*Warning: All statements made by persons within this series are theirs and theirs alone, and do not reflect the views of the Fleftic Football Federations, its staff, coaches, players, and other affiliated personnel.
The Games of Their Lives, Part Five
Mabel Finnemark (#10, central attacking midfielder)
So that's it, then. We're out of the Di Bradini Cup once again.
You know what, ever since the tournament moved from rotating between Starblaydia and the Equestrian States to a two-time-straight hosting by Valanora, we've never been as lucky as we used to be. Still, it was Pasarga we were up against, but even then I really felt that we'd have a chance against them this time around. But not really. Sure, I managed to assist both Irina and the returning Kareem Dagen, but then that second-half was just a manic display of world-class quality from Pasarga. Just goes to show why they've been World Cup winners and we've barely had a sniff of the big one.
I'd already arranged for a transfer to Schottia and Cornellians F.C., their most recent champions and recently members of the now-defunct Multiverse Premier League. I feel inspired by the story of Cornellians; how they went from competitors in international football to newcomers to their country's own top flight and then winning said league in just their first season. Sure, this time around they've had to sell their big guns, but they're still a decent side even with their downsized roster, and it's an honor to now be playing with them and for them.
Of course fans of Rosenpfelblatz City know that that's not the only big transfer news going on with our club. Isa Tangemen, the Armeian keeper that saved our skins and actually helped us win back the Ladies' Premier League title in the recently concluded by standing in for the injured Yannie Redborne, was going back to her old club Southeastern on a season-long loan, in exchange for us signing their starting keeper, a woman named Mia Rojo. Looking up on her Youtube highlights, like everyone does in our technologically connected age, Rosen fans are in agreement that while she is a good keeper, she's not exactly deserving of the ten million per annum contract that she's currently got at Southeastern. I know that the club's been bought by the Sultan of Oontaz Dert Li Ng himself, Sultan Kudarat, but he's nowhere near as rich as Nikita Bellich, the Bellinsgauzenian oligarch that bought Sporting Ceneisis and turned them into title contenders alongside Riuwiee United, Arsenal de Releinthi and Malabon. I don't know how the boss is going to manage Rojo's contract with us, but I'm sure as hell that he won't give her two hundred thousand per week. We're not that rich, thank you very much.
Since Rosen's got two of their players leaving the club in the same week, the club captain, Alex Rousseau, a Fleftic international with a lot of goals to her name for both club and country, had decided to arrange a sending-off party for the two women leaving the club now that both of our teams had been knocked out of the Di Bradini Cup. It was just a small affair; Alex, Isa, me, Jeanine Stober, and Alex's strike partner Karen Villegas. Karen was one of the national legends for the under-21 players, having been one of the three prongs of our golden generation's attack, alongside Rory Edwards and Yoshinobu Mori. It's a shame that they're all now ineligible for the cup, but they're all doing well in the senior team, at least as far as I know.
Jeanine and I were in the bar of the hotel where the Fleftic team was staying in for the Di Bradini Cup. I had my smartphone out, and we were watching the video that Isa had posted on social media once her move back to her old club was made official. "I never knew that she spent time in the army and fought against communists," Jeanine said to me. "No wonder she was really rattled when Myra and Ellie went and talked praises on the CPDRA that night before we played Sarvus."
Everyone connected with Rosenpfelblatz City F.C. knew about that particular moment, that fateful night before the Ladies' Premier League game against Sarvusdalamoive Ladies F.C. While watching the Premier League Monday Night Football game between the male departments of Rosenpfelbatz City and Sarvusdalamoive, two Rosen Ladies players, Myra Elsasser and Ellie Sedgwick, had begun praising the work done by the Communist Party of the Democratic Republic of Abanhfleft (hence CPDRA) right in front of Isa, whom no one at that point suspected had deep-seated emotions against the Reds. No one was really sure what had started it; just that Isa had stormed out of the bar and refused to talk to anyone else before the game against Sarvusdalamoive Ladies. That game eventually ended 3-0 in favor of the Pinks, with the visitors scoring thrice in the span of twenty minutes to put the result beyond doubt.
"What else to you expect from those two?" I said to Jeanine. "I know that Ellie's the daughter of the local CP leader in Rosenpfelblatz, and Myra's always kissing up to people like Ellie, trying to get on their good sides; it's sad, really. But still, I don't think they should've done what they did. It's a shame, really. If they had only tried to keep their mouths shut, Isa wouldn't have a reason to leave us."
