Lost and Found
by Jack Kendle
Chapter 10
I went home for lunch. Two delightful specimens of boyhood now in my orchestra. Admittedly, Daniel did not go out of his way to make himself charming, but he did have a certain something. As I say; I am biased! I am totally besotted by teenage boys. Even ones like Daniel. For me, Leo was perfection. I was sure that if Daniel loosened up a bit and got rid of his attitude, he would be as attractive. My thoughts jumped ahead to the tour to Europe which was coming up. My dirty mind already began imagining various scenarios! I dismissed the thoughts. I would have to be above reproach in my behaviour. But that dosen't stop a man from fantasising!
Hannah was at home, in a flurry of activity, getting Tommy's soccer gear together and making lunch and organising Emma's afternoon at a friend's birthday party and sleepover. Tommy wanted a sleepover as well, so we organised that with his best friend's parents. It meant Hannah and I wouldn't have to worry about a sitter this evening, so we could enjoy our dinner with Felix and Elsa without having to rush off home early to get the sitter home. I was secretly excited that I would be at Leo's house. He wanted to show me something on his computer, Elsa had said. I wondered what it was and if Leo would still want to share it with me.
We piled into the car to go to Tommy's soccer match. Tommy was bouncing up and down with excitement. He was thrilled to have been picked, at last, for the team. He went on and on about how great his new coach was. Hannah and I smiled at his boyish enthusiasm.
We got to the ground and Tommy disappeared into the changing-rooms. He shooed us away, saying he didn't need any help any more, he was a big boy now! Hannah and I stood around at the edge of the pitch with the other parents. Hannah seemed a little distant, I thought. I tried to make conversation, but I felt it was a losing battle. She seemed preoccupied and was forever glancing around, as if looking for someone. I chatted away to some other proud fathers and then the teams came out. We spotted Tommy straight away. He was so proud to be in the team's colours. He looked happy and not a little apprehensive. He must have been a good few inches shorter than most of the other boys, but I knew he could run fast. Probably why he was picked, I thought. Then the linesmen and referee came onto the pitch. My heart did a double somersault as I caught sight of the black-clad figure with the shock of copper-coloured hair. The ref was JJ! What an amazing coincidence! Then I remembered Tommy had called him coach Johnston and the scales fell from my eyes. No wonder JJ was so well-built. He was not just a botanist, he taught sports as well. I could have been knocked down by a feather. My eyes ran over the muscular body in its black shirt and shorts. JJ sure was a real hunk! I glanced around and noted JJ had aroused the interest of not a few of the boys' mothers!
I have to admit, I spent as much time watching JJ as I did watching Tommy. JJ seemed inexaustable. He ran up and down the pitch, refereeing the game and it seemed as if he didn't even break sweat. Tommy was on the wing and as I suspected, it was his speed which was his asset. He acquitted himself very creditably in the game and even set up one of his team's goals. I was very proud of him. The match ended and the proud parents moved on to the pitch to variously congratulate or commiserate with their young offspring. I caught JJ's eye. He looked quizzically at me and then saw Tommy with Hannah. He introduced himself to her.
"Should have seen the likeness," he smiled, indicating Tommy and me. Hannah looked at me questiongly.
"Amazing coincidence," I said, "I met Jerry on my run this morning. You said you were a botanist!" I said, mock-accusingly.
"I am," he replied but botany ain't the be-all and end-all of life you know. All work and no play..." he didn't need to finish the old adage, 'makes Jack a dull boy'. I got his point. He looked a little more searchingly at me and I coloured a little. Hannah was by now involved in convincing Tommy he needed to change out of his muddy gear and didn't notice JJ's and my little interchange. I felt an odd tingle as I looked back at JJ. He was certainly good-looking. There I was, with my wife right next to me, with another man making eyes at me, or so I thought.
"Another incredible coincidence", I said rousing myself. "I believe your younger brother is now a member of my senior orchestra."
Hannah looked up at this.
"Yep, Daniel, the little terror," said JJ. "How was he behaved? He can be a real pain in the... excuse me Mrs Kendle, but you know what these teenagers can be like!"
"Well," I said, "we didn't hit it off too well, I don't think, but he's an exceptional talent. I only hope he stays in the orchestra."
"Oh, he will," said JJ. "He said as much to his mother and me today after he got home. It's hard to get a complete sentence out of him, but from what we could gather, he enjoyed this morning."
"Well, he has a funny way of showing it," I grumbled.
"There's teenagers for you," laughed JJ and the conversation ended as other parents came over to introduce themselves to the new coach. I noticed even Hannah was eyeing him speculatively.
"Fancy him, do you?" I joked.
She looked suddenly at me like a guilty one surprised.
"Certainly not. What do you mean by that?" Her eyes seemed to glint dangerously.
"Nothing, nothing," I held up my hands in surrender, surprised at the vehemence of her response. "Just kidding."
"Not funny," she said curtly and went off to find Tommy. I must say I didn't expect that reaction from her. Had I hit a nerve?
I was left, standing alone on the grass. JJ was now free from other parents and came over to me. "Good kid, young Tommy," he observed.
"Yes, I think he'll turn out fine," I said.
"He'll be very lucky if he turns out like you," said JJ. I looked at him, questioningly.
JJ didn't explain his odd remark. Instead he said, "Seriously, Daniel is a very good kid. He's just a bit mixed up. He took our dad's death very hard and when his grandparents went, too..."
I nodded in sympathy. I knew how hard it is to lose one's parents.
"Under that frown, there's a sweet kid trying to get out. He just puts on that indifferent front," said JJ. "Give him a chance. I know he wants to prove himself. And I think all this rock music stuff is just his way of rebelling. He likes the classical stuff as well, you know. He listens to a lot of it when he thinks no one is at home. I can hear it from his room."
I was interested in this information.
"You must come over some time and meet our mother," said JJ. "I'll get her to give you a call. It would be good to get to know you better, Jack. And Hannah too, of course," he added, but after a slight pause and not with the same conviction, I thought.
Just then Hannah came over with Tommy, who, despite protestations had changed his clothes and also managed to get about thirty percent of the mud off him. I shook JJ's hand, a firm warm grasp.
"Thanks for Tommy," I said, "he's so thrilled to be on the team. He thinks the world of you, I think."
"Daaaaaad!" whined Tommy, embarrassed.
"Well I think the world of you too, Tommy," said JJ. Turning to Hannah and me, he added, "I'll call you and we can arrange a time for you to come over. It will be nice to get to know some of our neighbours."
Tommy was beaming as we made our goodbyes and Hannah, Tommy and I went off for some after-match ice-cream.
What a day it had been! And it wasn't over yet. Tonight I would see Leo again.
