I knew Mr Archie had an idea that camps were supposed to be a time when boys bonded, got to know each other, built campfires, held hands, sang songs and became best friends.
The man had been watching too many cheesy kids’ movies.
On that first day, we arrived late enough that we didn’t get a chance to have breakfast. The pink-and-black jerseys and shorts that waited on our beds were just icing on the cake. Mr Archie shouted like a drill sergeant until we all put on the ugly new kit and left our cabin. Matt felt better since he’d gotten off Beth’s death-bus, but he was jumpy about going near Ibby after Ibby had repeatedly threatened him during the vomit episode. The other boys at camp whistled at our hot-pink uniforms.
As well as a colour-coded uniform, each team was assigned their own camp instructor. The F Team’s instructor was Captain Black, whose biceps burst out of his shirt and whose calves looked like they had swallowed watermelons. He was an American ex-Navy SEAL, and liked to be referred to as Captain Black as though he was some sort of superhero. Mr Archie sat back as we were put through test after test until our muscles ached and our bodies almost gave up. It wasn’t that I was unfit, but I’d never had to swing on ropes, roll in the mud or run fifty laps around a field like I was training for a war. Captain Black blew his whistle and yelled in our faces when we complained of exhaustion. Mr Archie kept notes on a clipboard and was going to decide at the end of camp which position we would be playing in the team based on our attitude and performance.
As it turned out, Aaron also wanted the halfback and captain position.
Over my dead body.
‘He’s good, bro,’ Huss and Ibby kept telling me in Arabic. ‘And he’s a little dodgy, too. He keeps close to Archie like he’s trying to score extra points to be captain.’
So not only did I have to survive Captain Black’s drills, but I had to keep a close eye on Aaron and make sure he didn’t claim my spot on the team while my back was turned.
‘I don’t think they really know how to play,’ PJ said to me again, trying to tame his afro in a top knot. ‘Like, look at that Riley kid – he uses a puffer.’
‘Yeah, so?’ Ibby asked. ‘I use one too if I need to breathe better.’
I could see what was weirding PJ out, though. Even though Matt, Lee and Riley were on their school footy team and knew the game well, there was something missing in their style of play. If a play went wrong, they’d just pat each other on the back and say things like ‘Good try’. On the other hand, we wanted blood if things went wrong, especially PJ, who had been told a million times to ‘Calm down and stop choking Huss.’
‘Use your anger to drive you forwards, not backwards,’ Captain Black yelled. ‘Right now, I’m seeing a bunch of guys who look more like a circus than a football team. Remember, you have this week to show me that you can stick together no matter what comes your way.’
Huss rolled his eyes. ‘Does he know we’re only playing along so we don’t get expelled?’
‘Wallah that Captain Black guy is doing my head in,’ Ibby said, trying to catch his breath. ‘I thought I was going to chill at camp. Khara, I’d rather be back at school eating manoush.’
‘Let’s just get through this week and cruise when we get back to school,’ I said, watching the other teams train. Their sessions looked more relaxing than ours. None of their instructors were yelling or throwing balls at their heads.
Aaron was still mostly keeping to himself, but whenever we’d pass each other on the field, he kept accidentally shoulder-checking me.
Anger management strategy no. 4: Respond when you’re calm.
Enough was enough. It was time to have a little chat.
‘Ey, watch it, yeah?’ I said as I stopped the ball with my foot. Mr Archie was on the other side of the field. ‘I know what you’re trying to do and if your shoulder touches me again, I’ll drop you.’
He sneered at me and kicked my foot away. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about. And I’d like to see you try to drop me.’
Huss, Ibby and PJ stood behind Aaron, covering me from Mr Archie’s view.
‘You know it’s not worth it, right?’ Lee broke in as he fixed his shorts. ‘Like, what’s going to happen? You two punch each other and feel all macho for a minute, but then you both lose the chance to be captain.’ He then grinned and widened his eyes like a serial killer. ‘Actually, you should punch each other. Then I’ll swoop in and become captain.’ He picked up the football and walked off.
Aaron and I were so close that I could feel his breath on my face. My fists were clenched and I wanted more than anything to dropkick his head over the posts.
‘Archie’s watching,’ PJ warned, pretending to stretch. ‘Another time, Tariq.’
‘Lads!’ we heard Mr Archie yell. ‘What’s taking so long?’
