Outbreak 19

Lucas rose out of bed, checked to see if Papa Phillip was awake. He wasn’t, so he trundled down the stairs to make a start with breakfast. Did I go get the milk yesterday? he pondered. He cursed himself for his forgetfulness and went to collect it. He reached the tall gate that led to his drive. He twisted the handle but it wouldn't budge. Lucas tried another time but it still wouldn't work. It needed mending. He could go back round and out via the front door but thinking like most twelve year olds, he knew a short cut, he was a nimble lad. Athletically, he jumped up and grabbed the top of the gate and flipped over to the other side. He noticed a slight tear in his jeans from the manoeuvre. The sun was shining strong on the milk. He knew it would be sour. He collected the gone off milk and use his height and agility to scale the fence again. Lucas was a tall lad with light hair and an unkempt appearance. He liked to keep himself clean but smart clothes weren't his thing and he wasn't the sort of boy who let damaged jeans bother him. He headed back in. Looked like they weren't going to be having cereal this morning. Inspecting the fridge for an alternative option, he found some bacon. 

Papa Phillip woke up and he struggled against his old crooked broken body. He had a harsh memory back when he used to be up top for the Waterford Panthers, his body didn’t fail him then. He chuckled at the thought. Panting all the way down the stairs and into the kitchen where Lucas was making him breakfast,
"Bacon rolls! Oh you’re too kind young lad, you really didn’t need to," he said.
"It’s fine papa, go take a seat. I really did need to because I left the milk out yesterday, sorry about that." said Lucas.

Papa Phillip trudged over to his old armchair, which had served him well over the last 50 years. Once the bacon rolls were ready Lucas served them up on the table and helped Papa Phillip to sit down.
"Bacon rolls are my favourite anyway. Got any ketchup young lad?"
"I don't actually know papa, I'll check now." Lucas searched but couldn't find any. "Can you cope without, papa?".
"Aye I'll be fine, it's not the end of the world". 
"I'll go get some after breakfast papa, along with some milk, before I forget." They scoffed breakfast and Lucas put his shoes on to go and get some ketchup.

Lucas looked after his Papa. It was sometimes difficult and it was easy to forget the odd chore. To the authorities, Papa Phillip looked after Lucas but over the years papa got slower and Lucas got stronger and papa relied on Lucas a lot.

Some very odd things happened on his journey to the shop. First he noticed a middle aged woman flying towards him as he neared the top of the hill. They were difficult to miss. She was sitting deep in the buggy with her child on top of her lap, both of them were screaming and laughing hysterically. He stood, hands in his pockets, and tracked them with his gaze as they zoomed past showing no signs of slowing down. He walked on. Next he passed a man running along with a shopping trolley full of chocolates and sweets, he had a doughnut in his mouth while he was pushing the trolley and still manages a childish grin despite the blockage. Then Lucas' attention was drawn to a commotion as he neared the park. A football match between adults and children was in full flow. They were using briefcases for goalposts. A tall lanky man in a mud covered business suit called over to another similarly dressed gent walking past.

"Hey George! Wanna come play? We're losing, we could use your help." George looked over, frowned and said, "Lenny, is that you? We're supposed to be in a meeting in fifteen minutes."

"Phah, meetings are for grownups," shouted the man as he lunged into a sliding tackle that sent a screaming seven year old cartwheeling through the air. Lucas continued his journey as George looked on, open mouthed in disbelief as his fellow work colleague screamed loudly at the crying, flattened kid, "Who are you? Neymar? Now't wrong with that challenge."

Lucas reached the shop, collected a basket of items and went to the counter to pay. The cashier stared at him.

"What do you want me to do with this?", she said. 

"What do you mean?" asked Lucas. "Can't you just scan it through like normal?"

She started spinning in the chair "Weeeee, weeeee!" she cried. Lucas stared. "Are you feeling ok?" "Weeeee!" She was getting faster, "this is fun!" she shouted. He'd had enough and placed a five pound note on top of the till which he knew would cover the cost of his items. He backed away and left the shop.

He rushed home to tell his papa the weird things he'd seen on the way to the shop. He got home and walked into the living room. "Papa, Papa, I've got to tell you what I've just seen. Papa..."

"Shh!" Papa interrupted with a finger to his lips. The TV was on loud and the Prime Minister was standing in front of a lectern looking serious. Papa was listening intently. 

