Tiger Boots (5 page)

J
immy was so happy for Mick that he persuaded him to go to the pub later that evening with him for just the one pint. Danny had already arranged with Trinity to go to the fun fair, compliments of Larry and Regina’s treasure hunt.

It was six thirty and Danny was putting the finishing touches to his hair.

Maybe I should put a bit more gel in! he thought.

The doorbell rang.

Danny ran down stairs. He could see Trinity’s shape through the beveled glass of the front door. He started to get those butterflies in his stomach again.

Get it together, Danny! he thought before he finally opened the door.

Danny was gobsmacked – Trinity looked amazing!

There was a beep from the car outside the gates.

Trinity waved goodbye to her mother. She was all Danny’s now, and that made him feel like he was on top of the world.

The fun fair was only a fifteen-minute walk from the house; Trinity could hardly get a word in with Danny. He was buzzing with excitement about his trip to Boston.

‘That’s so cool, Danny,’ Trinity said.

‘Have you ever been to Boston?’ asked Danny.

‘Twice.’

‘Really? And there’s me going on about it so much.’

‘You’ll love it, Danny.’ Trinity smiled. ‘There’s so much to see and do. Last time, we were there for a week and still didn’t have enough time to fit everything in.’

‘We’re only going for a weekend.’

‘I’m sure you’ll make the most of it. I think 
it’s really great that your dad is going to see his old friend again,’ she said.

Danny hadn’t mentioned Clara. He just said that Mick’s old friend, Archie, had invited them over. It wasn’t because he was embarrassed or even that he didn’t want Trinity to know anything about her. It was just that this was his first date with Trinity, and he felt that it wouldn’t help his first date get off to a good start if he spoke of another girl.

The fun fair was teeming with people.

Trinity had the fifty euro-worth of tokens that they had won at Larry’s party.

‘Let’s get on the big wheel,’ Trinity said.

Danny wasn’t great with heights. In fact, he was petrified of heights.

What was I thinking, coming here? thought Danny as he and Trinity stepped into the carriage of the big wheel.

As soon as the wheel began to move, Trinity noticed that Danny had paled. 

‘Are you okay, Danny?’

‘Fine!’ he replied, trying not to look down at the ground, even though they hadn’t actually left the ground yet.

As the wheel rotated and Danny and Trinity began to rise into the dark starry night, Trinity tucked her left arm around Danny’s right arm and pulled him in close to her.

Instantly, Danny felt better, although he didn’t dare to look over the edge. His legs were like jelly when they finally got off the big wheel.

‘I’m thinking that you didn’t like that, Danny,’ Trinity laughed.

‘Me?’ gasped Danny. ‘That was savage!’

Trinity knew better, but she thought it was sweet that Danny was trying to act tough and not show his weakness.

Danny looked all around, praying that she wouldn’t drag him onto something like that again.

‘Let’s go over to the Wild West counter,’ he suggested. He dragged Trinity’s arm swiftly into 
the safer zone of the fun fair.

‘I’ll win ya a teddy bear,’ Danny said.

Trinity laughed.

Danny blushed. That was stupid! he thought. She must think I’m a kid now after saying that.

Trinity pointed to a pink elephant.

‘I love that one.’

Danny perked up.

‘What do I have to do?’ he asked the man.

But just then, the man was called away by a woman down the other end. A young boy stepped in to answer Danny’s question.

‘Knock the five tins over and you win anything along the bottom row,’ the boy replied.

Danny looked at him with a judgmental stare.

‘How do I win the big ones up top?’

‘You have to knock them all over with just one shot.’

‘What?’ said Danny. ‘That’s impossible!’

‘No, it’s not!’

‘Yeah, it is.’ 

Trinity handed two tokens to the boy.

‘Go on, Danny. You can do it.’

I’ll show him! thought Danny as he took aim.

Danny aimed for the tin in the middle – dead centre.

BANG!

Two tins fell off.

‘Hard luck.’ The boy gave him a smirk. ‘You have two more goes. You can still win a prize.’

Danny gave him the evil eye, and then took aim.

BANG!

The rest of the tins fell over.

Trinity gave Danny a hug.

‘Well done!’

Danny was disappointed. His competitive side was coming out.

‘Look!’ Trinity smiled. ‘I’m just as happy with this small pink elephant as the big one.’

Just as they turned to walk away, the boy made a remark under his breath.

‘Should have gone to Specsavers!’

Danny turned around sharply. 

