Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
As the Forest team was walking out of the stadium and getting ready to get on the bus after their victory, they saw the fans who had come to support them running towards them. This time, without any prompting from Twain and Kerslake, the players took the initiative and walked towards the fans to sign autographs.
After leaving the press conference, Twain went directly to the parking lot through a side door to meet up with the team. He had just stepped outside when he heard someone calling him.
Tony!
Hey, John.
Tony turned to see Fat John waving to him; then, from behind Fat John’s wide body, Shania jumped out.
Uncle Tony!
This time, she did not have her pesky cousin Tom beside her. He did not know how Shania had gotten rid of him.
Twain smiled and walked towards her.
Where’s your Cousin?
Shania pointed to John.
Uncle John scared him away.
The fat man scratched his head and said to both of them,
You guys can have a chat, I’m gonna go get my boys.
Thanks, John.
Twain nodded to him,
I’ll buy you a drink when we get back.
John winked.
That’s what I’ve been waiting for! Bye, Shania.
Bye, Uncle John.
Shania waved to John with her petite hand.
When the other man left, Twain looked at the young girl, whose cheeks were slightly flushed with joy, and smiled.
Was this your first time watching a live game at the stadium?
Shania nodded.
Tom’s always wanted me to be a Newcastle United fan, and he always harps on me to come here with him to watch the games. But I always refuse. When I told him I didn’t like football, he was shocked, and asked me, ‘Are you really a Brazilian?'
Shania widened her eyes and lowered her voice to imitate Tom’s tone and expression, which was so amusing that it made Twain laugh.
Shania giggled when she saw him looking so happy, as if it was an accomplishment.
Oh, you little imp!
After laughing, Twain was still a little breathless.
Shania stuck her tongue out.
Will you guys stay here for another night?
Twain paused for a moment and then shook his head.
We’re going back to Nottingham now. See that bus?
He pointed to the bus in the distance.
We’re going straight from the stadium to the airport.
Shania was a little disappointed when she heard him say that.
I thought you guys would stay here one more night…
Well, I’d like to as well, but there’s a UEFA Europa League game coming up next, and we have to go back and prepare.
Twain also regretted that there were only a few opportunities to come to Newcastle every season. Nowadays, Shania’s Aunt Ryan was very strict with her. She had said she would visit Nottingham every weekend this past summer. But in the end, she had not even visited once.
Looking at Shania’s pouting, Tang En really could not bear to disappoint her.
Although there were many advanced modes of communication available now with cellphones and video-chats, Tang En still felt that face-to-face communication was more enjoyable.
As he creased his brows in discomfiture, Shania grinned.
Actually, it’s nothing. Either way, we’ll meet again at Christmas. I’ve already discussed it with my parents. This time they won’t think that I’m running away from home!
At the mention of running away, they both laughed. If she had not really run away from home that time, they might never have met in this lifetime.
After laughing, they looked at each other. Although they both knew that it was time to say goodbye, neither wanted to say it first.
Finally, Twain gave in first. He shot a glance at the overcast sky and said to Shania,
It’s going to rain today.
Well, I should go back, then.
Shania looked at Twain and nodded.
Then we’ll see you at Christmas, Shania.
said Twain with a smile.
Yes, see you at Christmas! I’ve got to head off. It’s not nice to keep them waiting for a long time.
She pointed to the team bus. Twain looked back and found that the members of the coaching staff, the players, and even the fans around the bus were watching him and Shania.
He cleared his throat and secretly cursed the group of busybodies. He deliberately looked serious.
No, I’m their boss. If I tell them to wait, they have to wait!
But the plane waits for no man.
She was right. Twain rubbed his nose.
In that case, it’s really goodbye for now, Shania.
Yes. Goodbye, Uncle Tony.
Shania gently waved and turned to leave.
Looking at her small figure gradually walking away, Tang En had an inexplicable feeling slowly bubbling within him that felt similar to the weather.
Damn it! I should be happy, shouldn’t I? We’re the ones who won the game today…
※※※
As the bus headed for the airport, streaks of water appeared on the bus windows. On cloudy evenings, the street lights reflected on the bus windows and refracted in a kaleidoscope of radiance.