Aaron shook his head and pushed through us. Riley and Matt followed, trying to talk to him, but he brushed them off and jogged towards Mr Archie.
‘Man, Nintendo is weird,’ PJ said. ‘But he was right, you know. Get that captain badge and show that jahash the Tariq that smashed the finals last year.’
‘We’ll get him another time,’ Huss promised. ‘Play it low.’
Dad’s words echoed in my mind. You smart but dumb. Now was not the time to give into my anger, but to play smart and stay controlled. Aaron was just trying to get a rise out of me so he could steal the captaincy.
The weather was warming up and Captain Black announced our next activity: hiking.
‘Nah, I’m not doing that,’ Ibby said, shaking his head. ‘I don’t do heights and mountains and walking up things. I have a medical certificate, sir.’ He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and waved it around. ‘See? It’s right here.’ It was obviously from one of the dodgy Lakemba doctors we all went to if we needed to miss a test or an excuse not to go to class.
Before Ibby could blink, Captain Black snatched the certificate and tore it to pieces.
‘Did you see any certificate?’ he asked Mr Archie as the pieces flew away. ‘I know I didn’t.’
Ibby’s clutched his chest, gobsmacked. ‘Um, because you ripped it?!’
‘Don’t know what you’re talking about,’ Captain Black said, and walked off as though nothing had happened.
We all laughed – except for Aaron. His face stayed stony cold and still.
We trekked up the steep track, using long sticks to keep our balance. The ground was bumpy and uneven. PJ lost his temper, kicking rocks and bits of wood.
‘Take control of your anger,’ Captain Black advised. ‘Tell your body that you’re walking along the beach. C’mon guys, this is a cakewalk.’
‘Something’s wrong with him,’ Ibby puffed, leaning against a tree. ‘I’m serious. He needs to get his head checked.’
‘Just breathe, mate,’ Matt said, putting his hand up for a high five. ‘You can do this.’
‘Piss off, man.’ Ibby brushed his hand away. ‘If you try to high five me again, I’m going to launch you over the mountain.’
‘I wanna go back down,’ PJ complained. ‘There’s no point to this. How’s it going to help our footy skills?’
‘It’s spending time with your team so you can get to know one another before you start your big games,’ Mr Archie replied. ‘We still have lots to do, and we don’t want to be the only team that fails the program.’
It seemed like we were never going to get to the top of the track. The mountain just got steeper. Huss started muttering about some plans to get Aaron out of the way.
‘I’ll push him off the mountain when no one’s looking. Who’s going to know?’
‘Literally everyone here,’ I answered. ‘Look, I don’t want to waste too much attention on him. I’ll get it done my way.’
Huss nodded but didn’t say anything.
We finally reached the top of the track as Captain Black and Mr Archie lectured us about ‘team effort’ and what we needed to do to make this team successful.
‘And would you look at that view, lads,’ Mr Archie exclaimed, like we gave a damn about some trees and the river below while our feet throbbed. He took a few photos to use for our school image upgrade. Too bad most of them had our middle fingers raised.
Captain Black unpacked his bag and placed some helmets and rope on the ground. He picked up a harness. ‘Okay, I need a volunteer.’
Mr Archie looked at me and Aaron. ‘Remember, to be captain of this team you’ll need to make sure the lads stick together no matter what.’
‘A volunteer for what?’ Huss asked wiping the sweat from his beard. ‘Aren’t we walking back down?’
‘Yes,’ Captain Black said, smiling. ‘We’re walking down the mountain.’ He gestured to the rock face that dropped away from the track.
Ibby stood up and clung to Mr Archie. ‘I can’t, sir! I can’t! Wallah I’ll die! Please don’t make me do this!’
Captain Black spread out the equipment, unfazed. ‘The only way you could convince me to exempt you is if you had a doctor’s certificate. Then I’d be obliged to listen.’
Mr Archie laughed quietly to himself as Ibby spluttered and Captain Black walked over to Riley to give him a helmet. ‘You’ve been pretty quiet. You can go first. Take off the beanie and put this on.’
Riley also seemed hesitant to go. ‘Can’t I just leave my beanie on?’ ‘Can’t wear a helmet over a beanie,’ Captain Black replied. ‘No grip. Anyway, it’s too hot. I don’t want you overheating with your beanie on.’
