I waded through the book trying to figure out what I should have done. The game was on Saturday and two pads needed to be repaired. I hoped Hill’s father would be finished, but it was not an easy fix for the both of them.
He loved American football. Fixing our equipment was his way of showing his appreciation for all our efforts even if they were mostly losses. Mr. Hill always was the optimist. I was told long ago, that a loss was the best thing that happened to a man. That was what I believed as well.
Hill’s father was the one that owned the Assassins and naturally, we diverted to him when we needed advice on any big decisions. He was a business owner of a clothing chain on the eastern side of the island, where he had three stores, one in Montego Bay, St. James, and two in St. Elizabeth. His business logo was neatly printed on the right lower side of our shirts.
“So, Malt, you okay?” He came forward wearing a green t-shirt and blue jeans.
A smile crossed his brown face as he sat before me. His belly hung over the hidden belt. Grey hairs rounded the sideburns. A white cup rested in his hand.
“Yes, I am fine,” I said.
“That is good.” He laid the cup down. “I hear you guys got a scorcher of a running back.”
“Oh, Irwin Pristine, yes, we call him Prix.”
“Ah, nice, is he good?”
“His speed is amazing, he needs to work on his running technique and carry through. He has a fumbling problem.”
Mr. Hill laughed with his hand on his stomach. “Sounds like he can’t take a hit too well, but give him time, he will toughen up soon enough.”
I twisted my lips, hesitant. “So, I am in charge now.”
“Yes.” Mr. Hill leaned forward and gestured with his hands to the side. “You are the boss now. You have to lead the Assassins to great things. I heard you preeing the Fiesta Cup, you have a high chest, my son.”
I sighed. “Dreams do not matter unless we can pull them off. We are strapped for cash right now Hill. I need more members, better members, I know that will burn your pocket. I do not know. Tell me what you are doing and advise me here.”
Hill widened his eyes and nodded his head with a serious stare. “Ok, right now, I can contribute sixty thousand dollars monthly to the team, I can be consistent with that. If I have anything more I will give it.”
That was double the rate of minimum wage in this country. That had to be then shared for eleven people, inclusive of gas, food, and health care. It was not enough, besides I needed eighty-eight thousand to pay eleven players. We should have more members, to be honest. The depth of the team was bad. Some members had not even came to games when asked.
I said, “Sir, I need at least one hundred thousand dollars monthly to run this team at an average level.”
“I know my boy, I know.” Hill looked to the side. Raising his head slightly, he continued, “Well what about that fund the NFL offers?”
It was not the NFL, but an organization associated with it. They supported Jamaica’s Football League. “That fund is for teams in the league. We can’t apply for it.” My voice was dry of the joy I desired feeling.
“I am sure there are other funds you can try.”
“Maybe.” I took up the book. It was a small handbook on Setting up American Football teams for high schools. I waved it around. “It is hard to continue as we are right now. Right now foodstuff, electricity, they are increasing in Jamaica. Man cannot survive off two grand per match, which would be once per week. I can’t survive off that. Honestly, I used to tell Mikey to keep it. I have my job at the phone company, so I can lean on that. But some of the team do not have their situation secure like that.”
He breathed out and wagged his head. “I don’t know what to say, I wish things were better and I could do better but—“
“Mr. Hill, that is, well, would you be okay if we used other sponsors?”
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Mr. Hill's eyelids widened, yet his eyes rotated in contemplation. “Sure, I mean I can’t pay for everything, but who will you get to help you? I mean you know how people feel about American Football.”
I rubbed my forehead in disdainful memory. “Don’t remind me, even now we struggle to recruit many members, because of that. Right now we have Irwin and…honestly, I know he only doing this for the little change we gave him. If he gets a good job, we will never see him back on that field again,” I said, with a flourish of my hand.
Hill glanced at my hand before he rolled his eyes upward. “You could pay him more.”
I narrowed my eyes at Hill. He leaned forward. The cup was taken up and he gulped down some of his juice before speaking, “Think of it this way he is your star player, pay him more to keep him. All the big professional clubs and teams do it, whether it is soccer or American football. They pay their stars way more than the assistants to that success. You need that man, we all know Jake is leaving.” Hill looked to the side and said low, “No amount of money we offer will keep him with us now—but.”
