“Happy Birthday Micky”
EPISODE IV - part 2
Sunday morning and everyone was woken by the
smell of frying bacon; Grandad was
making breakfast. It got so late last night he had to stay in Micky's room on the camp bed.
“Full English! The only way to start the day," said the old man and, by the way everyone
set about the morning feast, it was clear they agreed; more family chat and
enough tea to float a ship. Later, Micky
and Sally cleared up and did the
washing and drying. Shortly after 10am Grandad
announced he was leaving.
"Right, I’m off down the plot for an hour before I go to the
club. You coming for a game of snooker later Billy?"
"Yeah, I’ll be in about half twelve. See you there.”
Sally chirps up, “Right, I’m off to Angie's. We're going into
town shopping."
"OK luv. See you
later," replies
mum, who, apart from getting Sunday
dinner ready has a quiet day planned. "What you up to Micky?"
she asked.
"Couple of DVD's to watch and a bit of homework needs to be in
tomorrow."
So a very organised day for all the family passed without incident
and the start of a busy new week was upon them. Sally called Micky down
for breakfast; dad and mum had already gone to work.
"Come on Micky it's on the table."
"Alright! I’m getting washed"
Micky and
Sally sat chatting and having a cup if tea.
"It's tonight your going to that running club isn’t it?"
asked Sally.
"Yeah, I don't know what it's gonna be like. I only know that
John from school."
“You’ll be fine. Are you looking forward to it?"
“I think so. It’s gonna be different. Right then, that's me, I’m
off." Within the
minute he was out the door. Sally set
about tidying the kitchen and got the washing basket out ready to put a wash
on. Not much to do on a Monday morning
which would give her chance for a bit of time to herself. Sally is seventeen and she had left school when she was sixteen
with two O’levels. She has not decided what career she would like and is in no
hurry to make a rash choice. She is a clever girl who does not mind all the
work at home. That’s just how the Molloy
family does things, (old fashioned family values.)
Micky is having a good day at school. His
homework was handed in, (complete), which is a rarity. All the morning classes
were quite good fun with the teachers all in good moods, for some unknown
reason. Dinner time came around and, after polishing off his packed lunch, the
playground football match took place. About twenty five a side today - filling
the whole school yard. When the bell goes to end lunchtime, John, the 5th former, runs over to Micky.
"You still on for tonight Molloy?"
"Yeah, sure," replied Micky.
"Right then, I’ll be at your's for half past six. OK?"
"OK. See you later."
A wide smile came over Micky's
face which was to last for the rest of the afternoon. School ended and, as Micky was heading home, John caught him up.
"Forgot to tell you before. Don't have a big tea before we go
to club. Better have something light then a proper tea after."
"Right OK then. Owt else?"
“No, just shorts and T-shirt and your ordinary trainers."
Micky broke into a bit of a jog to get home and
to get everything ready. When he arrived home Sally said, “Tea will be ready in about an hour."
"Is
it OK if I just have a sandwich then my proper tea when I get back from the
running club?" Micky asks.
"Yeah sure. I forgot about that. Do you want the sandwich
now?"
"Yes please," replied Micky before
going upstairs to sort out some kit and give his trainers the ‘once over’ with
a damp cloth. Sally went into the
front room and told mum and dad that Micky
will be having his tea when he comes back from the running club. Micky came downstairs and sat down at
the table to eat his sandwich.
"How long you gonna be at this running malarkey Mick?"
dad asks.
"About an hour I think
dad. Should be back before 8 o'clock."
"Maybe we should wait till he comes home before we have
tea," he said to Jenny and Sally. They both smile and agree that that would be nice. Before
too long a car horn sounded outside. It's John
with another older lad.
“Right I’m off. See you later," said Micky,
who doesn’t hear any of the good luck wishes from everyone. He jumped in the
car and off they go.
"Alright Molloy, this is
Dave, one of our senior members."
"Alright lad," said Dave. "First
time eh! It’s great. You'll love
it."
"Hope so," said Micky.
The lads pull onto the car park which is already half full. Over the massive fir tree hedge the huge spotlights
were illuminating the whole arena. They enter through the side gate which is
manned by one of the groundsmen who Micky
remembers from his work with the community service people. The chap does not
appear to recognise Micky. Even if
he did he would probably not embarrass the lad.
"OK lads?" he asks.
"Yes thanks,” replied Dave and lead the way onto the track. Micky
stopped dead, his mouth open as are his wide eyes. Dozens of people of all ages
were stretching, bending, sprinting, throwing javelins, and discus.
“WOW,” mouthed Micky.
"Come on Molloy. I’ll introduce you to the coach. He'll sort
you out," said John and over to the clubhouse they
headed. When they got there, a tall, thin bloke in a tracksuit with a clipboard
greeted them and asked John, "Who do we have here then?"
"Alright coach; this is the young kid from school I told you
about - Micky Molloy."
"Hi Micky, my name is Ray, Ray Thompson but everyone just
calls me coach. Is that OK for you?"
"Sure coach, whatever you say."
"Right then, first of all how old are you Micky?"
"14 day after tomorrow," smiled Micky.
"Happy birthday for then. What sort of running have you done
in the past?"
"Not much really. Just at school; cross country and stuff.
It's mostly football at our school."
John agreed.
"But we did a cross country the other week and he really raced
it coach. He's strong and pretty quick."
