Chapter 29

That morning, I had the Year Two lads’ first session. We went for a nice long cross-country run, then the Year One lads did five-a-side, and finally, the Year Three lads did rugby drills. To be fair, my head was not in the game; I was worried about Marcia. I had sent a few texts and left a few voicemails, but had received no replies.

I went through the motions. I went into the canteen and got a takeaway sandwich and some fruit; I didn’t want to sit at a table and have to listen to the idle gossip about Natalie and Marcia. It was all getting a bit mind-numbing, to be honest.

I went to my room and watched some rugby on television while eating. I was just about to leave the room to go back to the gym when I got a text message. It was from Marcia.

‘I am fine, sorry I ran away, I will call you around nine thirty tonight xxx.’ I replied.

‘Good to hear you are okay and looking forward to speaking later, X.’ I left the room with a smile on my face. I arrived at the gym, made coffee, and checked my emails while I waited for the guys to arrive. I had another class of year three lads after lunch and then the year fives for a double lesson.

The year threes arrived, changed and after a few warmups, then after they had run around the rugby pitch, we played some games of five-a-side football.

The year five class I had was mainly rugby squad lads, so it was a double session of rugby drills and a game to end the session. We worked on defence during the drills, especially the ability to get back into the defensive line and how to organise the defence.

I did take some of the lads off to do some specialist lineout work. It had been one of the weaknesses in the last game. Lineouts, I feel, are a bit like scrums, and are all about timing.

We worked hard, and then they played a game and applied some of the new skills they had learned.

The rain started to fall just as we finished the game, and the lads jogged over to the gym block as soon as I had finished my post-game chat.

I went into my office and checked my email. I replied to some. I delete plenty. I seemed to receive a ton of emails that were really of interest to me.

Then, once the lads had finished changing and had shot off to do whatever lads do between classes and dinner, I cleaned up the changing rooms and hosed down the showers.

I went up to my room and spent an hour working on my book before going for dinner. I went for the traditional mince and tatties. The chat, as expected, centred on the change at the top and the fact that Marcia Armstrong had been let go from her job.

To be fair, it was boring, and most of it was just idle gossip and hot air.

I ate my mince, had a bowl of rice pudding, and then took a takeaway coffee up to my room. I did an hour on the book.

Rugby training that night was well attended, the rain had stopped, and the lads were all eager. We did some shuttle runs and then some tackle drills. Then we worked on some set moves from both the lineout and the scrums. All the lads seemed eager to get stuck in, and the chat was about the next game.

I finished the session fifteen minutes earlier than usual and made sure the gym was all locked up before heading up to my room. I was shaved and showered, had made a coffee, and was sitting on the sofa when Marcia rang.

“Hey, handsome, how are you?” she asked.

“I am good, thank you, and how are you?” I replied.

“Yeah, I have been better. I take it you have heard what happened?” she asked, her voice catching in her throat.

“Just that you had an argument with the headmaster and walked out,” I told her.

“Well, that’s not the complete story. Listen, are you doing anything this weekend?” she asked.

“No, I have nothing planned. Why do you ask?” I asked.

“I am at a mate’s flat in Edinburgh for a few days, she is away on holiday, but then I am moving to London”, she said, and I sensed a bit of sadness in her voice.

“Okay, why London?” I asked.

“I have arranged a job down there; it is only emergency cover for one term, as a member of staff was in a car accident. But it will give me time to find some work,” she said, and that made sense to me.

“Okay, well, I don’t have a car, so I will have to come down on the train. Let me look at the timetable, and I will see when it’s best to come down,” I told her.

“Okay, Zak, it would be good to see you! “She said, and that sadness was creeping out again.

“Leave it with me! “I said.

“Right, I will talk to you soon,” she said.

“You bet you will,” I told her, and she ended the call. I made another cup of coffee and worked for another hour on my book. It was starting to take shape.

I went to bed and tossed and turned while thinking about Marcia and what would happen to her.

The alarm woke me the next morning, and the sun was already high in the sky. I put on my running gear and headed out. Warmups done, I headed down the drive and out along the path that led down past the lake and into the moor.

I soon caught up and passed a bunch of lads that were out and about early. We exchanged good mornings, and I powered past them. I may have retired from professional rugby, but I still had a wide competitive streak.