We all watched as Riley was strapped into a harness. I noticed that his hands and knees were trembling even though he never mentioned any fear of heights. He turned his back to us as Captain Black gave him the helmet, and then he took off his beanie.
Oh. My. God.
His hair was as white as snow, like an old man. I’d never seen a kid my age lose the colour from his hair.
‘Is he sick?’ Ibby whispered.
‘He was born like that,’ Matt answered. ‘That’s why he wears the beanie.’
Now I understood why Riley had turned his back – he didn’t want to see our reactions.
‘So, you have white hair?’ Captain Black said, unbothered. ‘You should embrace and celebrate your differences. It’s what makes you unique.’
I clicked my fingers in Ibby’s face until he stopped staring. ‘I think you look cool without the beanie,’ Lee said. ‘I told you, you could be in an X-Men movie.’
‘Okay, okay,’ Mr Archie said, giving us a look to change the subject. ‘Let’s just do this and head back so we can have a bite to eat, lads.’
One by one, everyone had their turn to abseil down the mountain, until it was just Ibby and me left. I spent twenty minutes trying to convince him that it was safe and nothing bad was going to happen. Captain Black eventually got fed up with his whimpering and crying. He forcefully strapped the harness onto Ibby’s body and dragged him to the edge. Ibby dropped back, screaming that he was going to die.
He didn’t die of course, but Huss recorded him crying and yelling about how much he loved his mum. I strapped in, met Ibby halfway down the rock face, and helped him reach the bottom.
Mr Archie shook my hand and smiled. ‘Well done, Tariq. That’s what I want to see more of.’
PJ helped me up as the boys cheered for Ibby. Aaron’s face remained still and cold. I’m not going to lie, it felt good to be praised by Mr Archie.
We headed back to the main hall where lunch was being served. It was the first time we saw the other teams up close. There were eight teams altogether, A through H. The four teams with the most points at the end of this term would make it to the semi-finals in Term 3.
We saw some of the Greenacre boys sitting with their buddy team and they looked like they were all getting along. We chatted for a bit, and they said that their morning had been pretty cruisy and their instructor was heaps laid back.
‘Our one’s from hell,’ Ibby said, before describing what had happened on the mountain. ‘Wallah, I believe he’s Shaytaan’s brother.’
‘Okay, lads stop the chatter and go and get some food,’ Mr Archie said, breaking us up. ‘Maybe get to know your own teammates instead of lads from the area.’
We were waiting for food, exhausted and hungry, when a group of boys pushed in. Lee tried to explain that there was a line, but they ignored him.
‘Hunter, just go wait like everybody else,’ Riley protested. ‘We’re tired and hungry and you’re coming back for seconds.’
He was speaking to a stocky guy with red hair and a gap between his teeth that was wide enough to shoot a couple of goals through. ‘Hunter Carter, Captain Team A’ his name tag read. Jake and Scott, two dudes with ash-blond hair stood close to him like bodyguards. They pushed Riley around before yanking his beanie off and throwing it across the floor.
‘Who do you think you are, albino freak? You’ve grown some balls now because you hang around with some mozzies?’ Hunter jeered at Riley. ‘You and Noodles can piss off back to where you came from.’
I looked back at the Wolf Pack.
‘Trays or chairs?’ Ibby asked, scouting the place.
‘Definitely chairs,’ Huss said.
‘Nah, I think trays,’ PJ countered.
We left the line and confronted Hunter and his goons. To our surprise, Matt, Riley and Lee were standing with us too. At this point, Aaron was the only one sitting at our table with his plate of food.
Huss took a deep breath. ‘Hey, ranga. Go back to the end of the line or –’
‘Or what?’ Hunter asked, with his chest puffed out and his nose up in the air. ‘You’ll blow us up?’
Huss’s beefy legs were shaking, the first sign of him losing it. I stood in support to make sure Hunter knew we weren’t messing around. ‘Give Riley his beanie back and go to the end of the line, you racist pig, or we’ll smash you and your friends.’
Lee came closer. ‘Archie’s outside.’
I turned to look for Mr Archie, but before I could blink, Huss grabbed one of the trays and smashed it over Scott’s head. Jake tackled Huss to the ground before I took Hunter by the shirt and threw him up against the wall. Ibby and PJ took care of the rest of their team as they ran from their table. Some instructors tried to stop the fight as the other schools gathered around and watched us turn the place upside down.
