The Legends (31 page)

“So now Charlie,” she said after catching her breath. “What do you think about that?”

Charlie looked at her friend seriously wondering whether she had seen anything at all, except the actual delivery of the ball into the net. Deciding probably not, she answered, “Actually Siobhán, the goal was well taken. Even more important, Chad seems to know where his meals are coming from so he was in the right place at the right time.”

Siobhán was satisfied, although confused by the answer, but rather than seeking clarification, she turned to Libby, and asked, “Tell me now Libby. Who is the legend now?”

Libby smiled pleasantly and replied without hesitating, “Brian is the legend!”

Of course the comment set all the girls laughing happily and even Siobhán had to join in. Kate looked over at her sister with genuine love and affection. For all Libby’s difficulties she could not have been blessed with a more perfect sister and, it occurred to Kate, that Libby was a lot more perceptive than any number of people seemed to think.

The match ended with St. Killians winning four goals to one. As they walked down from the stands, Charlie recognized that despite the score, the match was entirely one sided. St. Killians would unquestionably have scored several more times if Brian’s teammates had converted half the chances he presented to them on a golden platter. It would have been an absolute massacre if Brian had decided to put the ball in the net himself instead of relying on the boots of his teammates but in the end the scoreline would reflect once again, that the best player on the team had not scored a goal.

It frustrated Charlie to see that despite his incredible talent and the success of the team, her friend Brian had never scored. She knew, however, as did anyone else who understood the game that his lack of goals was entirely his own choice because, at the schoolboy level of competition, Brian could literally score at will.

As she watched Brian trot over to join the coach and his teammates at the center of the pitch, Charlie thought about this strange boy. Strange in a good way, she quickly corrected herself. He was undoubtedly the finest soccer player she had ever seen and yet, he had no ego when it came to personal accomplishment. Meanwhile several of the other players, particularly her brother Chad, basked in the glory of their meager efforts.

In fairness several of the older boys understood exactly what was going on. It didn’t seem to bother them at all that this junior high student was the heart and soul of the senior team. In fact the central defender John Thornton, who was about the biggest and strongest senior boy in the school, seemed to have adopted Brian and wouldn’t allow anyone to hassle or make fun of him. But then after the past few years, more than anyone else the older boys were probably enjoying the first success the school had ever experienced. In any case, there was no doubt that Brian was in total command on the pitch directing the play of his teammates, including boys five years older than he. And yet when he joined the gang he was totally shy and reserved, perfectly content to let the others lead while he seemed to enjoy just being in their company.

As Charlie headed in the direction of the school she glanced back and noticed that Kate had been looking at her. Charlie’s first reaction was to blush as she thought that Kate probably saw her staring at Brian. Trying to hide her discomfort, she smiled pleasantly and hooked arms with her friend. Kate smiled back and said, “He really is quite magical isn’t he?”

Somehow the comment seemed perfect so Charlie hugged Kate’s arm tighter and replied, “Yes, magical.”

Brian had spent the last hour running with Gráinne and he felt particularly good. As much as he enjoyed practicing and playing soccer as a member of St.Killians team, he still loved being on his own with his dog, the perfect feel of a hurley in his hands, running through the fields overlooking the Boyne without a care in the world. The problem with soccer was that Brian had practices and matches nearly every evening and he often felt that he was ignoring his great friend Gráinne. Brian missed his solo sessions with his dog, his hurley and a wet, well worn and very sloppy hurling ball.

Early in the school year it had been less of a problem because it was still light when he finished practice, although his mother never could quite understand how he would have enough energy to run with Gráinne after soccer practice. But as the days shortened, the early darkness meant that there was little time for such sessions except on weekends. Today was different because Coach McElhatton gave the squad a day off since the girls were playing a group match in their own league competition.

Brian had structured his outing so that it worked its way back to the school where he knew the girl’s match, although it might not draw the crowds that attended the boy’s matches, would be fun to watch. He tried not to miss any of the girl’s matches because they supported the boy’s side so it was only fair. And besides, he knew that most of his gang would be out cheering for their friend Charlie Pembroke.

