The Smiths – The Boy with the Thorn in his Side
Sunday mornings were always the worst for Maddie waking up, most of the time she just wanted to lie in but she had to get up and play a football match. This Sunday she felt even more tired than usual, her parents had questioned her even more last night after they’d finished their pizza. She was surprised they hadn’t broken out the investigation room lamp and shone it in her face.
The inquisition had ended as soon as she’d told them about her punch and they’d been disappointed in her. Thankful that the barrage of questions was over she’d gone up to bed earlier and consequently got very little sleep. Everything that had happened with Jasper and Ali and Teddy was on constant replay in her head.
She got up, showered and dressed in her football kit; red shirt, white shorts and red socks. Then she threw together a bag with a change of clothes, her boots, her shin pads and some toiletries, before heading downstairs. When she got into the hall she could hear whistling coming from the kitchen, her dad always got excited on match days and today he was replicating the theme tune from Match of the Day.
Maddie walked into the large kitchen, dropped her bag to the floor with a dull thud and slumped against the island in the middle of the room. The smell of bacon and eggs hit her immediately, waking her up instantly and making her mouth salivate. It had become a tradition that her dad would cook her breakfast and then come and watch her play.
“Good morning M & M, ready for your match?” He began to plate up huge servings of bacon, scrambled eggs and toast. Steaming cups of tea and coffee were already waiting at the table, as was her sister Kate eating a slice of toast.
“Yeah, I’m a bit tired but I think I’ll be able to run it off. The food smells great dad.” Maddie picked up one of the plates and sat down at the table opposite her sister. “What are you doing up so early? I don’t normally see you until I get back.” She shovelled some of the eggs into her mouth and sighed contentedly as they melted on her tongue. Her dad wasn’t the best cook in the world, but he knew how to make good scrambled eggs.
“I’m coming to watch you play, I haven’t been since I was little. Besides all of my friends are away or busy so I had nothing better to do really.” She smirked and tilted her head to the side playfully, before picking up her glass of orange juice. “I think mum wants the house to herself to get some cleaning done too.” Maddie was grateful she was playing football that morning, the thought of having to help her mum clean the house sent shivers up her spine.
All three of them sat in a comfortable silence as they finished their breakfasts, the only noises were the sound of furniture being moved and the hoover being switched on upstairs. They put their dishes in the dishwasher and picked up all their belongings. Maddie shoved her kit bag on the back seat and got in next to it, while Kate hobbled to the passenger seat.
Maddie went straight into the locker room when they arrived at the ground, her dad wished her good luck and then she was off for the pre-match team talk. She’d played for Stoke Newington Ladies football club since she was three years old, working her way through the age groups and now she was playing on the adult’s team. Ali also played for the team and the two of them had progressed together, she was the vice-captain and star striker.
“Hey Maddie!” Gemma, the team captain called as Maddie entered the changing room. Gemma owned and ran a bakery in Camden Town and was one of the first choice centre backs for the team. She’d been captain for the last couple of years since the last one moved away from London. Maddie carried her bag over to her place on the benches, she sat down under the big number seven that belonged to her. When she and Ali had moved up to the senior team they had gotten the chance to choose their numbers, she’d gone for seven as it was worn by some of her favourite players; Robert Pires, Tomas Rosicky and David Beckham.
While she sat down and put her shin pads on, the rest of the girls came in and got ready for the match. Gemma and the coach Michael gave a quick tactical talk about the other team and how they were going to approach the game. They were on their way out when she realised Ali hadn’t shown up yet, she walked over to Gemma just as they got to the doorway. “Hey, have you heard from Ali this morning?”
Gemma stopped and looked at Maddie. “Yes, she called about an hour ago to say she wasn’t feeling well. You two went to a party on Friday night didn’t you? I bet it’s got something to do with that.” Gemma smiled a knowing smile and walked through the door, Maddie followed thinking back to the phone conversation she’d had yesterday with Ali.
As she walked out onto the pitch the fans began to chant for her team, they were at home today so most of the support would be for them. Maddie jogged towards the left half of the field and joined the team in their usual team huddle. She stood between Gemma and the team’s keeper Becky, their arms interlocked over their shoulders waiting for Gemma’s instructions.
“Okay girls, remember what Michael said we hit them on the counter attack when we can, we’ve got pace to burn and their defenders are well past it. Plus if we win we go top of the league. Alright on three; one, two, three . . .”
“Stoke Newington!” All the girls put their hands into the middle of the circle and raised them as they shouted, before running to their positions for kick-off. Maddie stood at the edge of the centre circle waiting for her striker team mates to get the game started, she was the attacking midfielder at the top of the diamond so was the link from midfield to attack. The referee blew his whistle and the match began.
The team won 3-1 in the end with Maddie grabbing the last goal in the 90th and final minute with a twenty yard belter. The team had completely embraced her as they’d celebrated and now she found herself lying on the cold, wet ground as the final whistle rang. Everybody moved off the top of her, their screaming and cheering having died down; she managed to sit upright as her dad and sister walked towards her smiling.