I still had Hunter pinned up against the wall and as I was about to throw a final punch, I turned to see one of the A Team boys charging towards me. Then Lee tackled him to the ground.
‘What the hell, Nintendo?’ I asked, helping him to his feet. ‘You almost killed yourself.’
‘I think I might have lost some feeling in my body.’ Lee wobbled, trying to keep his balance.
Mr Archie and Captain Black rushed in to stop the fight.
‘Those animals attacked us for no reason!’ Hunter cried out to his principal. Team A’s principal, Mr Wilson, was older than Mr Archie and had nothing like his muscles. He had a pointy nose and fluffy white eyebrows that hadn’t been brushed in years.
Huss now charged at Hunter but was stopped by Captain Black. ‘Don’t lie, you dog!’
‘This sort of behaviour is unacceptable,’ Mr Wilson said, hovering around Mr Archie and waiting to see his reaction. ‘I demand that these boys be reprimanded and face the full consequences of their actions.’
‘Bro, you started it,’ Ibby yelled at Hunter. ‘You took Riley’s beanie and laughed at him.’
‘They’re lying,’ Hunter replied. ‘I was just getting food.’ ‘Everyone out!’ Captain Black ordered. All the schools left except for Team A and Mr Wilson. ‘That means you too, Mr Wilson.’
His face fell as he reluctantly left with his team. Clearly, he wanted to stick around and watch us get punished.
We sat and waited with icepacks as Mr Archie paced back and forth, trying to gather his thoughts.
‘It’s not their fault,’ Lee finally piped up. ‘Hunter’s a bully who’s been doing stuff like this for a long time. I don’t know why he’s even allowed to be in this competition.’
‘I don’t have control over other schools’ decisions, lad,’ Mr Archie said. ‘We were supposed to pick students who either had potential or needed direction, which I guess explains why some of you were chosen, too.’
‘But these guys were the first to throw a punch,’ Aaron said dryly. It was clear to me now. He hadn’t spoken the whole time, but as soon as the chance came to make me look bad, he took it.
‘At least we stood up for your boys. You just sat there and ate while your team needed help,’ I snapped back.
‘So bashing people and leaving the cafeteria in a mess is what I was supposed to do?’
Aaron’s close-lipped smile and his hands in his pockets only added to his smug attitude.
‘Nah, bro,’ PJ said to Aaron. ‘You’re missing the point. If anyone laid a finger on my boys, they’d be lucky to walk out of here alive.’
‘So, murder is supposed to show that I’ve got your back?’ Aaron asked, laughing to himself.
I turned to Riley who sat quietly. ‘How haven’t you punched him in the face yet? He watched you get put on by these guys, and now he’s blaming us for sticking up for you?’
‘Enough!’ Captain Black shouted. ‘You used physical violence to deal with a problem and that’s unacceptable.’
‘I don’t want to be in this program anymore,’ Huss said, still angry, knees shaking. ‘I’m out. I don’t care what you do to me. It’s not like anything worse can happen that isn’t happening already.’
‘You think it’s that easy to leave?’ Mr Archie said, standing in front of him. ‘You will see this program through to the very end. I don’t care about what you want. You boys doing whatever you’ve wanted all this time is why we’re here in the first place.’
We were ordered to clean the hall before being placed under cabin arrest until Mr Archie came back with a verdict. We sat on our bunk beds in silence, and even though part of me hoped that we were just kicked out of the program, I knew that our school was too important just to give up.
‘Ey, Nintendo.’ PJ finally broke the silence. ‘You’re actually alright. I saw how you helped Tariq and took that kid out.’
‘Thanks,’ Lee said, beaming with pride. ‘You alright, Riley?’
‘I’m sorry, boys,’ Matt walked over with his head in his chest. ‘I should’ve helped, but Hunter is a psycho.’
‘All you ever do is say sorry,’ Huss said. ‘Next time, try actually doing something.’
Riley had his earphones in and was facing the wall when Ibby bounced onto his bed. ‘It’s not bad, bro. Like, your hair is actually different, but good different, yeah? Isn’t it, boys?’
‘Yeah, well,’ Riley said, pulling out his earphones and sitting up. I never noticed how small and frail his body was, but then anyone looks like that when compared to Ibby. ‘People call me a freak or “Snow Boy” most of the time. It’s why I keep my beanie on.’
‘Really?’ Ibby asked, confused. ‘They don’t call you Ghostbusters?’
