Nostalgic Nights

9 p.m.

Alekay was finally done. Mr. Porter's english work was actually quite a cumbersome task. He packed away his question sheet and lied down on his bed. It had been a busy day, as Mondays often were. His blanket enthralled him to the spells of the ritualistic slumber that all humans succumb to. He stared at the white and grey ceiling of his room. His mom had had it painted just how he had wanted it: with the colours of his favourite football team streaked across the walls with meritorious artistry.

Even his wardrobe blended in. It had expensive softwoods bleached grey for the outside and a long white wall lining the inside. Posters- that he had stuck up himself- embellished his whole room.

Alekay was obsessed with Saalfeld Olympique De Paris. This was because Alekay was obsessed with his big brother: Kavi Robinson.

Ever since Kavi bagged a contract, Alekay's whole life had turned around.

They got a new house, he went to a new school... and Kavi always sent things to his family through the mail. From buttloads of cash to gifts and heartfelt letters about life in France. They never went hungry.

Alekay didn't feel like sleeping anymore. Without a shirt on, he stood up and walked over to his wardrobe. He swung it open and walked inside, making a beeline for the sacred spot: where he kept his Saalfeld kits. Shirts and shorts; all signed and delivered by Kavi himself. Alekay took the home jersey off the hanger in the sacred spot and held it in his hands. He caressed it for a moment and inspected the perfection of the printing at the back of the shirt.

'Kavi Robinson - 20'

He put on the shirt and walked over to the mirror. The smooth silk made him want to go to the park and make meat of at least 6 defenders. In nothing but the shirt and his underwear, he began to mimic Kavi's most iconic moment since his arrival at Saalfeld some time over year ago.

"Number 20, Kavi Robinson, is subbed on. Number 7, Jaan François, is subbed off, what do you think Austin?" said Alekay and then changed his voice to mimic the next commentator.

"Well Kavi Robinson will be making his ninteenth appearance tonight- his first this early in the game- we'll be able to see more of what he can do. He has made significant contributions thus far with two goals and one assist in all competitions."

Alekay stopped. Something was missing.

He ran to the sacred spot- almost slipping in his socks- and got the match ball Kavi had sent him from his first man of the match.

"And the ball is passed to Robinson. Good pass back. One-two, Robinson is playing it safe. The score is 1- all."

Alekay built momentum, feeling the entire stadium concatenate itself around him.

"Robinson drifts towards the middle and gets back the ball. Golben FC are hoping to close him down."

Alekay sidestepped once.

"Robinson skips past a challenge, there are options. He decides to go for the short pass."

Alekay passed the ball to the wall and got it back.

"You know I think Robinson is having an instant impact, leading this attack. Much more ambition showing today than in the past games."

"Robinson and Bonoga weave around a man. Robinson is being chased down."

A stumble, partly because of running on a slippery floor in socks and partly because -

"It's a dirty tackle from Norris but Robinson stays up, ref gives the advantage."

A cut right. Alekay dropped his lamp. Man down.

He knocked the ball in front of him. His room had the space for it. He shielded the ball and did a Matthew's turn to get past his next man. From the right to the left: just like Kavi.

"A little bit of trickery there, Kavi Robinson gets away."

Alekay knocked the ball in front of him and sprinted after it at lightning pace, feeling as if Milliard Ron-Portois, the Golben FC centre back, was really there sprinting with him.

"Robinson has broken right through the middle! Ron-Portois hot on his heels! Milliard goes for the slide tackle!"

Alekay flicked the ball up to knee height and skipped over the challenge.

Kavi \= superstar.

"A flick and Robinson is still going!"

"Two defenders between him and the goal, Robinson stands on the left edge of the box."

La croqueta and the first man- in the dust. A spectacular flip-flap and a ball roll to the right and the last is spinning around; Kavi was dribbling away from the goal though.

"Robinson has exhausted his time on the ball. He retreats from the congested box."

Stupid commentators.

Alekay had watched this goal one hundred million times. He changed his mind. Poor Golben.

Alekay megged the spinning man.