"...as of yet, we don't know the cause of the outbreak, but rest assured we have our top scientists working on it. It's important that the nation stays calm during these difficult times." Boris said.

"What's happening Papa?" Lucas asked.

Papa had a huge smile on his face, "Well apparently, everybody's catching a virus which is making them young again! It's a joke surely, it can't be true."

Lucas was putting two and two together, "It is true Papa, it is true. I've witnessed it already. I thought folks were acting really weird and now it all makes sense."

"What do you mean son?" asked Papa.

"Outside. Just now. Adults are acting like children, messing about, playing on stuff, playing football with the local kids. I was about to explain."

"How do I catch that? I'd give anything to be kicking a football about again".

"It doesn't look like it's difficult to catch." announced Lucas pointing at the TV screen.

They both stared in disbelief as the camera men and news crews were nudging each other and laughing as the Prime Minister had his thumb in his mouth crying, “I want my mummy!”

Papa and Lucas went to the front window and stared out onto the street. Neither of them was sure what they expected to see. “Looks quiet” said Papa.

“I guess,” said Lucas, “We’ll get a better view from the street.” They moved to the front door. Tentatively two heads appeared from the doorway of number 18 Park Drive. “Well how’d you feel Papa?”

“Fine, you?”

“Fine. So shall we?” Lucas asked.

“Yeh c’mon,” announced Papa. Off they trundled to the edge of the drive. Little did they know how much their day was about to change. 

Standing at the top of the drive they could see much more clearly up and down the street to the park and the playing field beyond. “Look Papa, that football match is still in full swing and I can see through the trees to the play park. It looks mobbed.” 

All of a sudden there was a loud slam from three doors down.  Tommy Hughes burst from his house with an old leather ball. He ran out, his old football boots crunching against the gravel.

“Look out!” Papa said as Tommy came running up to them.

With the ball under his arm Tommy grabbed Papa and started to shake him violently. “Y’all right Penalty Phil, a feel amazing. How’d you feel ya old codger?” He didn’t give Papa the chance to reply. “Not that it would make any difference. You played like an old man back then anyhows. Mon the Bees,” he screamed as he threw the ball into the air and volleyed it over the trees and into the park.

He ran after it with the exuberance of a 15 year old before a match. “Jings, I hate that man.” said Papa.

“What’s that all about? I didn’t know you and Mr Hughes had history. And what’s with ‘Penalty Phil’?” Lucas asked.

“It’s a long story but Tommy was full back for the Bees same time I was forward for Panthers. I missed a penalty in the under 14s regional cup final. Just about the last kick of the match. We lost 3-2. He’s never missed an opportunity to rub that one in.”

“So you two were rivals then Papa?”

“For sure. Games were tough back then Lucas. No quarter given. Sliding tackles, barged off the ball. You had to play with a passion if you wanted to win.” Papa watched Tommy disappear towards the pitches. “Now look at him. I reckon he must be in his early 80s by now and he’s moving like he’s in his teens.”

Lucas was wondering. “I can see that with my own eyes Papa, but we don’t know the first thing about this virus. It could be dangerous.”

Papa turned to Lucas, “At my age, just having a bath is dangerous!”

Lucas came back into the living room with a hot cup of tea. “Here you go Papa.”

“Thanks” he said, “Good lad. The cabinet in the corner Lucas, there’s a box in the 3rd drawer down. An old biscuit tin. Can you fetch it for me?”

“Sure.” Lucas rummaged in the drawer and fetched the tin for his Papa. He’s seen it before and he knew his Papa kept some of his old football medals in there. He’d heard most of the stories already but he felt a pang of guilt for his Papa. On the one hand, he was glad his Papa hadn’t caught this thing, whatever it was. On the other hand, he could see how upset his Papa was at the thought of missing out. The chance to be young again. Who could blame him. And for how long, nobody knew.

So he sat and listened to the stories again. They were still funny and Papa was growing more animated with each one. “O’ this is a classic Lucas! The Middlestone knock out competition. The Panthers won 4-3 in the final and I got a hat trick in that one. Their coach was moving players about when we took a quick corner. They were all over the place and I smashed the winning goal into the back of the net from the edge of the box. We were all jumping and celebrating and they were all shouting at each other and blaming the coach. What a laugh.” Papa reached for his cup of tea, “Jings this tastes bitter.”