As the pair approached the pitch, Brian and particularly Gráinne always attracted attention. By now the students and staff at St. Killians had become accustomed to seeing Brian in the company of his famous hound but the dog’s size still caused a stir. In addition to being very large, she was also so docile that no one hesitated to greet her and Gráinne gloried in the attention. The students, particularly the first years, had adopted Gráinne as sort of a mascot and she seldom missed a soccer match.

Remarkably, Gráinne seemed to know when St.Killians scored as she barked happily while everyone else cheered. One of his friends from the first year class had designated himself as the official Gráinne minder when Brian was playing actual matches. After the first few practices, Brian even felt comfortable enough to bring his dog to training sessions as well because he knew that she needed no minding. On his command Gráinne would sit by his gym bag and watch the action until the session was over.

“As if the boy isn’t famous enough,” Mr.Freeman the school’s principal remarked, “he has that massive hound to attract attention.”

Pauline Dwyer, the assistant principal replied, “I sincerely doubt that is intentional. The last thing Brian would do is to try to attract attention. Just not in his nature.”

“I suppose you are right,” Mr. Freeman conceded. “Still and all, if you gave him a sword instead of the hurley, and maybe young Pembroke’s long blond hair and a headband, he would look just like that sculpture of Cúchulainn and his dog.”

“I see what you mean,” Miss Dwyer agreed.

Oblivious to either the comments or attention his arrival with Gráinne might bring, Brian arrived at the pitch, hurley in hand, and wandered over to the stands several minutes after the match had begun. As soon as he approached the pitch he stopped and watched a bit of the play. Matching the success of the boy’s team, the under eighteen girl’s team was within a drawn match of advancing into the knock-out stages of the provincial competition and it was quickly clear that they would have little difficulty with the afternoon’s opponent.

Unlike the boy’s team, the senior girl’s team were mostly junior and senior players and there were plenty of girls competing at all levels. There was, however, one first year student playing on the senior team and that was Charlie Pembroke. Her selection to the senior team reflected her obvious skill on the pitch and not some need to fill a roster spot. Although she may not have had all of the ball control skills of the older players she was extremely quick and fast and speed was one thing that no amount of experience could bring or coaching could teach.

Charlie played on the left wing and when she made a move to the outside, everyone rose to their feet because they knew she would be running free in a flash. If she was closed off, her cross would undoubtedly be perfect for the onrushing strikers. If the central defenders did not move over she would be quickly in on the keeper and her strong left boot directed the ball to the back of the net on a number of occasions.

Brian knew that Coach Mac tried to convince Coach Rob Gunne, a former professional footballer who was in charge of the girl’s teams, that they should rock the boat a bit and see what would happen if Charlie played lift wing for the senior boy’s teams. Coach Mac insisted that she would be in no danger of injury on the wing and since she was quicker than anyone on his team except Brian, she would be a valuable addition. Coach Gunne was having none of it because Charlie was his leading scorer and the girl’s program, he insisted, was just as important as the boys; perhaps even more important because there were far more girls participating in the sport.

Brian watched as Charlie made one of her signature runs down the wing, crossing the ball at just the right moment but, unfortunately, Maria Mendoza missed judged her header and the ball passed harmlessly over the bar. While the ball was being retrieved and placed for the goal kick, Brian and Gráinne walked over to the stands where Kate, Libby, Siobhán, Maeve and Chad were sitting were sitting in their accustomed seats at the top, middle of the bleachers. The girls greeted Brian pleasantly and he smiled, returning their greetings.

Chad, apparently delighted to be the only boy among the group of girls looked over at him with a reluctant hello suggesting that he join them. Brian thought it bit funny that Chad should be the one to invite him to join his friends when he knew he needed no invitation but that was Chad. Besides, his classmate had been a little cold to him since Coach Mac decided that Chad would be better off actually playing with the under sixteens rather than sitting on the bench with the senior team.

Nevertheless, Brian thanked him for the invitation but explained the Gráinne was not too good on aluminum bleachers. He did climb onto the seat at the end of the third row while his wolfhound made herself comfortable in the grass below. Seeing him sitting alone, Libby came over and sat next to him, so closely in fact, that she nearly pushed him off the seat.