"Robinson has sights on GOAL now! Golben did not anticipate that! Men desperately running back!" Alekay shouted.

He ran right up to the keeper... and nudged the ball under his arm. Cheeky. Easily hurdling the goalkeeper's challenge, he reunited with the ball and trapped it under his foot at the goal line. Men desperately tracked back to prevent what was happening next- but they couldn't. Kavi was inevitable.

He turned his back to the goal and took a bow to the fans and the opposing defenders. It was outrageous; he knew.

He backheeled the ball into an empty net.

Alekay screamed like the fans had on that day.

"WHAT A WAY TO SCORE! NUMBER 20- KAVI ROBINSON HAS MADE HIS MARK ON THE MA-"

"-Alekay!"

Mrs. Robinson's shrill scream burst into his room long before she did, disintegrating the daydream into nothingness. "Why are you making so much noise?" she asked, walking in.

She took a look at the scenario she arrived to. A free-standing lamp dropped to the floor, a ball rolling around the room and a boy celebrating a goal in only a Saalfeld home shirt and underwear.

He looked just like Kavi- they had the same cheeky smile when they had done something wrong, the stubborn hair that no mother could seem to comb, the same brown skin tone- in that kit, even more so.

Mrs. Robinson's face softened and she walked up to Alekay and hugged him tight. He hugged her back.

"Mom, I miss Kavi," he said. Mrs. Robinson sat him down on his bed.

"Me too, Alex. But you have to sleep. Put that football away, you have class tomorrow." she said gently. She smelled of vanilla essence. Alekay put the ball away and lied down on his bed. Mrs. Robinson switched off his light.

"Sweet dreams," she said, smiling in the dark. She had a bright smile that she had passed down to her children. A smile so bright that you wouldn't envisage a thing about her life.

We once had everything. We had family, we had money, Mr. Robinson and I were in love. I couldn't have asked for a better life.

I gave birth to Kavi early in the marriage. Mr. Robinson wanted to be a commercial pilot. It was a little bit of a struggle at first- his parents were against his dream but he decided to live his dreams while he still had the chance. Yes, he did fly out a lot but we always stayed in touch.

Did you know, A pilot degree only needs 1'500 hours of flight time? I counted each one while he was away.

His returns would seldom be gloomy. We were going up after all.

Then, when I was pregnant with his second son, his mother died- his father too.

They weren't the only ones. It was a passenger plane crash I heard.

How. Ironic.

Everything changed: He wouldn't eat, he wouldn't speak, he quit his job..

He was like a ghost.

A passion that brought him so much joy brought an end to his parents. I could imagine spectres boarding with him every time he thought of planes-

"-Mom what are you thinking about?" asked Alekay. It had been over five minutes and she was still standing at the door.

Mrs. Robinson was jolted back to consciousness.

"Oh sorry love. I forgot to leave," she laughed and then walked out, softly shutting the door behind her.

The second she was out, she climbed down the staircase to the first floor. Mr. Robinson said he would prefer to stay downstairs at all times because he could hurt himself but- it was more likely because they reminded him of the stairs to board a plane.

I could imagine spectres boarding with him every time he thought of planes.

I gave birth and my husband was not there with me.

Days were dark; my husband wouldn't speak to me. He would be out for days at a time and return smelling strange. He just didn't make sense anymore- but I loved him like I had never before.

I got into art and earned small money that I gave to him to look for jobs - for me or him. I should have done it all myself but- I just wanted us to cooperate, like when we first fell in love.

That love was dead.

He was doing drugs. He loved drugs.

A tear dropped. Mrs. Robinson took a detour to the kitchen and poured herself some water.

He made me do drugs.

"Honey, are you there?" asked Mr. Robinson. Mrs. Robinson looked over her shoulder.

"Yes I'm in the kitchen, hun." she said.

He hugged her from behind. She hadn't seen where he came from. She set down her cup.

"Found you!" he whispered, rubbing his cheeks against hers. She laughed.

"I love you." he said.

"I love you too."

Alekay had even forgotten to check his phone after doing the work. He took it off the charger by the side of his bed while it started up.

He unlocked it with his finger.