“Really, Papa? You love your tea, I’ll make you another if you like?” asked Lucas.

“Wow, my legs feel weird.” Papa shifted to the edge of his chair. “It’s like, it’s like they’re all hot.” Papa grabbed Lucas by the arm, “Jings it’s like they’re on fire!” He jumped out of the seat. “Oh my gosh, it’s through my whole body!” He dropped to the floor and started doing press-ups. He sprang to his feet and started doing jumping jacks. He then started running around the living room screaming, “It’s a miracle! I’ve not had this much energy since, well, since I was your age. It’s amazing!”

Lucas tried to calm his Papa, “Take it easy Papa, please.”

“I’m fine Lucas, honest. That idiot Tommy must have given me this when he grabbed hold of me.” His eyes were sparking with excitement. He then sprinted up to his bedroom, opened the chest at the bottom of his bed and took out his old dusty football boots.

Lucas appears at the doorway, “Papa slow down!”

“No way, Lucas, I’m back in business!” He rummaged deeper and pulled out a dishevelled Panthers’ kit from the 1950s. He was laughing hysterically, “Your Grandma Betty was always telling me to chuck this stuff out. I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Too many memories.” Papa paused. “If she was here now we could dance round the house like we did when we met.”

“I’m sorry Papa,” said Lucas.

“It’s ok Lucas, they’re happy thoughts. Betty would be the first to tell me to go have a kick about.” He grinned, “D’you think I’ll still fit in these?”

Papa’s boots fitted him good. Lucas prepared a couple of sandwiches, some of their favourite biscuits and a couple of water bottles and shoved it all into his rucksack. Once Lucas was all geared up with his own footy kit, they set off for the park.

It was a huge park. Four Sunday league pitches in the middle, with open ground at the top and a swing park and adventure playground at the other end nearer the town. At the goal side of the pitches there was a narrow pathway that lead to the Waterford Panthers car park and then on to the main stadium beyond. The whole park was surrounded by trees on all sides and Lucas always felt lucky that they lived at this end of town.

They could see Tommy Hughes and others, playing on the last pitch before the swings and so they headed the opposite way.

“Where do you want to start Papa?”

“You young folks know all the drills nowadays. Why don’t you think up a good training session?” Papa suggested, “I’ll follow your lead.”

“Ok Papa, try and keep up!” Lucas laughed, but papa had already tapped the ball out from under his feet and was off.

“Like this you mean!” joked Papa.

Lucas took off after him and they got into their stride quickly, passing the ball back and forth, practicing shots on goal from all angles. He was loving playing with his Papa. He couldn’t quite believe what was happening. Maybe it was all just a dream. If it was then it was a brilliant dream and he was going to enjoy it for as long as it lasted.

“Top corner Lucas!”

Lucas covered the ground fast and leaped as high as he could with his arm outstretched, but Papa still had some skills and he wasn’t stopping it.

“I’ve still got it Lucas!” said Papa.

The pair played all morning before stopping for lunch on the grass slope at the side of the pitch. Lucas dished out the sandwiches and biscuits and they tucked in.

“Oh I haven’t had this much fun since the Waterford Panthers won the cup,” said Papa. “I tell you what Lucas, you put in some cracking saves. I’ve missed a lot the last few years, not being able to get about as much.”

“Thanks Papa,” said Lucas, he was loving it too. “There was no goalkeeper at training once so I went in and I played better than our main goalie. I’ve been there ever since.”

More people started turning up. Some of Lucas’s teammates came and sat next to them. “So what do you think about this virus thing”? asked the right-back, Jack.

“Well my Papa’s got it, and he’s feeling alright aren’t you Papa?” replied Lucas.

“I’m feeling better than I’ve felt in a long time actually boys,” Papa beamed.

From the corner of his eye Lucas noticed a group approaching from the bottom end of the park. Tommy Hughes was walking over with his mates.

“Right!” shouted Tommy as he got nearer, “I’m not going to pretend I’ve just come over here for an idle chat. I have a proposal!” The two groups were now face to face and Lucas recognised a few of them from the neighbourhood.

Tommy continued, “Do any of you fine men recognise this person to my right?” There stood an elderly man with bad posture and thinning hair.