“That was an unbelievable game! Your goal was amazing sis.” Kate was a couple of feet behind their father, still struggling on her saw ankle. She wasn’t usually the biggest fan of football so any compliment coming from her was great. Her dad held out his hand to help her up, she grabbed it and he pulled her into a massive bear hug like he hadn’t done since she was about seven years old.
“She’s right Mads, I think that’s the best goals I’ve seen you score. You had a blinding game today.” He let her go and her feet touched the ground again, she smiled at the both of them as she saw the mud that had transferred from her shirt to her dad’s. “You need to work on your celebration though. I think you should practice Charlie George’s FA cup one, you know you slide on your bum and then lie on your back with your arms in the air.” For one moment she thought her dad was actually going get down on the floor and replicate the movement, however he didn’t.
“Thanks you two. I can’t believe we’re top of the league now, a bit sad Ali couldn’t make it though.” Maddie furrowed her brow, as the three of them began to walk towards the changing room and car park.
“I wondered where she was.” She slowed to Kate’s pace as she heard her sister speaking.
“Gemma said she called her just before the match to say she wasn’t feeling well. To be honest I think she’s hiding after what happened on Friday night.”
“I can’t believe Jasper dumped her in front of everyone, it must have been so embarrassing. He probably deserved to be knocked out.” Kate laughed as they reached the edge of the pitch.
“Yeah, maybe but Jasper said that Nathan told Ali that he was going to dump her so he was forced to do it there and then. I don’t think he really wanted to but he had no choice. I’ll see you in a few minutes.” Maddie peeled off from the other two and headed into the changing room where she found the rest of the girls chatting about the match. She sat on the bench under her number, pushing her boots and peeling her muddy socks down to her ankles.
“Maddie you coming to the pub now? We’re going to celebrate going top.” Gemma came and sat next to her on the bench, she had changed from her football kit into some jeans and a purple blouse. Pulling a brush through her hair, she looked at Maddie.
“I can’t sorry, my dad and sister are waiting for me; then I’ve got a history essay to finish when I get home.” Maddie stood and grabbed the towel and shower gel she’d packed into her bag earlier.
“Lucky you! I’m so glad I’ve finished with school and all that homework, I don’t miss it one bit. If you change your mind we’ll be in The Red Lion.” She got up and walked back to her stuff as Maddie headed towards the showers. When all the mud had left her body she got dressed in her jeans and sweatshirt and went back outside with Becky. Both their families were chatting to each other, Maddie’s dad to Becky’s husband.
“Mummy!” A small toddler ran up to Becky, she scooped him up and threw him into the air before catching him.
“Hey little man! How are you?” She hugged her son Jay close to her chest and smiled as they walked over to the other group.
“I can’t believe how big jay is now. It seems like only yesterday he was this tiny little bundle of skin.” Maddie prodded the child on the nose and smiled as he burst out into a little bubbling laugh. She continued to tweak his ears and fingers as they stopped at the group of people.
“I know, we’re having to buy him new clothes every six weeks or so, he’s growing so fast.”
“He’ll be in school before you know it!” Maddie chuckled at the look of horror on Becky’s face and walked over to stand next to her sister.
“Don’t say that, I don’t want to let go of him just yet.” They said their goodbyes and headed to their respective cars. It took less than ten minutes to get home, her dad was scrutinising every detail of the match on the way. She had taken away his video camera a couple of years ago when he’d taken to filming matches and then re-watching them when they got home and making notes on every player. She couldn’t take it any more so she gave the ultimatum of leaving the camera at home or banning him from coming to watch.
Maddie’s mum was in the kitchen slicing up a roast chicken when they got back, the smell of meat, vegetables and roast potatoes filled the house and all them couldn’t wait to start eating. The table was set and all that was left to do was plate up. Maddie dropped off her bag in the hall, collecting her kit for washing on the way back to the kitchen and depositing it on the washing machine in the utility room.
“So how was the match?” Her mother asked as she joined the three of them at the dining table. There was plate in front of her piled up with potatoes and vegetables, the chicken had a plate to itself in the centre of the table alongside a large, steaming gravy boat.
“Great, thanks mum. We won 3-1 and I scored the last goal.” Maddie picked up the meat fork and stabbed a couple of pieces of soft white meat, she picked up the remaining leg and put it on her plate, knowing nobody would want it. She enjoyed the meal and sat back stuffed when her plate was finally empty.
“I’ve put my kit on the washing machine, mum.” She stood to go and sit in front of the television for the afternoon letting her food go down. Her dad had taken Teddy for a walk and Kate was on her mobile to one of her friends who had gone to Brighton for the weekend.
“Good, I’ve ironed your clean clothes and laid them on your bed, there was a black jacket in it that I’ve never seen before so I’ve left that on top.” Maddie stopped and turned towards her mother confused, then it dawned on her that she still had Jasper’s jacket from yesterday, she probably ought to return it.
