The weather for Game 3 was crisp and cool, with only a couple of clouds in the sky. The buses had arrived and all the teams were sitting under their team banners. The fields were marked out in white, and some photographers were scattered around the park. Dad told me that The Torch article with Ibby and Hazem was displayed in some of the shop windows in Punchbowl.
‘They tell customer about football comp,’ he said. ‘They come to some games and watch you boys.’ It felt so great having the community come out to support us on this cold Friday morning.
Mr Archie and Mr Ahmed gave us our final pep talk, both wearing Bulldogs jerseys.
‘Change of plans, lads,’ Mr Archie announced. ‘Your VIP tickets for tomorrow’s game at Belmore depend on how you play today.’
‘But, sir!’ PJ protested. ‘That’s not fair.’
Aaron raised his hand. ‘Weren’t they a gift from Hazem?’
‘Too bad,’ Mr Ahmed said. ‘You only get these tickets if you work as a team.’
‘Do we have to win?’ Lee asked dubiously. ‘The outlook isn’t good.’
‘Win or lose. We want to see proper sportsmanship and team playing from all of you. The tickets are for the F Team, so if you lads show us that you’re a team, Cinderella will go to the ball,’ Mr Archie said.
‘We have an incentive now,’ Riley said, strapping on his headgear. ‘We have something to play for.’
‘Um, and we have our school?’ PJ added doubtfully.
‘Stuff our school!’ Ibby shouted. ‘Wallah, if any of you stuff this up for me, I’m going to kill all of you.’ He focused on Matt. ‘Especially you, Goldilocks.’
Matt looked around. ‘Goldilocks? I thought Mr Archie just said I was Cinderella.’
‘Goldilocks, Cinderella, Humpty Dumpty, whatever. I’ll kill you.’
My heart picked up its pace as the referee called for our game to begin in five minutes. Aaron and I discussed a couple of game plans when we noticed Lee with streaks of black paint marked across his face.
‘Hunter’s going to know I’m here for war,’ he said, slapping his face. ‘You wanna mess with my YouTube channel? I’ll show you what Noodle Boy can do.’
PJ stared at him. ‘It’s official then. Nintendo’s lost the plot.’
‘We need that intensity if we’re going to beat Team C,’ Aaron said. ‘Just keep an ear and eye out for Tariq and me on the field.’
We stood across from Team C while the referee went over the rules. Ibby and PJ growled a few times and shadowboxed, trying to intimidate the boys from Campbelltown and Macquarie Fields.
I set up the ball on the tee, ready for kick off, and raised my hand to signal play. ‘Here we go, boys.’
They caught the ball, and in a matter of seconds PJ and Ibby were on the other side, ready to make the tackle. I’d never seen them run that fast – they almost gave Lee a run for his money. Team C reached the last tackle in their set, just before the halfway line, when one of their players accidentally played the ball the wrong way.
‘Play on,’ the referee called out.
Riley hurried over to pick up the ball and made a break. He ran down the line, but just before he could pass to Aaron, he was tackled twenty metres out. Mr Archie shouted from the sidelines as I rushed up as dummy-half. I heard Matt behind me in support.
‘I’m unmarked,’ he shouted.
I passed the ball, and before we knew it, our first points were on the board. Ibby squeezed Matt so tight that I thought his eyeballs were going to pop out.
‘Hey, you said you’d kill me if we lost the game, not if I scored a try,’ Matt laughed. We watched on as Huss set up the ball but missed the kick.
‘It’s okay, Huss,’ Mr Archie called out. ‘Keep your head up, son.’
PJ ran beside him. ‘How did you miss that shot?’
‘It’s just one kick,’ Huss snapped back. ‘It’s no big deal.’
Even though I’d seen Huss make that shot a million times before, I gave him the benefit of the doubt. We’d talked before the game, and he assured me that he had our backs just as long as Aaron stayed away from him.
We made a few tackles and defended our line well, but they got a couple of repeat sets.
‘Stay on your line,’ Aaron called out. ‘Stay on your man.’
Team C played the ball and dived through to score their first try under the posts. It was Huss’s man but he still managed to get through.
‘You said he was going to play properly,’ Aaron said to me. ‘What the hell was that crap tackle he made?’
‘I got this,’ I said. ‘Just keep away from him.’
