Save Me, Sinners

“We better go eat or he’s going to create a ruckus,” David smiles.

“Yes please! I'm starving,” I rub my belly. Grabbing a couple of hot dogs and a burger, I hold a plate while David picks up a steak. His personal chef, who’s apparently not pleased at being outdone by Willie, made some delicious peach ice tea that’s perfect for a hot sunny day. After wolfing down the last of the grilled potato salad that Willie forced upon me, I could just lay down on the grass right here and go to sleep.

“Willie can really cook,” I sigh happily.

“Why do you think women pay him any attention? It’s all because of the food.” David stifles a laugh.

“I heard that!” Willie points the long-handled tong at David.

“What are you going to do? Flip me with it?” He laughs.

“Just for that, You aren’t getting any food next time.”

“All right, all right,” David holds his hands up in defense. “Fine. Willie is a ladies’ magnet and not just because of his cooking.” Willie’s grinning but David hasn’t finished his sentence. “But because he’s also very good at doing laundry.”

David lunges off his seat as Willie throws the pair of tongs at him and chases him around. I hold my stomach, which is now aching because of laughing too much. They both could be a comedy act.

David stops running around when he sees Scott, his manager, walk out of the living room.

“Hey, Scott! When did you get here?” He asks. Scott looks up at him with a glum face that says he has some bad news.

“What’s up, Scott? What happened?”

My mind is racing in a hundred directions wondering what the news will be. Is there some new scandal? Did the coach cut him from the team?

“Just blurt it out Scott,” Shauna’s getting edgy.

“Javier is back,” Scott says, and after a moment David slaps his hand to his mouth. “Yes,” Scott confirms. “Javier ‘El Matador’ Romero.”

“What do you mean he’s back?” Dav

id asks.

“You know how Miami lost a bunch of their players to the injury? They made an appeal and the league commissioner granted them an exception, allowing them to add a player to their roster. So they went ahead and signed up Javier.” Scott hangs his head, as if it’s his fault.

“But isn’t he retired from professional soccer?” Willie chimes in.

“Apparently he came out of retirement because his dream was to play in the US.”

“Bullshit. He’s just coming here to make one final paycheck. I bet the Federation is pleased, ” Shauna snorts.

“Yes. they're looking at this as a great opportunity to market the league abroad. Especially since Javier has such an international following and keep in mind that...“ He pauses and sheepishly looks at David. “I mean, since he has won so much throughout his career.”

David says nothing but turns away from all of them, staring into space. He speaks quietly. “I know what they're trying to do. they're playing us against each other to earn even more money. Jesus! Just when I think I'm out of the mess, they pull me right back in.”

“I’m sorry David,” Scott says.

“It’s okay, mate. No worries. Not your fault,” David replies without turning around.

Everyone is unsure what to do now, especially me. I have no clue what’s going on.

“Fuck!!” David shouts suddenly and slams the glass top table next to him, down on the patio. Tiny pieces of glass fly all over the place. His face red with anger, veins in his neck throbbing, he storms back into the house. Nobody dares to follow him.

I had almost no clue what was going on. All I can fathom is that some soccer player called Javier is going to play in the same league as David, and for some reason, that’s bad news.

“That’s not good,” Shauna says to Scott. “Not good at all. Can’t we file a complaint? Is this kind of thing even allowed in the middle of the season?”

“Well, there’s no rule barring it…but there’s no rule about accepting such a signing either. I spoke to my guy at the league offices and he says the best we can do is send in a complaint. I'm more worried about the impact it’s gonna have on him,” He nods in the direction David stormed off.