(January 15 2003)
"He's too young Adam, for god's sake 11, he'll be bullied in team, wait.. him playing, is that even legal?" Asked John Peacock.
"Bullied? I talked to the United u-17 coach, 4 player quit the academy after that 'little boy' scored 23 goals.. I'm afraid he'll bully the others" said U-17 English assistant coach with a scoff.
Both looked tense, they had to be in top 3 to qualify for FiFa U-17 world cup, and they were determined to make that possible.
John Peacock has not seen the boy play, but he sured had heard of a generational talent emerging from gunners academy, but he wasn't too surprised. It's england after all, every new season a wonderkid emerges to be a flop next season.
"Tom Heaton, Philip Ifil, Stuart Giddings, Tom Huddlestone, Martin Cranie, Steven Taylor, Aaron Lennon, Grant Leadbitter, James Morrison, Dean Bowditch, and James Milner.
Do you think they will take a kid seriously, who would you bench? Can he take a shove from a player head taller than him?" Asked the man sitting in a tracksuit, he had just finished the drills, he was impressed by few of the players.
"Gaffer please, I was there. He scored from everywhere. He's not another wonderkid. He's special" said Adam. He was young compared to the senior sitting in front of him, but he wasn't backing down.
"Adam, look he'll be 11 in March, the event is going to be in Portugal, there are laws which doesn't allow us to take a kid there without his guardians, there will be world cup again in 2 years" said John calmly.
'Kids these days, a new Maradona, Pele. Talent without longevity means nothing' thought John.
Adams face fell, seeing that John sighed.
"we'll call him up next year for training with the team, we slowly nurture him."
Adam hurriedly nodded, even though he was backing up a kid, inside he too was little sceptical about him.
"Now, we have wasted enough time, let's go to tactical room" said John standing up, Adam without a word followed him out of the meeting room.
---
(January 19 2003)
Life had become boring, but boring isn't bad infact it's often good. Tests in school, scoring goals in friendlies, these had become a daily routine.
Today though he felt his heart beating like a drum, his hands were sweaty even in winter as he stood outside the tunnel, standing beside him was someone he had looked up to for years.
He looked around, Dennis Bergkamp, Robert Pirès, Edu, and Sol Campbell.
There was someone though, who looked nonchalant, he casually adjusted his left sock, as he chewd on something. The aura came off of the loose arsenal shirt made everyone glance at him twice.
Next to him Matt wearing a nervous but excited expression, he had grown taller, but surprisingly Cara had taken over him, that made him cry internally.
"It's the heat that you can feel Steve, in the heart of winter at Highbury, football's set ablaze, today, it's the moment that could create stories, Arsenal, sitting top of the table, where westham, is the underdog which is unpredictable" said Martin Tyler.
"You don't count Westham out early, they'll bring physicality to the game, let's see if gunners can maintain the top spot" said Steve Wilson.
.
.
.
The stadium was packed, people wearing red white shirts, some had beers in hand while other's were much tamed.
"Let's go champ" said Henry, breaking Matt from his thoughts.
"Yes sir!" He said taking the hand of the legend and walking out of the tunnel.
"Can I have your shirt?" Asked Matt which made henry smile a little.
"How many goals I would score?" He asked with a smirk.
"3!" Said Matt, without even thinking. His past life intuition told him a number and he said it.
"Deal" said Henry with a laugh.
Referee's stood in the centre, aligning players. All the arsenal academy kids were grinning, this was the place they were dreaming of playing.
The cold wind blowing made the kids shiver a little, but it didn't change the expression from their faces.
.
.
.
"Henry scores his third! An incredibly timed run! " Said Steve Wilson.
"Look, here... He's running faster than everyone on the field, he does that effortlessly, at least it looks like that." Said Martin Tyler with a heavy voice.
Matt stood on his chair pumping his fists, and yelling, he enjoyed the game, this was the second game that he had been on this field, the kids who does the best in training had the privilege to be part of the main teams games.
Soon the match ended with 1-3 to Arsenal, and Thiery Henry got his well deserved Player of the Match trophy.
As he made his way towards the locker room, he saw the boy talking with other academy players, Henry sighed and started walk towards them.
"No, the third one was pure pace, the second one was a worldie" argued Jack.
"Nah mate, that pace is a worldie, he is the fastest, and it shows, he didn't even bother to celebrate! How cool" replied Mark.
"I'm not going to celebrate my next goal too!" Said Jack trying to mimic Henry's nonchalant expression.
"Hahah you look ridiculous!" Exclaimed Matt.
"I agree" said a voice with slight french accent, which made boys turn around and see a sweaty Henry with his jersey on his shoulder.
"Thhe. Henry!" that's all Mark could say before shutting his mouth.
"I didn't celebrate, it was not to act cool, I know I'm going to do the same in the next match so I didn't bother and against West Ham, nah" said Henry with a slight smirk as he took his jersey and placed on Matt's shoulder as he walked away.