‘What did you say?’

‘Come on, Danny,’ urged Trinity. ‘He’s only a little boy!’

The boy winked at Trinity. He was a right little scoundrel.

With that, Trinity changed her mind.

‘Actually, I’ll have a go.’

Before she took her first shot, she made a suggestion to the boy.

‘I’ll make a deal with you, just to make this a little more interesting. If I knock all of the tins down with one shot, you give me the big pink elephant and my tokens back.’

‘What’s in it for me?’ asked the boy.

‘If I don’t, then I’ll give you ten tokens for yourself.’

The boy looked down the line. His parents weren’t paying attention.

‘You’re on!’

Trinity took aim. Danny was amazed. This was a side to Trinity that he never saw before, but he liked it.

BANG! 

Trinity shot the bottom right corner of the far tin to the left. All the tins scattered – every single one of them.

Danny cheered!

‘Hand it over!’ Danny said to the boy, a huge grin on his face.

‘How did you do that?’ Danny asked Trinity.

‘Everything has a weak spot. You just have to find it. That and a whole lot of luck!’

Danny had spotted a football game over in the far corner of the fair, just to the right of the slingshot. There was a group of lads all gathered around, cheering and having lots of banter.

As Danny and Trinity approached, Danny noticed that it was Splinter and a few of his teammates.

Danny was just about to steer Trinity away when Alan Whelan saw him.

‘Hey, there’s Danny!’

Everyone turned around.

Ah, no! thought Danny.

‘Aren’t they on your team, Danny?’ Trinity 
asked.

Danny gave Trinity a sort of look that said, Yeah! Unfortunately.

‘All right, lads,’ Danny greeted them.

‘What’s the story Danny?’ asked little John Watson. ‘Is that your bird? I love her pink elephant!’

Danny blushed. Trinity giggled. She knew Danny wasn’t going to enjoy this, but it was kind of funny.

The crowd opened up and Danny could see who was taking shots on the electronic goal.

It was Sean ‘Dirty’ Dempsey and some of his friends, including Deco Savage.

‘I hope you’re not cheering for that muppet,’ Danny said to Splinter.

‘No, we’re not Danny. We’re having a contest – Crokes against Barnfield.’

‘Who’s winning?’ Danny asked.

‘They are,’ interrupted Doyler.

Suddenly, Dempsey caught a glimpse of Danny. ‘Look who’s here. Wilde-boy and his girlfriend.’ 

All the Barnfield boys laughed.

Danny stepped forward. Trinity tried to grab his hand to hold him back – she knew all about the rivalry between Danny and Dempsey. Her brother, Sebastian, was in Jonathon’s class and he was always hearing stories from Jonathon about Crokes and Barnfield.

‘I am a Wilde boy, Dempsey,’ Danny teased. ‘And proud to be one.’ Danny felt like his favourite character, Wolverine, confronting an evil adversary.

‘Go on, Danny,’ said little John Watson encouragingly.

‘Your teammates are letting you down, Danny,’ Dempsey said. ‘We’re beating them. No! We’re trashing them. You should get your da to teach them how to shoot.’

‘Is that right?’ Danny asked. ‘I hear your da hasn’t got a bog about managing a team. Nice result against Darnville yesterday, by the way. I hope your manager gets better for the game against us. That way yiz might have a chance – 
just a small, teensy one – not much more than your ability to shoot.’

Now all the Crokes’ boys were cheering.

Dempsey looked furious.

Deco Savage couldn’t take any more. He stepped up and grabbed the ball from Dempsey.

‘You think you’re all that in front of your girlfriend, don’t ya, Wilde?’

Trinity was getting very twitchy. She wasn’t used to seeing confrontation at this level.

‘Don’t worry, Trinity,’ Splinter told her. ‘It’s only football – nothing sinister.’

Savage threw the ball to Danny.

‘We’re winning by three goals. I’ll give yiz the game if you can score in the top right corner.’ Savage then placed the ball on the floor.

‘That’s impossible,’ Splinter told him. ‘That’s the hardest spot to hit!’

Danny thought long and hard.

‘What’s wrong, Danny?’ Dempsey teased. ‘Are you afraid of failing in front of your 
girlfriend?’

Danny looked at Trinity. He had forgotten about her for a moment or two while all the banter was going on. That’s the effect football had on Danny. It was like it cast a spell over him.

Trinity looked lost and Danny felt bad that their date had turned into a football contest.

Danny threw the ball back to Savage and walked over to Trinity.