‘If he stuffs up one more time, I’m going to say something.’
I went over to Huss while we waited for Team C to take the kick. ‘I know it’s just one tackle, but it’s cost us a try. Hold on to the tackle next time.’
‘Relax, man,’ he said shaking his head. ‘You guys are taking it too seriously.’
They converted the try with a few minutes left on the board.
At half-time, the score sat 6–4 in their favour.
Mr Ahmed passed around the water while Mr Archie went through a few plays.
‘It’s okay, lads. You’re only down by two. Let’s just focus on completing those sets and gaining possession.’ He then looked at Aaron and me. ‘You two lads are working much better today. Run the ball a little more on the outside. We’ve got a rocket in Lee, and Riley is great out of the ruck. Use them to your advantage.’
We did just that and Aaron and I set up a beautiful set piece for Riley to score on the outside. Lee made most of the metres when Riley ran in support. I had used this play so many times in our school games and it always worked like a charm.
‘Good play, man,’ Aaron said as we watched Huss set the ball up on a tee. ‘He should get this, right? It’s not that far out.’
I held my breath, because if Huss didn’t make this kick, then I would know something was up. He took a few steps back and looked up to the posts.
Ya illahi, please make it.
The ball missed the posts, too far to the right.
Ibby and PJ shook their heads in disbelief. Aaron bared his teeth at me. ‘He’s not taking the next kick. You are. That’s my call as captain.’
8–6.
For the first time in all my years of playing footy, I prayed that we didn’t score any more tries. I was angry that Huss was messing up simple things, but I knew that if Aaron stripped him of goal kicking, it would start an all-out war. Before we knew it, Ibby bulldozed through their line and scored.
My heart sank.
Huss ran to the ball just as Aaron picked it up. ‘You’re not taking the kick.’
Huss laughed and tried to take the ball from him.
Aaron turned away. ‘We need these points to at least secure a win.’
‘You can’t do that,’ Huss said through clenched teeth. ‘Tariq’s captain, too. Tell him to give me the ball, bro.’
I felt like time had stopped around me. Huss was my mate. But we needed this win to have any chance of making it into the finals.
‘Just listen to him, Huss.’ The words finally left my mouth.
His eyes turned flat and cold, and he took a few steps back. ‘Really.’
Aaron shoved the ball into my chest. ‘We need this, Tariq.’
There was a deafening silence on the field as I placed the ball on the tee to take the kick. It flew high in between the posts. Huss spent the rest of the game jogging up and down the field, not bothering to engage with any of the plays. When Aaron scored one more try, he wandered to the other end of the field.
20–6, full-time.
‘Congratulations, F Team,’ the referee said as we shook hands with Team C. I sat on the bench and watched the boys celebrate. They laughed and cheered, but as hard as I tried to join in, I couldn’t get Huss’s face out of my head. He had left as soon as the game was over, catching a lift back to school with some of the men who were heading off to Friday Jummah.
‘Am I supposed to feel this bad?’ I asked Mr Archie, who sat beside me watching the boys.
He smiled gently. ‘Depends what you’re feeling bad about, lad.’
I swallowed around the lump in my throat. ‘I don’t even know if I did the right thing.’
‘If you had the chance to go back and change your decision, would you?’
I so badly wanted to say yes, but I knew that as hard as it was for me to side with Aaron against Huss, it had been the right call.
Aaron walked over and joined us.
‘I’ll leave you two captains to talk,’ Mr Archie said.
Aaron watched him go. ‘I know that was hard for you, but we had to win,’ he finally said. ‘We gave him so many chances.’
‘You don’t understand. It’s not that I didn’t let him convert. It’s the fact I sided with you. That’s the problem.’
‘Mr Archie put us in charge because we can make those tough decisions. That’s why we’re captains.’
I took a deep breath and looked up at the sky. ‘You have no idea what I’m talking about.’
He couldn’t understand. No one could.
No one was going to be hurt in this situation but Huss’s and my relationship. He held so tightly onto his anger and did stupid things when he was upset.
I could only hope he’d be over it for tomorrow’s Bulldogs game.
He wasn’t.
I tried to call Huss, but he didn’t answer. I left messages on our Wolf Pack chat but there was no response.
Huss has left this chat.