Lucas made a face, “Nope”. The elderly man deflated slightly like this was a regular thing.

“Well,” declared Tommy, “he’s the head groundskeeper for the Waterford Panthers and he’s agreed to lend us the pitch for one afternoon, an eleven-a-side match just like we used to play. So what do you say old man, take it, or if you’re too scared, leave it?”

Papa paused for a moment and turned to Lucas and the rest of his friends with a questioning shrug. Lots of heads were nodding with excitement. “Alright, you’re on!”

“When, tomorrow?’ Papa asked.

“No way!” said Tommy, “Who knows how long this is all going to last. We’re here now. We’re feeling fit.  Let’s make it a 3 o’clock kick-off like a proper footy match. Looks like you’re a couple short of a full team so you’d better get a shift on old boy.”

Tommy was all puffed up and full of confidence. Lucas was starting to understand why Papa disliked Tommy so much. He was more than a little bit annoying. He continued to bark out how things were going to be, “We’ll play in blue. You play in red Phil. Just like old times. Footy tops, t-shirts, don’t matter so long as it’s team colours. All good?”

“Sure, we can do that,” Papa said.

“Brilliant! We’ll get a ref. Don’t want you lot hackin’ us all,” said Tommy.

Papa leant towards Lucas. “More like they’d be hacking us,” he whispered.

“3 o’clock on the pitch! See ya!” and with that there was a round of high-fives, cheers and goading with pointed fingers as they turned to go.

One of the boys behind Lucas said, “Jings, they’re acting like a bunch of kids.” They all turned in unison and stared at him with blank expressions.

“Right!” said Papa, “We need to get organised, and quick. It’s 12:30 and we want to be on that park for a warm up before 3 o’clock.”

“We need two more players Papa and at least one or two subs,” Lucas said.

“I can go get my dad,” another said, “He was playing with my old lego when I left the house but he’ll probably want to play.”

“I can get my brother.”

“Me too.”

With a few more ideas from the rest of the team, they all took off in different directions each with a task to perform. Some fetching more players, some fetching water bottles for the team and some raiding their wardrobes for red kits. They all agreed to meet at the changing rooms of the Panthers’ Stadium at 2:30 precisely.

“Do you know most of those boys Lucas?” Papa asked.

“Sure,” said Lucas, ”They know how to play Papa.”

“That’s good, because we better plan out a team and team positions if we’re to stand a chance at beating Tommy’s lot. I recognised a few of them and they were very good players back in the day.”

Lucas and his Papa were watching supporters arrive from the window in the hallway on the second floor of the Waterford Panthers stadium. “Imagine all those people coming to see us,” chuckled Papa. “This is so peculiar Lucas. It’s like a dream come true.” Lucas was standing next to his Papa with a huge grin on his face, thinking of the afternoon ahead.

Apparently the Waterford Panthers had posted about the match on Facebook and crowds were forming to watch. Some teenagers tended the gates. Others volunteered to help with the food stalls but quickly regretted their decision when both adults and children were loudly nagging for chips, fizzy drinks and mars bars and the queue was endless.

”Are you nervous Papa?” asked Lucas.

“A wee bit, but nerves help young lad, you’ll play rubbish without them.” Papa replied.

They headed down to the changing rooms where they had planned to meet to get ready for the match. They had appointed a manager called Scotty to keep them on track. Scotty was a tall lad, about 19 years old and he really only got the job because nobody else wanted it. They were in the away changing room and it was all brown decor and a bit dark and smelly. Lucas thought it looked a bit run down. Maybe it was mind games he thought, give the away team a depressing changing room to get changed in. Either way, all the oldies were so excited to play they didn’t notice and spirits were high.

Scotty told the team to go out and get a good warm-up done first, so he could see with his own eyes what skills they had.

Papa’s team was mostly made up of Lucas’s teammates, coaching staff and some dads who were more than a bit eager to play. However, to keep things fair, each team had one Waterford player each. Lucas thought this was a good idea at first. Papa’s team had George Elliot, a Waterford Panther midfielder who was a brilliant passer of the ball. But Tommy’s team had Rick Roberts, a dirty centre back whose motto was, let the ball through, or the player through, but never both!