I threw a pillow at Ibby. ‘Oi.’
Riley smiled, then shook his head. ‘No, they don’t.’
‘See boys, he can take a joke! Unlike some people.’ Ibby pointed to the top bunk where Aaron lay.
‘I know you’re talking about me.’ Aaron rolled over.
‘Shut up, Mayonnaise. I wasn’t trying to keep it a secret,’ Ibby retorted.
‘Mayonnaise?’ Matt asked.
PJ sniggered. ‘Cos he’s oily and white.’
Before Aaron could respond, Mr Archie walked in with Mr Wilson and the whole of Team A. Apparently, the only way to keep us both in the comp was to shake hands and apologise. We did it, not because we meant it and definitely not because we felt bad at all, but because we knew that we had a chance to smash their heads more on and off the field if we could stay in the comp.
‘It was the only way to keep you lads in,’ Mr Archie said once the other team had left. ‘I’m not going to dwell on the situation, but let me tell you one thing. If you ever lay your hands on anyone else in this program, you’ll all be expelled from both the program and your schools.’
Huss was still furious. It was as though all of Mr Archie’s words went in one ear and out the other.
‘Tariq and Aaron, outside with me,’ Mr Archie said. ‘We need to talk.’
He closed the door behind us. I could see the other boys’ heads peeking through the blinds.
‘I don’t know what’s going on between you two, but it has to stop, and it has to stop right now. You both have so much potential but are falling far short of the captain role.’
Aaron and I argued again, refusing to see eye to eye on anything Mr Archie was expecting from us, the ‘two potential leaders of this team’.
‘Enough. Show some respect towards each other,’ Mr Archie said in a stern voice. ‘And have some respect for yourselves. I’m not saying you have to be best friends, but at least be civil with one another.’
I felt like I was six years old again when Dad use to force me to shake hands with my cousins after a fight and apologise.
‘Aaron, you can go inside. I need to talk to Tariq.’ Aaron slunk into the cabin without a backward glance.
Mr Archie and I went for a walk to the footy field. He put his hand on my shoulder. ‘I admire your resilience and your courage for defending your teammates, Tariq. And heck, I can’t believe I’m saying this, Team A probably deserved it.’
Wait, what?
‘But rules are rules,’ he continued. ‘I was once a lad, too. Most of my youth was spent trying to survive the boys that targeted me on the streets, who were all three times my size. I was raised by a single mother in a working-class neighbourhood in Belfast. It wasn’t much different to Punchbowl.’
‘So you had to watch the rich kids in neighbouring areas get all the glory, too?’ I said.
‘And all the local politicians shower them with gifts while my friends and I watched from the back gates. Yeah, I’ve been there, lad.’
‘Didn’t it make you want to punch them?’ I asked, thinking about all these times our school had been left behind.
‘Maybe at first. But then I realised I was only cutting my opportunities short,’ he explained. ‘They called us animals but it didn’t mean we had to act like it. Words have power, Tariq. But their words can’t define who you are.’
‘So I should’ve just stayed quiet?’
‘No, lad. Just don’t swing chairs and trays,’ he said with a bit of a laugh. ‘See, my ma was a strong lady who didn’t accept excuses. She told me I always had a choice in any situation: revenge or compassion. She said that revenge only served my own ego. It achieves nothing else. And now, I’m telling you the same. Just think, Tariq. That’s all I’m asking you to do. Think before you act.’
‘Your ma sounds like a ballsy lady,’ I said. ‘My dad always tells me that I’m “smart but dumb”.’
‘I know, lad. We talk on the phone.’
Okay, that’s not weird at all.
My eyes followed the patterns of his sleeve tattoo until I saw a woman’s face. ‘Is that her?’
‘Her seventy-seventh birthday. Right before she passed.’ I looked at his tattoo again. ‘And where’s your dad on here?’ ‘I don’t consider alcoholics to be worthy of a place on my body,’ he said simply. He then told me the stories behind the rest of his sleeve tattoo: the Irish flag with two swords crossed just above some Celtic patterns that wrapped around his arm, along with a pair of shamrocks and a pot of gold with the quote ‘See you on the other side’.
I wouldn’t say that we hugged it out and it was all good. But for the first time since we’d met in our school hall, I felt like Mr Archie was a human being after all, and not just some spy sent by the government to make our lives miserable.