Ibby: Bro. He’s never left. Even when him and I fought about my mum.
PJ: This is serious. Add him back on.
Tariq: I’ve been trying to call, but he’s not answering.
I scrolled through my settings and added him back to the group.
Huss has left this chat.
I had no idea what to do, how to fix this. There was only one person I thought might be able to help, but I’d managed to burn my bridges with her, too. This was turning out to be a hell of a year.
Feda was barricaded behind the bedroom door, either sleeping or studying. I’d heard her coming home just after Fajr, so my guess was she was sleeping off her latest run of night shifts. I tapped gently on the door. ‘Feda?’
No answer. I tapped a little louder. Amira bounded out of the bathroom.
‘She’s never going to hear you,’ she exclaimed, then barged into the room without ceremony. I knew if I’d tried the same, I would have been dead before my feet hit the ground, but if anyone could wake up Feda without getting their head bitten off, it was Amira.
‘Oh my God, what?!’ I heard my elder sister groan.
‘Tariq wants you,’ Amira said cheerily, then rocketed off, probably to cause chaos somewhere else in the house.
I hovered in the doorway. ‘Um. Can we talk?’
She breathed out loudly. ‘Well, I’m awake now. What’s the matter?’
Hardly the most welcoming start, but the situation with Huss was pretty desperate, so I crept into the darkened room and sat on my couch-cushion mattress. ‘It’s Huss.’ I outlined what had been going on with the comp, and Aaron and Huss, as quickly as I could. Feda stayed quiet through all of it, then suddenly sat up.
‘Did anyone tell you that Big Haji is in hospital?’ she asked.
‘What? No! Big Haji? He never told any of us. I even asked him how she was, but he said she’s just getting some check-ups.’
She sighed and shook her head. ‘You guys, honestly. You spend so much time together but you never actually talk to one another.’ I crossed my arms defensively, but for once, I didn’t snap at her. ‘Big Haji’s really sick. She’s been admitted to the cardiac ward, and she’s just had a bypass. They’re talking about all the medication and pills she needs to take.’
‘What’s wrong with her?’
‘Well her diet hasn’t been the best, and she’s not as active as she probably should be. But most of all, she’s just old, Tariq. She’s worn down, and her heart is in pretty bad shape.’ She showed me some messages on her phone.
Huss: Don’t tell Tariq about my tayta.
Feda: Why? He should know.
Huss: He’s got a lot of stuff on at school.
There’s no point in making it worse for him.
Insh Allah she’ll get better. It’s nothing big anyway.
Feda: Have you told him about your dad at least?
Huss: Nah. I don’t want him to see me weak.
If I’d felt like crap before, I wished now the ground would swallow me whole. These past few weeks I thought Huss didn’t trust me enough to tell me about his dad, and if I was really honest with myself, I knew I hadn’t tried as hard as I could to spend time with him. As it turned out, it wasn’t that he didn’t trust me; he didn’t want me to judge him. And now the whole goal-kicking situation with Aaron had just made a bad situation worse.
‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ I asked Feda now, upset. ‘I know you’re mad at me, but keeping this secret from me –’
‘It’s not my place to tell,’ she interrupted. ‘It’s your job to know about your friends.’
I had to admit she was right. I could see from the texts that she’d urged Huss to communicate with me, even after I’d mouthed off at her. ‘Sorry. You did what was right. It’s just…how can I make this better? What should I do?’
She stared at me for a while, not saying anything.
‘What?’ I demanded.
‘It occurs to me, Tariq, that you’ve had a pretty easy life so far.’
‘Huh?’ Was she insane? ‘Oh yeah, it’s pretty easy going to a school that’s about to get closed down, and being called a terrorist every second day. It’s so easy to have everyone constantly putting their expectations on me to be better, to be a good captain and BBL and be responsible for everyone.’
She gave a weird sort of half-laugh. ‘All the things you just mentioned have happened recently, in the last year. What’s your life been like before then?’ She began counting on her fingers. ‘You’ve got a family who support and love you. You’ve grown up your whole life in the one place, and had the chance to really put down roots. You’ve got friends who worship the ground you walk on. You’ve had a string of girls obsess over you even after you got bored with them and treated them like shit. You’ve never wanted anything that you couldn’t have. Even the pressures you’ve mentioned are a product of the amount of faith other people have in you. I get that it feels like a burden, but there are people who would kill to have teachers and mentors believe in them so much that they keep giving you chance after chance.’
