Taking the Pitch

Stepping out of Heighway's office, Du An walked along the path, his steps feeling light and floaty. Heighway had made it clear: tomorrow at two in the afternoon, Kirkby at home, against Tranmere Rovers Youth. Not only was he in the matchday squad, he was guaranteed to come on as a substitute. It was only a question of how many minutes he would get. Those words turned over and over in his mind, like a dream. He had been at Kirkby for barely more than two months. Going from a complete beginner to an official U16 squad member, and now to taking the pitch in an official fixture—it had happened so fast, like riding the wind. The late-November wind brushed chilly against his cheeks, making him shiver. It also blew away some of his daze. He jerked his head up, clenched his fist, and roared at the sky. Summoning all his strength, he let every drop of sweat and every ounce of hope from these past months scatter into the wind with that shout. Once he finished, he felt a little sheepish. Glancing left and right to see that no one was around, he quickened his pace toward the dormitory area. He needed to make a phone call. He had to tell Ethan the news as soon as possible. In front of the communal landline at the end of the dormitory hallway, Du An dialed the Andersons' number. A steady ringing tone came through the receiver, each beep matching the beat of his heart. Holding the receiver and listening to the tone, he felt the wait stretch out like a century. "Hello?" Mrs. Anderson's gentle voice finally came through the other end. "Grandma! It's me, Du An!" he blurted out eagerly, words tumbling out in a rush. "Is Ethan back from school yet?" "Oh, Du An! He just got home, changing his clothes upstairs." Hearing the urgency in his voice, Mrs. Anderson grew slightly puzzled. "What is it? Coach Heighway from Kirkby called earlier to say you wouldn't be coming home to stay this weekend. Did something happen?" "Nothing bad happened! It's good news!" Du An couldn't suppress the excitement in his voice. "Grandma, I'm playing in an official match tomorrow! The U16 Academy League—I'm getting on the pitch!" "Oh my god!" Mrs. Anderson gasped in astonishment. "So soon?! You've only been there for a little over two months! What wonderful news! Hold on, let me go call Ethan! That boy is going to go wild!" Hurried footsteps sounded through the receiver, and Mrs. Anderson could be heard calling toward the living room: "Old man! Du An is playing in an official match tomorrow!" Right after came Grandpa Anderson's excited voice: "Good heavens! What?! An official match! So soon? That boy has done us so proud!" Instead of just shouting the news up to Ethan, Mrs. Anderson walked up the stairs, calling toward the upper floor, "Ethan! Come down quickly! Du An's on the phone for you!" Immediate thumping footsteps echoed from upstairs, rushing all the way down. A rustling commotion came through the receiver, followed by Ethan's panting voice leaning close. "Du An? What's going on? I heard Grandpa and Grandma. Is there good news?" Du An couldn't help breaking into a grin. "Ethan, I'm playing in an official U16 match tomorrow." The other end went silent for a second, and then an ear-splitting cheer erupted. Ethan's voice was sharp and bright, trembling with tearful excitement: "Really?! Really, Du An?! You're going on the pitch?!" He was so thrilled he could hardly speak straight, repeating over and over, "That's amazing!" He also turned toward the living room and shouted, "Grandpa! Grandma! Du An is playing! He's really going to play!" Listening to the chaotic cheering on the other end, Du An leaned against the wall, utterly unable to keep the smile off his face. After shouting for a good while, Ethan finally calmed down slightly and pressed close to the receiver, asking in a flurry, "Where is it? Can we come watch? I want to come cheer for you!" "Right at the Kirkby training ground, two o'clock kickoff," Du An said. "Coach Heighway said family can come in to watch. Bring Grandpa and Grandma with you tomorrow. Just give your names at the gate, and someone will arrange for you to sit in the stands." "Great! We'll definitely be there! I'll be up early waiting!" Ethan sounded bursting with joy. After reminding him a couple of times to stay safe on the way, Du An finally hung up. Placing the receiver back on its cradle, he stood in place for a long time to steady himself. Scenes from that day at Anfield involuntarily flashed through his mind. The roaring, tsunami-like singing, the sea of red, the chants that made a person's chest vibrate. He knew a U16 match was behind closed doors, without tens of thousands of spectators, but the excitement in his chest was not diminished in the slightest. "Du An? What are you standing here for?" Flanagan came out of the dorm holding his jacket, slipping it on as he walked. He was on his way to the canteen for dinner, and seeing Du An still standing there like an idiot after hanging up, cheeks flushed and eyes brimming with a smile, he couldn't help asking out of curiosity, "What's so good that's got you grinning like that?" "Nothing much." Du An reined in his smile and shook his head. "Just had a phone call with Ethan. Feeling a bit happy, that's all." He was used to keeping things that hadn't happened yet to himself, not wanting to boast everywhere. Flanagan didn't pry further, clapping him on the shoulder. "Come on, let's head to the canteen together." Du An took several deep breaths of cold air to tamp down his churning emotions, then followed him toward the canteen. Flanagan hadn't realized it yet. Normally, as soon as Friday training ended, Du An would head home immediately. Only players with match duties over the weekend stayed overnight in the dorms. At dinner, Connor carried his tray over and sat across from him. He had already been surprised to see Du An in the canteen, so he leaned in right away and asked in a low voice, "You're playing tomorrow too?" Du An looked up at him and gave a slight nod. A broad smile broke across Connor's face. Without making a fuss, he bumped his fist against Du An's arm and whispered, "Come on! We're midfield partners—let's play a great match tomorrow." After dinner, Du An went to ask Aslett for leave, saying he wanted to visit his grandmother. Aslett readily approved it, only reminding him not to return too late. "You know you have a match tomorrow. Rest well and keep your energy up. Looking forward to your debut!" *** At the hospital. The ward was quiet in the evening. The light fell on Grandma Mason's gaunt face, still in a deep coma. Du An pulled up a stool and sat beside the bed. Holding her withered hand, he softly recounted his training over this past period, how the coach taught him to play, how his teammates got along with him... every little detail. Toward the end, his voice dropped very low, as if whispering a secret. "Grandma, tomorrow I'm going to play my first official match. If only you could wake up and come watch... Even though I went against what you taught me, I..." As he spoke, Du An choked up, tears dripping onto the back of his hand. He lowered his head, resting it beside Grandma Mason's hand. He felt an immense peace. Just like every time Grandma had those nightmares about Hillsborough, when she had to pour her heart out to him before she could finally sleep peacefully. The ward was very quiet, with only the rhythmic ticking of the monitor.