"So, what do you say to a bit of track running to start with
young Micky, then we can get a look at you?"
"OK coach."
"Right then John, start him off with 400s. Nice and steady. Let him get used to
it."
So off they went in a group of about fifteen. Once round the track
at a good pace then round again a little slower.
"Just don't try to keep up with the quick lads; they really
can motor," John told Micky.
"Not much chance of that; look at em go."
Micky was taking everything in like a sponge. Coach Thompson was keeping an eye on
young Micky, as he did with all the
new kids. 
He had seen so many come down full of enthusiasm, yet most never
come back more than two or three times once they realised how much work was
involved if they wanted to be anything like decent athletes, but he still
watched and he still hoped. Nearing the end of the session John pointed out to Micky
the importance of stretching properly after exercise, (warming down). Again Micky took in every word. They had a
chatted with coach afterwards before Dave
came over and said, "You two ready? I need to get home for
a shower. I’m off out tonight." John and Micky said good
night to Coach Thompson who asked,
"See you next week Micky?"
"Yeah, why not," replied the youngster with a smile, and then jogged
sprightly over to Dave’s car. Most
of the talk on the way home was between the two older boys. When they arrived
back at Micky's house both lads came
up to the door to let his mum and dad know he had a good time and that they
brought him straight home.
"Cheers lads, see you again.” Billy
thanked the boys.
"See you in school tomorrow Micky," John
said and off the pair go. Now they all sit down to tea and listen while the
excited young lad tells all about his first experience at the running club.
Tuesday morning at Weston Secondary Modern and all the talk is of that night's first
round, 1st leg UEFA cup tie. Rovers
are at home to Sparta Prague but Micky is still buzzin from last
night’s experience, but the UEFA cup
is the subject everyone is talking about today. Little does Micky know his Grandad has sorted tickets out with his mate on the coaching staff.
John sees Micky at lunch time and trod carefully when asking him about the
track. He also has seen kids get fed up when pressured about running.
"Alright Molloy? You
ready for the footy tonight?"
"Yeah," says Micky. "Can
I come with you and Dave again next week? It’s OK with my parents. Oh, and they
said thanks for bringing me straight home."
"No problem. I’ll check with Dave but it should be OK."
"Right then, I’m going for a kickabout. See you later," and off he went. John just sat there smiling and thinking, maybe just maybe, but
we'll just have to wait and see. The whole afternoon was a buzz about tonight’s
game. Even the teachers were not taking the lessons too seriously, and, when
the final bell goes, it’s a stampede to get out of school. Mick heads off to his Granddad’s
plot as usual only to find the old man sitting outside his shed not in his
usual gardening clothes or boots, but in the clothes he wears for Rovers matches, (scarf, and bob-hat n
all).
"What’s going on gramps?" asked Micky,
and the old man pulls out two tickets for tonight’s game.
"Happy Birthday Micky. Let’s get you home and ready for this
game eh!"
"Oh wow gramps, you’re
brilliant," and gave
him the biggest hug ever.
When they arrive at the house Micky
guessed they all knew about the tickets by the huge grins they were all
wearing.
"This is great isn’t it?"
"Go on, get your stuff on. It's all laid out on the bed for
you." Mum told him and, while Micky was upstairs in his room, she got
a big homemade cottage pie out of the oven. Sally buttered half a loaf, and dad got the pickles and beetroot
out of the cupboard. Grandad laid
the table. Tea was a rushed, excited affair and, when it's finished, it's still
only half past five.
“Let’s put the telly on and see what they have to say about
tonight’s game.”
Quarter past six and Micky
is itching to get to the game. “Come on then. Let’s go. We can read the
programme before the kick off instead of at half time," and off
they went. As it turned out they were far from early; the crowd walking through
the estate was already in the hundreds.
"This is gonna be great gramps!" Soaking up the atmosphere all the way to
the Rovers ground, joining in with
the chanting really put Micky and
his Grandad in the mood for a great
night of European football. They got
on the ground and took their seats in the stand; dead central, right on the
half way line, perfect! The ground was filling up fast and there were only
twenty minutes to kickoff. All around this famous old ground were groups of
families; fathers and sons, husbands and wives, grandparents, uncles, the whole
mix. There was even a group of about 600 fans under the Great Clock who had made the journey from the
Despite massive pressure, disputed decisions, and plenty of
attempts on goal at either end, that’s the way it stayed. Great game, great
result, look forward to the second leg.
Wednesday morning and Micky
was up very early, after all it was his birthday. Dad, Billy, was already
at work but Mum had taken the
morning off. "Happy Birthday Micky," said Sally and gave him his present.
Mum gave him a big kiss and
said, "Happy Birthday luv. It's from all of us.” He ripped off
the paper and yelled, “GREAT”, a mobile phone, brilliant!
"It’s all set up Micky and there’s £20 credit on it for you.” With a little tear in his eye he gives his
mum and his sister a great big cuddle.
"What a great week this is," Micky
said. His young life was moving in the right direction at last. No getting into
trouble all the time; his school work was improving and, on top of everything, Micky was quite a happy kid these days.
Let’s hope it stays that way, eh?
Written by: Graham V.
Submitted: 2nd June 2007
Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor
NEXT EPISODE (V) – THE DEVIL
MAKES WORK…..