‘Come on, Trinity.’

‘Thought you might chicken out.’

Danny turned around.

‘I’m not chicken, ya dope. I just don’t want to look like a show off by making you look like a loser in front of all your buddies.’

Danny strolled off, biting his lower lip as Savage and Dempsey and the rest of the Barnfield players hurled a cackle of chicken sounds at him.

Splinter ran after Danny.

‘Are ya going to let them slag ya’ like that, Danny? Come on back. You can hit that spot.’ 

‘It’s not about that, Splinter,’ said Danny.

‘But we could beat them.’

‘Sometimes you have to lose to win,’ Trinity said.

Splinter looked at Trinity as if she had suddenly sprouted three heads.

‘What?’

Danny tapped Splinter on the arm.

‘Forget it, Splinter. We’ll beat them when it matters – on the Little Croker.’

Trinity tugged on Danny’s arm. She thought how grown up he was – almost heroic.

‘Come on, you two. Let’s get on the slingshot. It takes three.’

Danny sat in the middle with Trinity on his right and Splinter on his left, wondering if this was going to be the last time he would feel his feet touch the ground.

‘This is animal! Nice one, Trinity!’ Splinter said.

‘Are yiz ready?’ asked the man in charge.

Danny nodded. Trinity smiled. Splinter screamed, 

‘YEE- HAW! Hold onto your jocks!’

Suddenly, VROOOOOM! They were launched sky-high.

‘Aaaaaaaaaaagh!’ the three of them screamed.

Danny felt like his face was being sucked inside out.

They bobbled in the air a few times before slowly being lowered back to the ground.

‘Man! That was class!’ shouted Splinter. ‘Yee-Haw!’

He begged Danny and Trinity to lend him the photo of the three of them as they were launched into the air. He ran off to find the others and show them.

Trinity noticed that the football game area was empty.

She dragged Danny over and handed a token to the girl at the counter.

Trinity picked up the ball and handed it to Danny.

‘What?’ Danny asked.

‘I know you were dying to make that shot,’ 
Trinity said. ‘Go on then!’

Danny looked around at the goal, then he looked around to see if anyone was watching, then he looked at Trinity and placed the ball on the spot.

Danny took two steps back and another step to the left.

He took a deep breath then gently swerved the ball towards the goal.

Trinity watched with her hands clasped as the electronic goalkeeper dived for the ball, only to be beaten. The ball hit the spot in the top right corner, exactly what Danny had aimed for.

Trinity jumped up and down, and then gave Danny a big hug.

‘I knew you could do it.’

Danny looked into Trinity Dawson’s eyes, thinking, It doesn’t get any better than this!

T
uesday night’s training was extra hard. Mick ran the legs off all his players.

‘We have to be at our best for the Barnfield game,’ was what he kept saying.

Jimmy thought there was something the matter with Mick – something on his mind.

He called Danny to one side while everyone was having a breather.

‘Is your daddy alright, Danny?’ Jimmy whispered.

‘He got bad news in work,’ replied Danny.

‘I thought there was something wrong. I haven’t seen your daddy run that hard in training since before his stroke last year. He ought to take it easy. What happened in work? He never said anything to me.’

‘He’s been put on a three-day week, Jimmy. I
think he’s worried that it’s only a matter of time before his job goes altogether.’

‘That’s terrible,’ said Jimmy. ‘The construction trade is gone to the wall – flamin’ recession.’

Danny noticed Mick looking over in their direction.

‘You better not say I told you, Jimmy,’ Danny said. ‘You know my da. He’ll probably tell you later when he gets a chance.’

‘Of course, Danny. Good man!’

Mick got Jimmy to set up a small playing field within the cones. He hadn’t realised that he had used up all of the training time on running and exercises. The lads were very tired.

Mick wasn’t impressed with what he saw in the game.

‘Come on lads,’ Mick said. ‘If this is what yiz play like against Barnfield, we don’t have a chance of winning the game.’

Jimmy thought he’d have a quiet word with Mick.

‘I think they’re knackered!’ said Jimmy. ‘We’ve already gone over by twenty minutes.’

Mick looked at his watch.

‘I didn’t notice, Jimmy. None the less, we’ll let them play a bit longer. Practice makes perfect!’

Jimmy looked at Mick’s strained face.

‘Come on, Barry,’ Mick said. ‘Don’t make me ring Todd in Australia and ask him to come back.’

Barry’s head dropped.