Both teams were into their warm-ups. The players had to stretch a lot as it was deemed they were in a high risk category of pulling a muscle because of their real age. They moved fast and looked fit but nobody knew if their bodies could match their energy. Papa was firing shots into Lucas to warm him up too, but Lucas was pre-occupied by the sight of the crowds and was having trouble concentrating.

“Forget the crowd Lucas,” shouted Papa, “Just concentrate on your game!” Lucas focused and got down quickly for a save at the post. With a few more saves, his confidence was rising. “Good lad,” said Papa.

Once they had had a decent warm-up Scotty shouted them in for the team talk. “Listen up lads, all bragging rights are on the line,” he announced. The room fell silent except for a few clunks of studs on tiles which eventually stopped.

All eyes were on Scotty, “I know you are asking yourself, how did this happen? Why am I here?” He moved across the room looking at each player in turn, “It doesn’t matter. Block that out of your mind. My coach always started with a reminder about our training. Our preparation. Our resilience. But I don’t know you guys enough to do that. All I’ve seen is a 20 minute warm-up. But in that 20 minutes I’ve seen enough to know we’ve got a team here.”

He paused as he turned at the end of the dressing room and begin a slow walk back, “This is a strange day to say the least. I look at many of you and I feel like I should be helping you out onto the pitch.”

There were a few laughs from the oldest in the room, including Papa. “But do you know what else I see? I see a light in your eyes. An excitement that only a child has. A dream come true.” He was getting animated. “But above all else I see drive and determination written all over your faces. A once in a lifetime opportunity! So leave nothing behind! Get out there, AND GIVE IT YOUR ALL!”

Not half bad Lucas thought, and with that the team jumped to action with the younger players heading for the door screaming loud chants of ‘c’mon!’ and ‘let’s go!’ and the older players heading for the toilet.

They went and lined up in the tunnel. 10 seconds later Tommy’s team came out wearing their blue kit. The tunnel was cramped and not very well lit. All you could see was the blinding light at the end.

Papa had told Lucas to not look over at the other players, “They’ll try and get in your head” he’d said, so Lucas kept his eyes locked ahead of him. Tommy trotted past, “Ha! I’m going to put ten past you ya midget”. Lucas couldn’t think of a response before the moment had passed. It was an odd thing to say, seeing as Lucas was taller than him, but what position was Tommy playing he pondered. Then Rick Roberts came alongside which made things clear. The Panthers’ hard man centre back was playing for the opposition. Lucas tried not to look but couldn’t help himself. Roberts was grinning and thrust out a hand and nodded his head towards it. It was like shaking hands with superman. Lucas was glad he had his gloves on.

“C’mon the Bees!” someone shouted from further up the line.

“C’mon the Panthers!” Lucas blurted back as loud as he could but he was still locked in a handshake with Roberts, whose grin was now even wider and his grip a little tighter. He leaned closer to Lucas. “Good luck lad,” he whispered, winked, and released his vice-like grip.

The ref walked by and said something at the front to Papa. Papa laughed and said something back then they all started an almost robotic walk out onto the pitch. Lucas could feel his legs moving and before he knew it he was on the pitch in the glaring sunlight. Tons of people were in the stands cheering, there was music playing and at that moment he felt like he was on top of the world. Normally he would be one of those people in the stands but today he was on the pitch and he was loving every second of it.

Lucas ran to his goal and tapped his boots against the post. Papa walked to the ref and so did Tommy. They exchanged words and the coin was flipped. The Bees got kick off. Papa ran out of the centre circle and shouted a few last minute instructions to the players to keep sharp and stay alert. The stadium fell silent. The ref put his whistle to his lips and blew. The match kicked off.

The ball was played quickly from kick off to the local butcher in the middle of the park who played it back to Rick Roberts who punted the ball forward to the hairdresser on the wing. He had some pace on him and took it past two Panthers players as he ran down the wing. The left back covered well but just before the tackle went in, the ball swung into the box. No way was Lucas reaching it but Papa’s old team mate, Adam, got his head to it and cleared it but only as far as the local butcher. He snatched at the volley and Lucas caught it easily but it was a shot on target in the first minute. Tommy’s team meant business.

“Sharpen up lads!” shouted Scotty from the sideline.