Jack and Mark eyes were glued to the shirt on Matt's shoulder.
"I forgot to ask for a picture, my dad had given me his camera!" Wailed Mark as he clutch his head.
"Did you ask for his jersey before the game?" Asked Jack as he tried to take the jersey from Matt who caught his hand in the act.
"Yes, and I dare you to try again" he said refusing to give this piece to anyone, this one is getting framed.
"Heh, I've got Bergkamp shirt" said Jack, showing off the shirt to Mark.
Mark looked at his friends with betrayed eyes, he was the only one that had not gotten a shirt.
He was about to cry, then he remembered his friends are not as rich as him, that made him stop from breaking down, still he felt sad.
"Well let's go, everyone has already left for the bus" said Matt as he put his shirt inside his bag carefully, and picked up the bag.
Jack and Mark followed him, they spent most of the time with him, as he seems reliable and more confident to 11 years old kids.
"What are you doing in the evening?" Asked Jack as they sat down on the last seats of the bus.
"Nothing" said Mark without missing a beat.
"I have piano classes" said Matt with a sigh.
Jack and Mark made a disgusted face but quickly looked away when they saw his raised fist.
(Flashback)
It was raining heavily, the large water drops hit the ground, that made Matt sigh as he took his football inside.
He had been training his control in the garden when it started pouring.
"What do I do now.. nobody's home" said Matt out loud.
"Maybe I should get a pet!", he always wanted a dog or cat, he loved them both.
Removing his shoes and kicking ball aside he changed his clothes and slumped into the sofa.
He layed there for few minutes absentmindedly, till he saw a black Bösendorfer Grand Piano.
His mother wanted to decorate the spacious hall with something classy, and this expensive piece was perfect for her.
'Tch rich people and their toys... Wait I'm rich too!' thought Matt as he sat down
"It's beautiful" he said to particularly no one.
"Hmmn let's see", he rested his fingers for a second and then began playing.
(Golden hour - JVKE)
He closed his eyes, a smile bloom on his face, he remembered the keyboard he had in his past life where he used to mimic Elton John and lady gaga's performances.
He played a lot of songs, that was until--
(Thud), the sound broke his emersion, he looked back to see his mother still in her lab coat which was a little wet, her hand on her mouth. There was clear disbelief in her eyes.
She had dropped her bag on the floor.
(Flashback end)
Since that day, Matt was hailed as a genius in Playing Piano, his mother called a piano teacher to 'support' Matt's talent.
"Heh my brother told me only gay play piano hehehe" said Mark which also made Jack laugh.
Matt didn't say anything and just started to ignore the two, they were just kids after all.
Soon he was dropped in front of his house, he checked his bag to make sure if the shirt was there.
Making his way inside he saw Uncle Charles car parked in front.
Walking inside he saw Aunt Pandora, Uncle Charles having tea.
Cara had grown up, her hair comes down to her waist, she loved wearing dark colour dresses, which made her appear more regal, completely opposite to her brash Nature.
"Hey midget" called Cara, as soon as she saw him.
"Hi Frog face" said Matt as he tried to control himself. Cara scowled at the name but didn't retort.
"Hi uncle, Aunty, Mom" he greeted them with a smile.
"No Hi! Come here and give me a hug" said Aunty as she stood up.
Matt smiled and hugged her, she was like a tigress and he genuinely loved getting her affection.
She ruffled his hair and squeezed him, "it had been too long, I told you Charles I missed my Mattey, but he was too busy, just you wait" she said making charles sweat.
Eva just smiled watching the pair, she knew Pandora loved Matt as her own son, the both dotted on eachother's children.
"You looked so cute on TV, we saw the match, I wish you could appear on Tv more" she said patting his head.
"He was the shortest in the line", Cara chimed in with a jab.
"That's a lie, I was the tallest among them!" Said Matt finally breaking down.
Cara smirked, "Oh were you, you all looked the same to me" she said sitting upright.
'fine, have it your way' thought Matt as he gave his aunt best puppy eyes.
"Little lady!" Exclaimed Aunt Pandora as she glared at Cara which made her hide behind Eva.
"Hahah, home is lively withe these two around" said Uncle as he took another biscuit.
Aunty shook her head and looked at matt with a mischievous grin, he had known her for a while to guess it means trouble.
"I should go and clean up, I'm sweaty" said Matt as he stood up.
"Now now, wait baby, aunty has some news for you, it's important" said Eva making him stop.
"Wait, you're pregnant!" Said Matt with a happy squeal.
Cara looked as she was about to cry, Charles eyes widen and Eva quickly got up and hugged Pandora.
"I'm so happy for you!" Said Eva, while Pandora tried to remain calm in this chaos.
"NO! IM NOT! Eva get it together, said Pandora.
"Oh" said Eva sheepishly, it seems she was getting affected by Pandora's behaviour.
" David Heyman, producer of Harry Potter films and J. K. Rowling herself wants a meeting with you."