‘Let’s call it a night, Mick,’ Jimmy suggested. ‘You’re only getting frustrated with the boys. Danny told me about the job. I hounded him to tell me. I knew there was something on your mind.’

‘Sorry, Jimmy,’ Mick said. ‘Is it that obvious?’

Jimmy nodded.

‘All right, lads!’ Mick yelled. Then he blew hard on his whistle. ‘Go on, off yiz go. Well done, lads. I’m sorry for giving yiz a hard time. Yiz did well tonight. Chin up, Barry. You did good, son.’ 

Barry smiled at Mick; it was clear that he’d needed to hear that.

‘Don’t forget we’re playing the under-sixteens in a friendly on Saturday. Be here, ten thirty sharp, lads,’ said Jimmy.

The next day in school, Danny was heading to the toilets when he spotted Principal Dunstan on his knees in his office as he walked by.

Danny stopped and looked in.

There were cloths all over the floor, and the Principal looked to be struggling with a burst pipe in his radiator.

Danny knocked on the door then walked into the office.

‘Are you alright, Mr Dunstan?’ asked Danny.

The Principal looked relieved to see Danny.

‘Danny. Good lad. I was moving my desk when I hit the radiator and now it’s leaking. There’s water everywhere.’

Danny could see that he was holding some cloths around the pipe that was going into the 
radiator.

‘Can I help?’ he asked. ‘Will I go and get Mr Devlin?’

Mr Devlin was the school caretaker.

‘No point,’said Mr Dunstan. ‘He’s still out on sick leave.’

Principal Dunstan was not handy by any stretch of the imagination. He was much more comfortable standing up making announcements than down on the floor with a box of tools. Danny felt a bit sorry for him.

Danny had an idea.

‘I’ll get my da,’ he said. ‘He’s at home cos he’s after being put on a short week in his job.’

‘Do you think he can help?’ asked Mr Dunstan, who was starting to get cramp in his legs from kneeling down.

‘No problem,’ Danny told him. ‘He’s dead handy with anything like that.’

Danny rushed home and got Mick to come down to the school. Mick wasn’t up to much – just reading the job column in the paper, hoping to come across something. 

Principal Dunstan was relieved to see Mick walk into his office with a toolbox in his hand.

‘Let me have a look at that,’ Mick said as he walked over to the radiator, kneeling in front of it. ‘Ah! You’ve just knocked the pipe out. Easily fixed.’

Danny returned back to his class while Mick went to work on the dodgy pipe.

‘There you go,’ Mick said after a short while. ‘All fixed. I don’t think that will give you any more problems, but if it does, just get Danny to let me know.’

The principal couldn’t thank Mick enough. He persuaded him to join him for a cup of tea in the staff room.

‘Danny’s been telling me all about your friend’s daughter in America.’

‘Is that right?’ Mick asked. ‘Yeah, we even had a fundraiser for her. All Danny’s idea, of course. He’s a smashing lad.’

‘He is,’ Mr Dunstan agreed. ‘I believe you two are going over there at the end of the month?’ 

‘That’s right. Did Danny ask you for the Friday and the Monday off?’ asked Mick.

‘It’s fine.’ Mr Dunstan gave him a smile. ‘I’m a firm believer in allowing the odd day off from school when it’s for such a good cause. Danny was saying that your job is under threat!’

‘Yeah! It’s only a matter of time before it goes altogether. The good days with work are well and truly over.’

Principal Dunstan could see how worried Mick looked.

‘So you have a couple of spare days on your hands now?’

‘That’s right.’ Mick nodded. ‘We’re on a three-day week at the moment and that could even go down to two by the end of the month.’

‘I don’t know if you’d be interested in this, but every year around this time, the school has a fundraising day. We do a walk or something along that line. Last year, we had a reading marathon. Anyway, I was wondering if you would be interested in running a kind of football marathon this year for us. Most of the 
kids on your team are pupils in this school, so you’d be familiar with some of the boys, and of course, the rest would do well to have a proper football coach teach them a few new skills.’

Mick was flattered.

‘We usually donate the funds to various different charities. The school would be more than happy to donate any funds raised on the day towards your friend’s daughter’s operation. What do you think, Mick? Would you be interested?’

‘I think that’s a wonderful idea,’ Mick said. ‘And very generous of you.’

‘Right, then! I’ll get the sponsorship sheets printed up straight away so the boys can get some money in.’

Mick thought that was a great idea, and shook hands with the school principal.