“How are we doing?” he asked.

Libby smiled happily, “Great Bri. Bri. Couldn’t be better.”

Brian looked at her and slowly replied, “Ah yes. That’s good. And how is the team doing.”

“We have two goals and the other team has none. Charlie made the first goal and Sheila Connolly made the second.” Libby replied.

“Already,” Brian said. “I thought I only missed a few minutes.”

Libby replied, “You did, but the girls are really good, aren’t they?”

Brian agreed and sat quietly concentrating on the match. A few moments later he became aware of the fact that Libby was staring at him curiously. He returned her look wondering what that was all about. It didn’t take long to find out.

“You like Charlie, don’t you Bri. Bri.”

“Of course I do,” Brian replied. “And I like Kate and you and Siobhán and Maeve and Chad as well. Why do you ask?”

“No reason at all,” Libby replied mysteriously. “When they said you liked Charlie, I told them the same thing you said so I was right, wasn’t I?”

Brian had become accustomed to conversations with Libby and he knew that she would occasionally say things that didn’t make a lot of sense to him. He suspected, however, that he knew what the girls meant by “like” but he didn’t want to upset Libby by explaining the matter to her so he agreed that she was correct.

As they sat in companionably silence watching the match, Brian though about what Libby had said. If the truth were known, he was probably as confused as Libby. He really did like Charlie in a special way because like him, she loved soccer, and she was so much fun to be around. But he also liked Kate in a special way because she was so smart and seemed to look after everyone in the gang, especially Libby. For that matter he liked Maeve because she was always trying to stir up trouble, Siobhán because she was very pretty and funny, and Libby because she was always happy and had a lovely smile.

He enjoyed the company of all of his friends even though when he was with them he still mostly stood around listening and laughing at their comments. In the end, he saw no reason to pick one over the others, if that is what the girls thought “liking” required, because they were all his friends and the last thing he wanted was to lose any of them. Some of his other classmates had boyfriends or girlfriends and were seen as a couple but he couldn’t see any reason for that when, for the first time in his life, he had lots of friends and could not have been happier.

A few minutes later, Charlie scored again. Well really she was crossing the ball and everyone went after it but for some reason nobody touched it and the ball hit the ground and the back post after which it bounced into the goal. Charlie looked over at the bench and the stands with a big smile on her face and raised her two hands in the air as if she was saying that she didn’t have a clue how that happened. Everyone on the sidelines laughed and clapped but no one louder than Libby.

When the restart got the game going again, Libby asked, “Brian, when I start playing soccer will you come out and cheer for me?”

Brian looked at his friend with a puzzled expression and said, “Of course, Libby. Are you going to play soccer?”

“Yes,” she replied, “and I’m going to be in the Olympics.”

“That’s great,” Brian said with a smile. “And when did you decide all this.”

“Well,” Libby began dramatically. “Last night my Daddy and I were watching the television and there was a show about Special Olympics and you’ll never guess, they were playing soccer. So I said I would love to play soccer like you and Charlie and Daddy went, ‘so why don’t you give it a go.’ I thought that was the silliest thing Daddy ever said because I am a bit fat and I can hardly run never mind kicking the ball around so, of course, I laughed. But …. Daddy wasn’t laughing; he was serious so after a while I stopped laughing too.”

Libby paused and watched the match for a while but by now, Brian was curious so he prompted, “And, Libby, and…. What did he say?”

“Well,” she began again launching back into her story. “He asked me if I really wanted to play soccer and I went that I would love to play more than anything in the world and so he asked if I was willing to work really, really hard to get a chance to play and I went I thought so, so he went then if that is what I wanted there is no reason why I shouldn’t play. Well…” she continued dramatically, “that sounded all well and good but I said how? And he went that first I would have to go into training like all good athletes so now, every evening after supper, he and I go for a long walk and sometimes we even jog as well. He said when I am in shape he will sign me up for soccer and if I work really hard, I will be in the Special Olympics. Can you believe it, me in the Olympics?”