I had never thought of it that way. I stared at her, gobsmacked.
‘Here’s a wild idea, little brother. Instead of complaining about how hard you have things, try a little bit of empathy for people who have it a lot worse.’ With that, Feda burrowed back under her doona. ‘Close the door behind you.’
I couldn’t think of anything to say, my mind racing over the bombshells she’d just dropped on me. I went to the living room and tried calling Huss again.
No answer.
Ibby: Huss just messaged and he said he’s not going to the game.
I didn’t feel like going any more either, but I couldn’t stay at home. Our house was buzzing with guests coming over to see Aunty Salma in her last week in Australia. They really came to see if she could fit packages in her luggage for their relatives overseas.
That night, PJ pretty much dragged me to the station where the rest of the boys from school were meeting to see the Bulldogs take on our rivals, the Cronulla Sharks. A sea of blue and white supporters poured out of the station and into the stadium. The place was electric, and despite my confusion and gloom about Huss, I felt caught up in the wave of excitement. People danced and cheered to the beat of the trumbakis while Arabic music blasted through the speakers. Cars beeped and honked and flags flew proudly above the crowds. We all saluted the massive ‘Dogs of War’ banner that hung from the rooftop stadium. Old, young, Arab, non-Arab, it didn’t matter when you were a Doggies supporter. It was one gigantic party.
The last twenty-four hours had been rough and I just wanted to be at peace. Forget the footy comp. Forget my school possibly closing. Forget about Huss and Aaron. Forget Mr Archie’s expectations.
Aaron and Riley waited by the barbecued-corn stall outside the stadium with Mr Archie. Ibby was going to come separately because he didn’t want to skip his family’s usual Saturday lunch of kroosh, boiled sheep intestines with rice, which he made with his mum.
‘You boys missed out,’ Aaron said with a bounce in his voice. ‘The Cronulla players hopped off the bus and we gave it to them.’
Riley nodded. ‘People really get into it around here.’
Matt arrived, sweating and out of breath, together with Lee, who was wearing a Sharks jersey.
‘Really, Lee?’ Aaron protested.
‘Dude, I told him a million times,’ Matt said. ‘I’m just happy we made it through the crowd alive.’
Lee tucked his jersey into his high-waisted shorts. ‘I don’t really care what anyone thinks. I’m from Cronulla and so I should support them.’
Mr Archie looked at his watch. ‘Where’s Ibrahim? We should’ve been inside by now.’
I looked around and spotted Ibby across the crowded forecourt. He wore Bulldogs gear from head to toe, with his face painted with blue and white stripes. He left his taqiyah on his head as he waved a gigantic Bulldogs flag in the air. He was standing next to a total stranger.
Mr Archie waved his arms for attention and Ibby finally caught sight of us. We watched him do a double-take at Lee and the guy he was standing next to. He made his way over and stared at Lee. ‘You Chinese all look the same, man.’
Lee rolled his eyes. ‘For the millionth time, I’m Vietnamese, you shithead.’
‘How long were you standing there with that guy?’ Mr Ahmed asked, trying not to laugh.
‘Like, twenty minutes,’ Ibby replied. ‘I wondered why he gave me a dirty when I called him Nintendo.’
We followed Mr Archie and Mr Ahmed to our seats, where Hazem was waiting. He gave us our VIP lanyards to meet the players after the game.
Mr Archie’s phone rang and he passed it to me. ‘Your dad wants to speak to you.’
‘I already tell Mr Archie that everyone come over later cos we make a barby. Okay?’ Dad said.
‘Baba, we’ll just eat out –’ He hung up. I shook my head as I handed the phone back to Mr Archie. ‘So it’s my place after this,’ I said to the others. ‘Dinner’s on me.’
Our names were taped to the seats, and of course I was seated next to Aaron. Huss’s chair stood empty.
‘Should I hire security?’ Aaron said as we sat down. ‘Is he off somewhere plotting to murder me?’
‘He just needs some time. Maybe avoid him in training to be on the safe side,’ I said taking his name off the seat. Riley jumped a row down and sat in his spot.