Hill looked at me with a grin. “Irwin is young, he can be—” He waved his hand from side to side. “Impressed, he can grow to love the sport, we pay him enough, he will stay.” The smile widened on his face. Mine was not sure where to go really. It was not a bad idea.
My problem was how the others would have felt about that. “The other members?” I asked.
“Cut the undedicated ones,” Hill said. “I told my son, a lazy man will always stay lazy. He should have cut off those lackadaisical ones who keep not coming for games. He always said we need them, we don’t Donavan, we don’t.”
“We actually do, we barely have over ten members. It will be tough for us going forward without them.”
“We just need new members. We could try a different method. Maybe we can have a fun day and show them how fun the sport is.”
As I leaned back and considered that idea, the blaring alarm of my car broke my thought pattern. I did not turn around as Hill crooned his head to the side trying to look out the window.
I said, “Anyways, that sounds like a nice idea. That will also cost money.” I waved my arms out waiting for a rebuttal. The alarm on my car chirped then died into silence.
“Better we try rather than sitting here.”
I breathed out and wondered if that was the case myself. The alarm blared again. Mr. Hill and I traded sober stares. I turned in the chair, at that point What was near my car to be setting off the alarm twice?
“Dear, what is that noise outside?” Mrs. Hill came into the living room. Her braided hair complimented her rosy round face. She smiled at me. “How are you doing Donavan, you look good today.”
“Yes, I am fine,” I said.
“You not getting married?!” she asked.
Heat rushed to the back of my neck. My lips twitched at her daring glare. “Ahhhhmm, I don’t even have a girlfriend,” I said.
Mr. Hill snickered at my response.
She closed her eyes and laid her hands on her hips in a sway. “Donavan I am not getting any younger, you and Mikey taking too long man.”
I replied, “Come on Miss, I have—stuff, I ain’t ready for a wife right now. I am just taking my good sweet time to find her.”
The alarm finally died.
She grinned. “Mmhmm!” Mrs. Hill turned to her husband. “I married my husband when we were right out of school you know?”
“Oh, fi real?” I asked.
“Yes.” She patted him on the shoulder. “It was a beautiful day for us. I was never more happy than I was with Mikey’s father. Gone are the days when love was important, now all you have is sex, backers, and daggering, you should know all about that, mmhm?”
“Ah…” Color rose in my cheeks as her eyes intensely peered at me. Mr. Hill laughed heartily at my embarrassment. I frowned and was about to change the subject when the alarm blared again.
Okay, what the hell was going on out there? I shot up and walked to the window and threw the curtain to the side and saw my Infiniti FX SUV. Then I saw a black figure that looked human with arms and legs moving in a crouch beside my SUV. I looked to the side, more figures in full black.
My bonnet was up in the air. I was so shocked, all I could have done then was stare. Was this for real, was this happening right now? The car alarm blared again.
“Donavan, what is wrong?” I heard Miss Hill’s voice, yet it sounded wary of the answer, while I was wary of my future. My mind worked overtime to count five dudes and I was outnumbered, but I had to do something, right?
“Hey! Get yuh bomborass cloth away from mi car!” I shouted.
The men in black shuddered instantly, one looked back at the window and we saw each other. The face was hard to make out in the darkness.
A clank emanated. Mr. Hill opened the front door and ran outside. A big cricket bat was in his hand. Two men ran down the road as I heard hoarse whispers and hurried calls. I ran in behind Hill. We reached the verandah. They ran off in different directions.
Hill and I reached outside and looked around. Not a soul, I breathed a sigh of relief. Then I looked down into the car. Stiffening at the sight, my eyes itched as a terrible ailment befell me.
You had to be kidding me, right? I threw up my arms and paced away in frustration.
“Donavan,” he called.
I gestured towards the car. “Look what them do to my car! What the hell happen to my engine!?”
Mini-Glossary
Preeing - to pursue or take interest into something or someone.