Am I the only one who's awfully worried by the dawning Olympics? I sense another awkward moment coming on.
I loved this installment! These are my favorite bits not previously covered:
Toggy was moving around the players, saying a few words of consolation. He came up to Clark. "Good game, Rubber," he said. "When're ye going home, lad?"
"September," Clark replied.
"Ye're coming back next year?"
"No."
"Pity," Toggy said. "Ye've a kick on ye like a mule." He patted Clark's shoulder. "Good game, lad."
Toggy was brilliant, you handled his accent very well. I could absolutely hear him in my head.
"Gazza," Clark said. "Thanks for coming to help when I had four of them on me."
Gazza looked surprised. "You didn't think we'd just stand there and watch, did you?"
"I ... don't know ... I didn't think ..."
"You gotta fly the flag," Gazza said. "The opposition have to know that if they take on one of us, they take on all of us."
Across the room, Clark saw a doctor leaning over Bluey. Clark stood and went over, feeling sick. "Ah, Bluey," he said, watching as the doctor tied the second stitch.
Bluey smiled and was sharply told to stay still. Clark watched as the doctor added a third stitch.
"Keep it clean," the doctor instructed when he'd finished.
Bluey nodded and touched his fingers to his forehead.
"Bluey ... thanks," Clark said when the doctor had walked away. "I'm sorry you got hurt helping me."
"Couldn't stand by and do nothing," Bluey said simply.
"Well, thanks ... mate."
Bluey stood and gestured to his eye. "Do you reckon it looks dashing?" he said.
"Definitely," Clark said.
"Do you reckon it'll make me a hit with the ladies?"
"I hope so."
They shared a grin, and Bluey limped away.
You made me want Gazza and Bluey as my mates too. I love their circumspect reactions to their injuries. Just another day in the life of a football journy...
Lois responded with a slight smile and a quick glance. "I was very relieved when it became clear that you weren't hurt," she said. Then, almost as an afterthought, she added, "I've seen plenty of bumps in footy, but none of them made me feel as crook as yours did."
I love the language, it's really charming.
