IN TIMES LIKE THIS (Ep2)

 

IN TIMES LIKE THIS (World of the Stars #1)

EPISODE 2

© Esther Ebunife

As Richard got to the place where he would be training, WHITELANE, he went to put down his name and other necessities for his registration. The officer in charge gave him his room number. Richard thanked the man and left. He looked at the number again and glanced at each door he passed. 

“Room 17,” he kept muttering to himself as he went.

A boy collided with him as he turned to a corner and the plastic on which his room number was, fell from his hand.

“Sorry.” The boy apologized and picked up the plastic for him. “Room 17, is that your room number?”

Richard nodded.

“Then we’re roommates. My name’s Edwin, people call me Eddie. Come, I’ll show you to our room.”

Edwin took Richard to Room 17 and opened the door. Richard was shocked as a ball hit him in the face. The guys inside laughed at him.

“That was cruel!” he yelled at them.

“Take it cool, it’s like a welcome for you.” Edwin told him.

“Are these guys also staying in this room?”

“No, they’re my friends. I invited them over. There’s just three of us staying here for now, you, me and Dan - the quiet one.” Edwin said pointing at the boy lying on one of the beds and scrolling through his phone with a headset on, he obviously wasn’t aware of their arrival nor disturbed by the boys’ noise.

Edwin introduced his friends to Richard who in turn shook their hands and said his name. He saw from the corner of his eyes that Daniel watched him for a while before moving back to what he was doing. Richard sat with Edwin and his friends, amused by everything they said. He noticed that they didn’t meddle with Dan but neither did they bring their voices low, they were laughing and cracking jokes.

About an hour later, Edwin and his friends stood up to leave and have a good time, as they said.

“Be ready by six, Richard. The director wants us all at the hall, and a piece of advice for you - he hates lateness.” Edwin said and left with his friends.

Richard sat on his bed, he’d placed his luggage where they should be. He then lay on the bed staring up at the ceiling.

“Welcome, Richard. My name is Daniel.”

Richard turned to look at Dan, who was now by his bed.

“May I?” he asked and sat on Richard’s bed with a smile.

“I didn’t know you could speak since you haven’t said a word for the past one hour.

Daniel smiled, “There was nothing I could contribute to what you guys were saying and moreso, I was busy.”

“Okay, and thanks for the welcome.”

“How’s your face?” Daniel asked.

“My face?! What do you mean?”

“The boys hit you with a ball when you came in so I was wondering if you have any injury.”

“Oh that.” Richard chuckled, “I’m alright.”

“So, why are you here at Whitelane?”

“Here? I’m here with the same reason as everyone else here, to be a footballer and a star.”

“A star,” Dan sighed, “Okay then, good luck.”

Daniel went back to his bed. Just then, Richard remembered he promised to write to Desmond. Quickly, he took out his phone and texted his best friend about his arrival.

***

The hall was half-full by the time Richard got there. He saw Edwin with his friends and went to meet them. As usual, they started chatting again. Richard also saw Daniel sitting with two other boys, they were talking together.

At six on the dot, the director, Mr. Stewart, stepped on the platform and spoke to them. The hall was hushed and only Mr. Stewart’s voice was heard as he spoke.

“As you all are here, you come with a motive to be a football star. How you get to the top depends on you but I assure you that not all of you sitting here today will be a star, only those who work very hard and strive towards it…”

Edwin smiled as Mr. Stewart continued talking, then mumbled in Richard’s ear, “We are sure going to be a star and nothing is going to stand in our way, right?” Richard nodded in affirmation and smiled back at Edwin.

After Mr. Stewart left, all the boys went to their various rooms. Their training was going to start the next day. Richard was so excited to begin training. He couldn’t stop talking about it and when everyone else was fast asleep that night, Richard’s eyes were wide open.

***

(Thanks for reading)

***

TO BE CONTINUED...

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Picture Credit: The Internet