
"Set it down." I say then Cairo, Emma, Astrid, Talia, Tobin, and Jucinara set the car down.
Once the car is down, I tighten the bolts then I put the bad tire and wrench thingy in the back of the car.
The lady then quickly gets in her car and drives away.
"YOU'RE WELCOME." Myself, Cairo, Emma, Astrid, Talia, Tobin, and Jucinara shout.
"Cunt." Tobin says.
"Mhmm." Astrid."
"Fuck her." I say.
"Come on you six." Cairo says. "Let's go see how we can help."