“Yeah, I borrowed it from a friend I’ll take it back now, they only live a few minutes away.” She rushed upstairs before her mother could ask her anything more about it and saw the jacket lying on her double bed. Picking it up, she checked her mobile for any texts from Ali; she sent her a message asking how she was when the football match had finished but there was no reply. Pounding down the stairs she pulled the door to behind her and walked around the wall to Jasper’s house next door.
Jasper answered after the first knock and stopped frozen with the door half open as he saw her standing on his doorstep. She was suddenly struck with the fact that it was exactly the same position they had been in last night only on opposite sides of the door. “Hi, I’ve brought your jacket back from yesterday. I washed it because it got a bit damp from my clothes.” She smiled and held the jacket up for him to see so he knew she wasn’t crazy.
“Come in if you want there’s no one else here.” He stood back, allowing her access to his home. She hadn’t been in his house since his ninth birthday party when everyone in their year at primary school had been invited to a fancy dree party; she’d gone as a monkey, while he’d been a cowboy – Toy Story was huge at the time. “I’d forgotten about the jacket actually. In here.”
Jasper went through the first door on the left of the hallway, Maddie found herself in the living; the television was showing an episode of ‘Friends’ and there was a notebook and open history textbook on the coffee table. “Where are the rest of your family?” Maddie perched on the end of the brown patterned sofa as Jasper took the seat next to her and turned the volume down on the television.
“My parents have taken Lucy to my aunt’s in Brighton to see her new baby.” That must have been who Kate was on the phone to earlier.
“Kate’s on the phone to her now I think. Why didn’t you go?” She turned towards him, her attention getting distracted by the television every few seconds.
“History essay.” He shrugged and gestured towards the papers on the table, she nodded knowing exactly how he felt. “Do you want a drink or anything?” He asked awkwardly. She thought back to last night and thought of the awkwardness there had been then, maybe a joke would lighten the mood.
“Actually I could be tempted by a slice of pizza!” She raised her eyebrows and bit her lip smiling at him. He closed his eyes, sighed and shook his head before smiling tiredly at her.
“Fine, make all the jokes you want, I’ve heard them all before.”
“I didn’t know you were a pizza delivery boy, I was shocked when you were standing on my doorstep last night. When did you start working for Luigi’s?” Maddie slipped her shoes of and crossed her legs beneath her on the sofa. She turned to look at him, shifting one of the cushions so she could get comfortable.
“Just over two years ago, I worked in the kitchen until I got my moped license, then Luigi let me go out on deliveries. I got the job when my mum got made redundant, we were struggling on just my dad’s money so I decided I needed to do something to help out you know.” He shrugged his shoulders and smiled at her. “It’s all fine now, mum’s shop is really taking off but I kind of like having that little bit of extra money.”
She stared at him surprised at how he was opening up to her, instinctively she reached out and took his hand in hers. She traced patterns on his upward-facing palm as it lay in her lap. “I didn’t know things were that bad for you, I know your dad was working longer hours for a while but I didn’t realise how much you were struggling. You could have talked to me you know.”
She glanced up from his hand and stared into his eyes, her heart began to beat a little faster as she noticed the green specks within his blue irises again. “I realise we’re not exactly friends, but if you need anyone to talk to I’m just next door.” Jasper returned her smile and blinked slowly. He leaned slightly towards her and her pulse began to hammer in her chest, she felt a sudden tunnel effect occurring. Only she and Jasper mattered, there was nothing else going on around them and nothing else in the world mattered.
“I don’t think Ali would be pleased about that if she found out, would she?” His response was whispered as he leaned closer still, she felt her own body drifting slowly towards him. Her breathing became faster and shallower as she continued to stare into his eyes. They seemed to soften as he looked at her, his lips parted slightly and all she could do was lean closer towards him.
Blurred Lines starting playing out of nowhere making the two of jump, they went from being only inches apart to being sat bolt upright at opposite ends of the sofa. Both were slightly out of breath and Maddie’s heart was racing faster than ever and she felt like she’d just run a marathon. Jasper searched the coffee table in front of them and picked up his iPhone, answering the call quickly.
“Hi mum . . . okay see you in about an hour.” He clicked his phone off again and the two of them sat in an awkward silence staring at the wall opposite. Maddie’s heart rate and breathing returned to its normal pace and she cautioned a sideways glance at Jasper. He was doing exactly the same thing at exactly the same, they caught each other’s eyes and quickly looked away.
“I can’t believe you have Blurred Lines as your ringtone. I, uh, I better get home my mum will be wondering where I am.” She leant down and slipped her converse back on her feet and stood up. She walked quickly into the hall, Jasper followed her slowly and watched as she paused at the front door. “Maybe I’ll see you at school tomorrow.” She opened the door and slipped out, pulling the door closed lightly behind her and sighed deeply. What just happened?