Twain looked out the window at the increasingly overcast sky. The first thing that came into his mind was Shania. He was worried about whether she had caught the train or not, whether she was wet from the rain or not, and if she was drenched, whether she would catch a cold.
Tony?
A man’s voice suddenly spoke beside his ear, startling him.
Oh, David. What’s the matter?
I can tell that you’re suddenly in a bad mood. What’s wrong? Didn’t we just win the game?
Kerslake asked with concern.
Hearing his assistant manager’s question, a smile appeared on Twain’s face again.
Yes, we’ve won. It’s nothing, I was looking at this lousy weather…
He pointed to the darkening sky outside the window.
Ah, you’re worried about that. Rest assured, I don’t think these weather conditions are going to delay our flight.
There was a flash in front of Twain’s eyes, and he looked at the sky again. Suddenly he wished that the weather was worse.
How bad could the weather get? Just cancel the flight!
He turned to look out the window. Because of the dark and rain, the view was not so good; but he still saw the famous statue towering in the distance: the Angel of the North.
The rust-colored steel angel had a pair of wings that looked like those of a Boeing 757. It had stood on the hillside of Gateshead for seven years, ever since it was erected in 1998. Even a hundred-kilometer-per-hour storm could not shake her. Now she had already become a symbol and landmark for Newcastle and the entirety of northern England.
For Tang En, there was another angel in Newcastle, and she had become a symbol of the city of Newcastle in his heart.
Twain’s wishful thinking ultimately did not come true. It did keep raining, but it rained all year round in England. This level of rain would not affect the normal operations of the airport.
The Nottingham Forest team boarded on time for the flight to Birmingham.
Before boarding the plane, Twain received a text message from Shania which told him that she had already made it home. She was a little wet from the rain, but it was no big deal. Finally, she congratulated Twain’s team for winning the game. She had forgotten to tell him outside the stadium, and could only do so through text.
Twain wanted to reply and tell her to watch her health, but the team had already begun boarding, so he had to turn off his phone.
Once the plane had pierced through the rain and fog and soared into the sky, the dark of outside the window quickly brightened, which attracted Twain’s gaze. He turned to look out the window. Below were the white clouds, and above was the clear sky. At the tip of the wing was a red sun setting in the Pennines mountain range. Its afterglow reddened the western skies.
※※※
After winning the away game against Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest ranked fifth with a total score of twenty points in their eleventh round of the league. Manchester United, which had had the same number of points as they did in the last round, fell to the seventh place after losing to Portsmouth in an away match for the current round.
These results made the Forest supporters happy, but Tang En was not happy.
The first two spots in the league were Arsenal and Chelsea, with twenty-six points each. Arsène Wenger’s team had been defeated by Manchester United in the tenth round of the league, and their undefeated record in the top league had stopped at the 49th game, which was exactly the same as the history in Tang En’s memory. Their opponent was Manchester United and the players who scored were Wayne Rooney and Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Although Arsenal had lost the game, they and Chelsea deserved to be at the top.
The third in the league was Everton, and the fourth was Bolton Wanderers! The team that had been beaten by Forest!
The traditionally strong teams, Manchester United and Liverpool, both fell into a slump and were ranked seventh and below.
The outside world attributed the Forest team’s current ranking to Manchester United and Liverpool, as well as the overall downturn of Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur. The evidence supporting their views was the league’s points table. The four teams that shared the top six spots of the league with Nottingham Forest did not live up to their names.
Twain did not think that was the case with the Forest team; rather, he was worried about Manchester United’s strength.
What did it mean to be the fifth in the league? They could take part in the UEFA Europa League next season, and with some good luck, they could participate in the UEFA Champions League if they advanced another spot!
Glory, fame, and money would come rolling in.
In reality, the final result of this season should be Chelsea winning the league title with its high score, and Arsenal ranking second after being unable to continue their unbeaten record. Manchester United would then race to third. David Moyes’ Everton would rank fourth and be qualified for the UEFA Champions League qualifying match. And Liverpool, which would eventually win the UEFA Champions League this season, was ranked fifth. It was embarrassing for a situation like the defending champion not being able to qualify for the next UEFA Champions League to happen to a traditional powerhouse club. Fortunately, the English Football Association actively mediated, and finally the UEFA set the first precedent for them.
