A Goal for Joaquin (13 page)

During his Friday night date with Jessica, he kept asking her questions about what kids at Lakeshore were saying about soccer. Did anyone notice that Joaquin had moved? Did any of the players express any type of unhappiness with the program or the coach? Was there any talk of getting rid of Sommers? For the most part, Jessica admitted that she really hadn't heard any talk about the boys' soccer team. As far as Coach Sommers, he was busy getting ready for the start of the girls' season. She said she hated to say it, but there was really no obvious unrest at Lakeshore. If anyone was unhappy about Coach Sommers, they were most likely afraid to say anything. Other than the lack of news about soccer, Joaquin's date with Jessica went very smoothly. He realized what a great person she was and remembered how much he enjoyed being with her. He resolved to not take her friendship for granted again.
 

Joaquin learned a lot from the indoor soccer tournament that weekend. First of all, he found that he wasn't in very good physical condition. Granted he had done some jogging during the winter and he had been taking physical education class, but those things didn't provide nearly the exercise required for running up and down a soccer field. Even though the field is much smaller in indoor soccer and the players substitute freely and often the way hockey players make frequent line changes, Joaquin still found himself badly winded after only a few minutes of action. He also realized how much he loved playing and how badly he missed the game. Even through the sweat and aching muscles, he intensely enjoyed being back in action. He didn't perform as well as he would have liked to in front of his new teammates, but he felt he did played well enough to make a positive contribution. He scored a goal in one of the three games and had one good assist, but he certainly didn't dominate the game the way he thought he might. He found out that there were kids in Wisconsin who knew how to play soccer.

Another thing he realized during the tournament was that girls could play intensive and skillful soccer. He was very impressed by the way Kari played defense. She was fast and aggressive, and she had no trouble going face to face with the male players on the opposing teams. Several times she used her forehead to bat away shots and passes. From her sweeper position, she patrolled the area in front of the goalkeeper like a guard at a maximum security prison. She wasn't afraid to put herself between the goal and an oncoming player to protect her zone.
 

Cocoa Mareno also showed that she was a top caliber player. Everything that Joaquin had been told about her was true. She was probably the quickest player on the team, and her passes always seemed to find the open player and always had so much zip on them that they easily made it through the defense. Joaquin noticed that Cocoa seemed to have a sixth sense for spotting opening passing lanes. She never scored a goal during the tournament, but she did have three or four assists. By the end of the weekend, Joaquin started to look at Cocoa and see a talented soccer player instead of just a pretty girl. He liked this new awareness because it allowed him to feel more comfortable talking to her. His nervousness decreased once he was able to see beyond her looks. He realized that she had similar respect for him—she treated him like a friend and a teammate.
 

* * *

By Sunday night Joaquin was physically exhausted, but emotionally he was fired up, ready to proceed with the mission of convincing school officials to accept Buzzy as a coach and officially starting a school soccer team. Before going to bed, he called Kari to talk over last minute plans that had to be made before meeting with the principal. They discussed what should be done about Monte. Certainly his appearance at the school board meeting made it clear that he was interested in joining the team. Still Kari and Meta had some misgivings about including him in their plans. Both felt that it would be foolish to count on Monte because of the probability that he'd be ineligible for sports because of his grades or his behavior. Besides, Kari argued, their chances of convincing Mr. Tobias would be reduced if he believed Monte was going to be part of the program. They finally decided to simply ignore Monte's presence at the meeting. Then once the program was started they could approach him again and give him a chance to try out for the squad.
 

* * *

When Joaquin's friends finally met with their principal before school Monday morning, Mr. Tobias couldn't have been more supportive of the idea of hiring Buzzy Budzinski to coach the soccer team. He assured the kids that Buzzy was one of the best liked and most trusted employees in the school district. With his experience as a player, he was a natural choice. He promised he would do everything possible to convince the school board that the team deserved a chance. The kids left his office with renewed hope and enthusiasm.
 

With Mr. Tobias's support at the next school board meeting, the soccer proposal passed by a vote of 6-2. No one voiced any opposition to Buzzy taking the coaching job. Mr. Morganson and one other man still opposed the plan, but they received no support from the other members. After the meeting, Joaquin and his friends were ecstatic. Their many months of struggle had finally paid off. In September they would be on the field wearing the green and white colors of the Willowdale Shamrocks. They celebrated that night by driving to Madison and pigging out on pizza and cheese bread.
 

* * *

The next day the work continued. Kari organized a general meeting for all players who had signed up for the team. The meeting was held in the cafeteria after school the following Monday. Every player, including the eighth graders, attended. It was decided that everyone should try to get together at least once a week during the spring and summer to work on conditioning and to play pick-up games. Attendance at these sessions would not be required, and Coach Budzinski wouldn't be involved in any way. That way the gatherings couldn't be considered illegal practices. The State Association was very strict about organized practices held before the official starting date. The main reason for getting together was to get to know each other and to have a chance to become familiar with everybody's style of play. Joaquin looked out the window during the meeting, wondering when the snow would melt so that they could get out on the field.

* * *

Two days after the meeting, Joaquin was surprised at lunch when Monte approached his table. Joaquin was eating with Julio, and when Monte appeared, they both motioned for him to sit down at their table.

“Hey, Joaquin, I heard you guys got your team approved. That's cool.” Monte said as he sat down next to Joaquin. “I was wondering if you were still looking for a keeper. I ain't played for a while, but I'd kinda like to give it a shot.” He ran his long fingers through the wild strands of red curls on his head. “I been thinking about it since you talked to me that day, and I think it might be fun. I like the idea of playing for a coach like Buzzy instead of the usual dorks that run most jock teams around here.”

