Parables of Clippety (9) - The Big Match

 

They linked arms and walked through the turnstiles. The crowd was already singing, the din of thousands of voices bouncing around inside the stadium, forming a swell of soundwaves and making the air feel thick and loaded. Marni felt altered, physiologically so; her cheeks blazed and she was overwhelmed, almost embarrassed by the heavy, volatile atmosphere. She wandered like a child, gazing in all directions and Clare had to hold her hand and guide her along the tier to a pair of suitable seats.

 

‘Look there’s Mo Salah and Diogo Jota,’ Clare was grinning, she clasped her hands together, gleeful at the sight of real sports stars, ‘and now here’s the Watford squad, they look rough don’t they.’

 

Marni was still looking uncomfortable. ‘Who?’ she mumbled. ‘I’ve just got a text from Chris.’

 

Clare laughed, ‘Oh my god. Now? Are you joking?’

 

Marni shook her head silently, her face had turned paler. ‘It’s Minke,’ she said, ‘he’s really ill apparently, hasn’t eaten for two days.’

 

‘Minke...oh is that one of the cats?’

 

‘Yes, he’s the ginger one, the brother of Beluga, the white one, those two went to live with Chris and I got Blue and Killer but Killer died a few years ago, do you remember?’

 

‘Yes I do Marni. You had him cremated.’

 

‘I do hope my Blue is okay. My neighbour is going to check on him. Poor Minke.’ The game had begun now and the players ran about on the pitch in their red shirts to huge cheers from the supporters. ‘They look just like the Subbuteo figures my brother used to play with.’

 

‘This is real football Marni. God knows I’ve watched enough of Adam’s games on a Saturday, standing in the rain in a pacamac with random cringey dads.’

 

‘I must say, this is almost too much for me Clare. I feel really quite giddy and overcome.’

 

‘Come on!’ Clare slapped her on the thigh. ‘Let’s just relax and enjoy the game. I’m loving this atmosphere, I feel like I’m being lifted up to the heavens! Look, they’re getting stuck in now.’

 

With the game underway. Marni removed a pair of small field glasses from her handbag and began to scan the front row by the bench. ‘I’ve spotted him,’ she whispered, pointing across to the other side of the pitch. She passed the glasses to Clare. ‘Look he’s there.’

 

Clare searched along the view until she stopped abruptly, gasping for breath she said, ‘Oh my god, in the flesh!’

 

Marni reached back for them, prizing them from Clare’s hands. She was just homing in on Jurgen when he shot up from his seat and threw his arms in the air and the whole stadium erupted into jumping and shouting. ‘What the hell happened?’ Marni said, dropping her field glasses onto the floor so that they fell down onto the lower tier in front.

 

‘Mo’s scored a goal Marni! He’s bloody brilliant that man!’

 

‘Which one’s he again?’

 

‘The guy with the hair. Get your glasses and I’ll show you.’

 

‘I’ve dropped them down there.’

 

Clare tutted. ‘Look, there he is on the big screen now, there!’

 

‘Wow, look at him. He’s hot. Maybe we should give our special Love Heart sweet to him instead.’

 

Clare tapped on the shoulder of the man in front who looked annoyed. She asked him to hand back the field glasses which had landed under his seat and he had to lean awkwardly to reach them. He grimaced and grabbed his shoulder in pain, swearing under his breath as he handed them over.

 

Over the course of the game the ladies' eyes kept getting drawn to the big screen which was constantly zooming in on Jurgen, one minute he lifted his arms, grinning with delight, the next he raised his hands up to his head in despair. Liverpool scored a second goal. ‘Go Takumi!’ Clare screamed, pumping her fist in the air.

 

‘Who?’

 

‘Takumi Minamino. Look, it says his name on the big screen!’

 

‘He looks Japanese.’

 

‘He is Japanese.’

 

Half-time arrived and some people left their seats to go and go and get food and drink. Marni was still feeling unsettled. ‘My anxiety bubble keeps growing Clare. I just hope it doesn’t pop.’

 

‘You need to keep your head. Just remember what we’re doing here and how long we’ve been planning it, dreaming of it.’

 

‘Do you want me to go and get you a coffee?’

 

‘No Clare, no, please don’t leave me!’

 

‘You could come with me?’

 

‘No, no thank you. I am quite thirsty but I’d rather stay here. We might lose our seats and we’ve got a good view of Jurgen from here.’

 

‘I’ve got a bottle of water in my bag if you like.’

 

‘Yes,’ Marni said breathlessly, ‘that would be nice.’

 

Clare handed over the bottle and observed her friend gulping mouthfuls of water together with mouthfuls of air until the bottle was almost empty.

 

The second half began with the ref’s whistle. From the start it seemed that the game had adopted a lower tempo and didn’t really seem to get going. There were a few excited oohs and aahs from the crowd but they were quickly followed by sighes of disappointment and after twenty minutes or so the supporters began to amuse themselves with a succession of Mexican Waves. Something Marni didn’t cope well with.

 

‘There’s another one coming Marni, get ready this time!’ Clare stood up proudly and held her arms up, curving them artfully then flicking her hands in the air, laughing as she sat back down.

 

‘Oh, I can’t time it right. Honestly it’s making me feel seasick. Why can’t people just sit still and watch the game.’

 

‘There’s another one beginning. Come one now, I’ll hold your hand and lift you up. We don’t want to look like just two middle aged ladies sitting here like lemons, we want to look like proper, seasoned Liverpool fans. Get up now and lift your arms for god’s sake.’

 

‘Oh I feel so dizzy. The whole stadium is spinning.’ Marni shut her eyes and put her head in her hands. ‘I think I need the loo Clare. I’ve been trying so hard to hold it in but it’s no good. Will you come with me?’

 

‘Really?’

 

‘Yes really.’

 

No, not now, I’m having too much fun. What do you need, a wee or a poo?’

 

‘Sshshs! I don’t know yet, maybe both but I’m desperate. It’s after drinking that water you gave me.’

 

‘Oh so it’s my fault is it. The loos are only down there at the bottom of this set of steps. You go, I'll keep an eye on you and if you’re not back in six minutes, I’ll come and get you.’