‘You see Aaron’s face?’ he said. ‘He had a run-in with Hunter in the parking lot at Miranda.’
I turned to Aaron, who hid a faded bruise mark under his eye. ‘What? A punch-up?’
‘Nah, just a little scuffle. It was nothing.’
‘I swear I can’t wait until our school stuff is sorted so I can deal with him face to face,’ I said. ‘Is he doing anything else to you?’ I asked Riley.
He shook his head. ‘He’s backed off since Aaron and I started hanging out a little more.’
The game was about to begin when Aaron took out a Bulldogs beanie from his backpack and gave it to Riley. ‘I almost forgot this. You’ve gotta get into the game, bro.’
Riley’s usually pale face blushed as he replaced his red beanie with Aaron’s gift.
‘Get a room,’ Ibby and PJ called out from behind us.
‘Shut up,’ Aaron said.
‘Ladies and gentlemen, please put your hands together for the Cronulla Sharks.’
We all stood up and booed as they ran onto the field. A huge bikie-looking guy behind us swore so many times that I thought he was going to have a heart attack. Mr Archie had already warned us that if any of us got like that, we would be sent home immediately.
‘Keep it PG, lads.’
‘And now it’s time for the boys of Belmore. Everyone up on your feet for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs!’
The ground shook and the crowd roared as the Bulldogs ran out of the kennel and onto the field.
We all chanted and cheered as the drums banged loudly and the flags flew across the stadium. Chills rushed up and down my body and now the nerves kicked in. There was something about having another team in the hood that fired up my blood. The referee blew the whistle and the Bulldogs kicked off.
Bulldogs made the first tackle and drove the Sharks back ten metres. A roar lifted the stadium. Aaron and I jumped up, not realising we were clutching each other’s arms.
‘I don’t think I can last eighty minutes. I think I’m going to have a stroke,’ he said.
It felt like that for the whole game. We held our hearts in our mouths until finally we came home with a victory.
Lee sat on the aisle steps beside us and rinsed the spilt alcohol from his shirt. ‘I think I’m going to pass out.’
‘Where’s Ibby?’ Mr Archie asked, giving Lee some water.
A loud cheer erupted on the opposite side of the stadium, on the hill. PJ pointed to the massive LED screen, and there was Ibby, belly-dancing to the drums and surrounded by supporters from both teams.
‘I’ll go get him,’ Mr Ahmed said, shaking his head.
We not only met the players, but we also got to sing the Bulldogs victory song with them and we each got signed jerseys. It was a little awkward with Lee in his Sharks jersey, but everyone took it in their stride. We shook hands with the Sharks players, too, and they were cool enough to give us a few tips.
‘You guys should be like a unit,’ one player said. ‘Stick together, and trust me, you’ll bulldoze any team in your way.’ Now that the game was done, there were no hard feelings and they even signed a few balls for us before mixing with the Bulldogs players in the dressing rooms after the game. I was stunned to realise that these guys from rival teams were all friends.
Aaron didn’t stop talking the whole way back to my place. ‘I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun,’ he babbled.
‘It was my first game,’ Riley said. ‘And I can now say that I’m one hundred per cent a Bulldogs supporter.’ PJ and Ibby almost suffocated him with excitement.
‘Ghostbusters! Ghostbusters!’ they both chanted.
Lee tied his Doggies jersey around his waist. ‘I think I’m bipartisan now, boys.’
‘Bi-what?’ Ibby asked.
Matt put up heaps of videos on our group WhatsApp.
Huss has left this chat.
‘Oh shit,’ Matt said to me. ‘I completely forgot, dude, I’m sorry. I can delete the videos.’
I grimaced. ‘He’s already seen them. No point deleting anything now.’ At least half of Matt’s videos showed me and Aaron with our arms around each other, chanting and cheering. That was going to go down like a ton of bricks with Huss.
I messaged him to come by for dinner anyway, and hoped he’d make it.
You could smell the chicken cooking on the barbecue from the end of the street. My family had already set up the table for us, with tabouli and fattoush, garlic sauce and hummus, meat skewers and fresh bread.
Ibby and PJ wasted no time settling in, but the Shire boys dithered, unsure of what to do.