“Sure, Monte, we'd be glad to have you,” Joaquin replied enthusiastically. “We were talking about asking you again before the school year ended.” Joaquin nodded his head and looked over at Julio who also gave an approving nod. “In fact we're starting to get together on Tuesday and Thursday nights as soon as the snow's gone to kick a ball around and get to know each other better. They're not scheduled practices, and nobody has to show up if they don't want to, but I think it'll be fun.” Joaquin looked at Monte to see his reaction. Monte flashed a smile and said he'd like to be included.
 

“Let me know when you're ready to start playing,” Monte said as he stood up and patted Joaquin on the shoulder, “I'll be there with bells on. I'm even trying to talk a couple of my boys over there into coming out for the team too. Schaeffer, the guy with the pierced nose and eyebrow, played a little soccer before he moved here. He's thinking about joining the team.”

“Great,” said Joaquin pretending to be excited about having Monte's friends join the team. “We've got fifteen commitments so far, but it'd be nice to get two or three more.”

“That's cool!” Monte said as he turned and walked away.

“I'm not sure the girls are going to be very excited about having Monte and his friends on the team,” Julio said with a worried look on his face. “They're not real thrilled about the whole Monte idea.”

“Well, what are we going to do?” Joaquin raised his voice enough to indicate his irritation at Julio's remark. “Are we going to pick out who we let come out for the team based on how they look? I told you about what happened to me at Lakeshore. I don't want that same thing to happen to somebody here. Let's give the guy a chance. Who knows? Maybe he'll turn out to be really good.”

“That's fine with me, Joaquin,” Julio answered, “I'm just telling you what Kari and Meta are going to say.”

“Well, I'll talk to them.” Joaquin said as he picked up his tray and started to leave. “Anyway, if Monte's as bad a student as everyone seems to think, he probably won't be eligible anyway.”
 

Julio was right about Kari and Meta's lack of enthusiasm with the idea of having Monte Rose on their soccer team. Joaquin tried to explain that it was a public school team and everybody deserved a chance to play, but the girls still argued that Monte was going to hurt the program. “Just look at how he dresses and who he hangs around with,” Meta protested. “How are we ever going to get kids and teachers to support our team if they see Monte starting at a key position. Everyone is going to think we're a bunch of dirtballs running around out there.”

“So just because we don't like the way he looks, we should ban him from playing on our team?” Joaquin asked. “Well, what if some people don't like the way me and Julio look because we're Hispanic, or what if somebody doesn't think you and Kari and Cocoa should play because you're girls? We might as well get Coach Sommers to come over here and pick out the players that have the right appearance and attitude. Is that what you want?”

“No, that's not what she's saying,” Kari said. “It's different with Monte. We're not against him because of his race or sex. We just don't like the way he acts and dresses. Those aren't characteristics he was born with. They're choices that he makes. It's not the same as what you're talking about.”

“I don't see the difference,” Joaquin argued. “I played on a team where you were judged by how you looked. I don't want any part of that again. I think you should give Monte a chance. You really don't even know him. You're just judging him based on what you think he might be like. Maybe he just needs a break.”

“All right, we won't say anymore about Monte. If he stays out of trouble and really makes an effort to help our team, then we'll stand behind him,” said Meta. “But if he becomes an embarrassment, then you can be the one to tell him he's not wanted.” She paused then smiled at Kari. “Who knows? Maybe he'll actually help us win some games.”

“Good,” said Joaquin, “I'm willing to give the guy a chance, and if it doesn't work, I'll be responsible.”

“Okay, now that we have that straightened out, why don't you get a shovel and go out and clear the snow off the practice field so we can start playing soccer. I'm tired of just talking about it all the time. I'm ready for action.” Kari tossed her glove at Joaquin as she spoke. She had regained her old smiling expression. “I don't know why you're so concerned about having a good goalie,” she continued, “because with me playing sweeper the ball will never get that far anyway.”
 

“Yeah, right,” Joaquin teased, “with you in front of the goal the other teams should let us have two goalkeepers.”

Kari tossed her other glove and it hit Joaquin on top of the head. The Monte Rose issue was settled. The apparent crisis was resolved.

 

Chapter 16

 

So the winter gradually turned to spring, and the snowy fields turned to mud. Joaquin looked forward to the rebirth of his soccer dreams. Every morning he got up early enough to run three miles before he had to go to school. He had recently acquired a companion for his early morning jaunts—a year old golden lab-collie mix named Duke. His father had heard about the dog from his supervisor at work. It was not exactly the puppy that Joaquin had been promised for Christmas, but it was a well-trained and playful dog that Joaquin couldn't resist the first time he saw it. His old owners were moving into a retirement complex that didn't allow pets, so they were thrilled to find a good home for Duke. The boy and the dog became immediate friends, and everyday they took a brisk tour of the countryside. For Joaquin it was a way to get into shape for soccer, and for Duke it was a way to discover the sights, sounds, and scents of his new home.
 

Life in the country agreed with the entire Lopez family. Maria spent countless hours in the barn and pasture playing with Chief and Rocky. After just a few weeks she had gained a great deal of confidence working with the horses. Mr. Jensen, the former owner, still stopped by at least once a week to show Maria various tricks to get the horses to follow her commands.
 

Long before the ground was thawed enough to plow, Miguel Lopez was marking out and fencing in an acre of land for his garden. He had already ordered tomato and pepper plants from a greenhouse in town, and he spent many hours looking through seed catalogues deciding what would grow best in his garden. In the evening he joined his wife on long leisurely walks along their road. Both were becoming more and more aware of emerging plant life as well as the returning migrations of geese, ducks, robins, and redwing blackbirds. The days were not long enough for the Lopez family. It was amazing how much their lives had changed during the last year.