Lucas threw the ball out to the right back Jack who played a neat pass up the line to Jimmy. A loyal Waterford Panthers fan, and on his fiftieth consecutive season ticket, Jimmy was usually hurling abuse from the terraces. This time he was on the pitch and clearly had something to prove. Papa faked a run and then dropped short to receive the ball from Jimmy, then spun Rick Roberts and tried to play the ball into the box but was chopped down hard. This was an explosive start to the game and the crowds were loving it.

A free kick was awarded to the Panthers but nothing came from it and the Bees had most of the possession for the first 20 minutes. The Panthers continued to work hard, closing the opposition down and blocking their moves, and slowly, Papa and the team started to see more of the ball. They continued making good runs, boosted by George Elliot’s brilliant passing, but every time they pushed forwards they would get blocked by Rick Roberts. Roberts was the key to the Bees’ defence and he was playing well.

The Bees were patient at the back. Passing the ball with confidence, it wasn’t long before they got another chance to score. With a few good passes forward and a brilliant one-two, Tommy was clear on goal and let loose a stinging shot.

It came at Lucas with power and he parried the ball which spun wildly in front of him. Tommy was moving fast but Lucas dropped his body on top of it and lay still with the ball firmly secured underneath.

Tommy jumped over Lucas as his momentum carried him past. The crowd cheered and then clapped in appreciation. “Lucky save,” Tommy muttered as he trotted back.

Adam patted Lucas on the back, “Well done lad.”

Lucas sighed a breath of relief, composed himself and kicked the ball out to the left wing Oliver. He was the coach’s son at Lucas’s team who played in the older age group so Lucas hadn’t played with him before but they were doing ok so far. Oliver brought the ball forward then cut back and switched it to Adam who, under no pressure, brought it forward some more before passing to George in midfield. Two Bees players came at him fast but George, ever alert, flicked it to Jack who had made a move up the wing. Jack avoided a first tackle and raced up the line but Rick Roberts was covering and went in for the sliding tackle. Jack nimbly chipped it over his leg and jumped as high as he could whilst tucking his legs in to avoid Rick’s reaching hands. It was a lucky break to be past Roberts and he kept running before swinging the ball into the box. The Bees keeper came to punch the ball clear but it was headed away and over the bar for a corner.

George Elliot stepped up to take it. It was the first proper chance at goal for the Panthers and the Bees were under pressure. Elbows were nudging at ribs as players shuffled for the best positions. George put a brilliant ball into the box. Papa read it perfectly and moved quickly forward taking Rick Roberts with him before spinning back to where he knew the ball was going to be. Rick Roberts was fooled but wasn’t giving up. He grabbed at Papa’s arm then pretended to fall over taking Papa with him. The butcher hooked the cross clear of the goal.

“Hey ref!” shouted George Elliot, his hands waving frantically. The crowed jeered but the ref had clearly missed seeing the foul. Coach Scott was jumping up and down like a madman.

The Panthers had committed too many men forward. They were in trouble now. The Bees were off on the counter attack and driving with pace towards Lucas’s goal with only Adam in defence and others running to cover. Adam made a brave tackle which was a split second from halting the move, but the ball ricocheted straight to the butcher who booted it forward and Tommy ran onto it. Lucas couldn’t decide whether to run out or to stick to his line. Tommy tapped the ball clear of the chasing defenders. It was a little too far from his feet maybe, and Lucas made his move. He ran out but Tommy got there first and put a calm finish over Lucas’s diving body.

Tommy made the most of his celebration while Lucas sat on the grass pondering what he could have done better. Half the crowd were cheering and the other half were shouting at the ref and Roberts. Roberts wasn’t celebrating. Maybe he actually realised how unfair that goal was. A minute earlier the Panthers had looked like scoring and now they were one-nil down. George Elliot came over to Lucas. “Chin up lad, you were so close to saving it.” He helped Lucas up and ran back to his position.

Papa ran up to Rick Roberts. “What was that? Do you know what a fair tackle is?” Rick walked past Papa not saying anything.

“Heads up lads!” shouted Scott from the sides as the ball was placed on the centre spot and the whistle blew for the restart.

The Bees were oozing confidence now and the Panther were on the back foot defending move after move for the last twenty minutes of the first half. Lucas made some brilliant saves and the team continued to clear the ball from danger but the Panthers needed that equaliser to get back into the match. The opportunity never came and the whistle blew for half time. One-nil Lucas thought. That’s ok considering the Bees had been on the attack since they scored.