‘Welcome, welcome,’ Dad said with open arms. He was in full Arab-hospitality-mode, hugging everyone including Mr Archie and Mr Ahmed, who made themselves comfy at the table. He nodded at Aaron. ‘How are you, son? How is your mum?’
‘Yeah, she’s good,’ Aaron replied. ‘Thanks for this, sir. You didn’t have to.’
Dad pulled out a few chairs for the Shire boys to sit. ‘No problem, son. You my guests. This your home now.’
Mum flipped the chicken on the grill and Dad ran around the table making sure everyone’s plate was full. If there was anything missing, he’d restock faster than you could blink. Mr and Mrs Wallace from next door came in through the back gate and filled their plates.
‘This is some of the best chicken I’ve ever had,’ Mr Archie said. ‘You are too kind, Mr and Mrs Nader. Thank you very much.’
‘You look after my son,’ Dad said, adding more tabouli no matter how many times Mr Archie tried to explain he was full. ‘Tell me, is Tariq being good? Or is he still do stupid things?’
‘Here we go,’ PJ called out. ‘Moment of truth.’
Everyone stomped with their feet and drummed on the table until Mr Archie answered. ‘He’s improving. I believe he’s still got a lot more to give.’
‘Do me next, sir, do me,’ Ibby yelled. ‘Seriously, sir, aren’t I your favourite?’
We ate and ate and laughed and laughed. Mum brought out some of the sweet sugar pastries, her signature dish. Ibby and PJ rubbed their hands on their bellies, trying to make room for dessert.
Uncle Charlie brought out some of his honey jars and sat next to Aaron. He knew he was from the Shire, which meant dollar signs for my uncle. ‘Best honey in world,’ he said. ‘I give you cheap price because you friends with Tariq.’ I probably should have warned Aaron about Uncle Charlie.
I walked over to the kitchen and collected some extra plastic plates for dessert.
‘You talked to Huss?’ Feda asked from where she stood, shredding one of the pastries on her plate.
‘I tried, but he’s not answering any of my calls or messages. I don’t know what else to do.’
She gave me The Look. ‘And you’re going to leave it at that? Go to his place. You could see Big Haji, too. She should be released on Monday.’ She walked off to sit next to Aunty Salma.
Amira showed Riley and Matt her tools and her DIY work, while Lee played video games with Abdul and Saff in the living room. I watched as Mr Archie toured the garden with Mum. She spent most mornings talking to her plants and referred to them as her children.
‘I’d love for you to come to the school and help with some of our gardens that have completely died. You could run it with the P&C,’ I heard him say.
Mum’s mouth was wide with excitement. ‘This my dream!’ she exclaimed, before rushing to tell Dad the good news.
‘I wish I had all this,’ Aaron said leaning back in his chair and watching the madness.
‘This?’ I asked, confused. ‘You have everything at your place. Why would you want this?’
‘What’s the point of having the biggest house in the world if you’re on your own? You have family. You have noise. It’s dead quiet at my house.’
‘If it’s quiet here, then it means either Feda is studying or someone is dead.’ I thought for a minute. ‘No, scratch that second one. If someone was dead, everyone else would be wailing and screaming.’
He laughed. ‘Your dad is cool, man. He was nice to me even though my mum was rude to him.’
I sat up, shocked. ‘You heard that? I thought you were in the backyard?’
‘Nah, I heard it. She was being a bitch, as usual.’
I chewed my lip. Feda’s words about my easy life whispered back into my head. ‘She’s your mum, man. You shouldn’t talk about her like that.’
‘Why not? She does whatever she wants. Like selling Dad’s cars.’ ‘Wait, what?’
‘There’s this guy, Paten. Oily dude – what did you guys call me at camp? Mayonnaise. He’s supposed to be coming up with some buyers for Dad’s collection.’ Aaron’s jaw clenched.
‘Tell me the Ferrari is staying?’ I said. ‘C’mon, she can’t give that up.’
He gazed up at the sky. ‘Dad would be losing it if he knew.’ He then looked over at me. ‘Your family are really cool for doing this. Thanks, bro.’
I wanted to talk to him more about his parents and his dad’s cars, but I figured this wasn’t the right time or place. I decided to lighten the mood instead.
‘Bro? One step at a time.’
He laughed quietly. ‘Who would’ve thought, ay?’