Chris, Brett and Nick had been sitting side by side to watch Greg play. Nick had pulled his chair up after the first quarter because he wanted someone to talk to about how Greg was playing. (The other parents were focused on their own kids and didn’t want a running commentary on his.)
Chris was a lot more relaxed about Greg than she’d been a few weeks back. Her antennae were down, but not completely. Whatever had been bothering him — and she knew the boots were part of it — had lessened. But it hadn’t gone away. He could still get really keyed up … but maybe that was part of the way he was. Even as a little kid he’d never done things by halves. He could get so full of energy sometimes she’d expected him to crackle. With football, it was like he found some focus for this energy — some way of using it. After a game he’d be happy, but still slightly keyed — like he really did think what he hinted at sometimes. That it was the boots that were making him play well.
Nick was as pleased as anything. He liked watching the kids play and got a huge kick out of how well Greg was doing. When he went up for one of those high marks, Nick couldn’t help thinking ‘That’s my boy’. He’d been a really keen player himself as a kid and had played reserves for South Fremantle for a couple of seasons. He’d come close to getting a league game once when there were a couple of players out with injuries, but he hadn’t got the nod.
When Greg took the screamer just before the siren, they all stood up. People were pushing forward, and kids sitting in front were getting to their feet. When the ball sailed through the goals, a huge cheer went up.
‘Well,’ Nick said, ‘I don’t like to admit it but he didn’t get it from me.’
‘Well, I don’t think he got it from me,’ Chris replied.
‘Well,’ Brett said, ‘he certainly didn’t get it from me.’
They looked at one another. Nick laughed first, then Chris and Brett joined in.
When Greg came over after Toggo had driven off, they were still together. Greg didn’t believe it. His father and the Banana Smoothie were actually talking and joking together.
Nick took off almost as soon as he’d made connection with Greg. He wanted to see Rowan’s match as well. The others followed a while later. The under fifteens were so stoked no one seemed to want to leave the ground.
On the way to Rowan’s game Greg was very quiet. He felt good but it was like he was in overload. He needed some time in his own head to get himself back. Chris seemed to understand and she and Brett were quiet too. And, amazingly, there wasn’t a peep out of Ashley. She’d worn herself out running around, and nodded off in her chair as soon as they strapped her in.