"Also, have you seen those videos from Armeia's game against HUElavia?" Jeanine asked me. "I've got them here in my phone. Apparently it shows our golden girl Isa proposing to her teammate!"
"Proposing to her teammate?" I asked. "Isn't Armeia's team made up of all girls?"
"Exactly," Jeanine said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"'
Tough luck, kid,'" a voice near the camera recording the whole thing said as we went through the clip. I don't know what Isa was thinking at that moment, but proposing to her teammate right when they had just lost a game, especially a crucial knockout game in the round of 16 really wasn't the best of decisions.
"Imagine that," I muttered. "Isa Tangemen, savior of Rosenpfelblatz City Ladies' 2015-16 season, is a lesbian."
"I knew it the first time I laid eyes on her," Jeanine said. "My nose can tell things like this." She even pointed at her nose to prove her point. "Ever since my brother and sister went out and admitted that they were gay and lesbian respectively, I've had this ability to sniff out the gays and lesbians I meet. I didn't say anything because I thought it might mess up everyone's opinion on her, but I guess that's beyond the point now."
"Speaking of, here they come now," I said as I noticed Alex, Karen and Isa coming into the hotel. I don't know how Alex managed to rope the Armeian into going along with her, but I'm not going to complain. The two of us are going off to different clubs, and this sending-off was an important part of the club life.
"Well, well, well, look like the gang's all here!" Alex said as the three of them took seats next to me and Jeanine. "How's everyone doing tonight, eh, girls?"
"Fine, actually," Jeanine replied. "Hey, Isa, I heard that your boy Drahomir Mali won the Finals MVP for the Deathsticks! He's been a real breath of fresh air for the team, and after being dead last this time last season. they're now FNIHL champions! It's an unbelievable turn-around, and Mali's played a big part in their newfound success!"
"I don't know how to say this, but while Mali is my countryman, he's not exactly my 'boy,'" Isa Tangemen replied to Jeanine's comment. "Besides, I'm not really in the mood to talk. My team's just lost in the round of 16 once again, and just when I thought things were turning round for me, I get rejected by the girl I love! I need a freaking drink."
"I don't think if this is the stuff that will work for you," Alex said as she reached for something inside her backpack, "but this is the only thing I've got that probably qualifies as 'strong stuff' for someone like you." She brought out what looked to be a tumbler of coffee from her bag and laid it down on the table. Karen opened it and took a sniff, and recoiled from what she smelled from within. "Ooh!" she said. "What is that stuff?"
"Coffee wine," Alex replied. "Others would call it kahlua, but really, it isn't. It's just some local stuff I picked up on the way to the airport. They customs people didn't even pay attention to it. So, Mabel, are you really sure about your move to Cornellians? I mean, Carlos is willing to offer you a bigger contract and appearances on the bench."
"Thanks, Alex, but no thanks," I replied. "I'm just a twenty-year-old quietly living her life as a professional footballer in one of the biggest clubs in the country, and we all know that I'll never be able to displace Elena fucking Migdvorak from her spot in the starting eleven unless someone does a horror tackle on her and all the others in the team ahead of me in the CAM position. Besides, I've already negotatiated a preliminary deal with the Schottians. They're already guaranteeing me a spot on the bench and even a start or two. Also, I think it's time for me to get a move abroad, get to learn the styles of the other countries. I'm basically spying for Abanhfleft now!"
"Just don't let it get to your head, Mabel, and you'll do well," Alex said as she poured her "coffee wine" into shot glasses that she had requested from the bartender. "Seriously though, Mabel, sometimes fame and success gets to your head a little too much. Keep yourself grounded or else you might find yourself going back much much earlier than you thought you would."
"Oh, come on, Alex, since when have I let my head grow big?"
"Since you scored that absolute belter against Arsenal away to them when you were standing in for Elena who was injured by that horror tackle from Chelsea of all people." Thinking back to that moment, maybe I did think myself to be the second coming of Allison Torres when I scored that long-range goal against Arsenal. But who wouldn't when you score from 40-plus yards away from the net?
"And you, Isa," Alex said, turning her attention to the Armeian. "Are you really going to try to get Southeastern to pay the future fee for you after you finish your loan?"
"It's the only way that I know that I can get back home," Isa replied. "Look, I know that you all think of me as the hero that saved your season and got you back the title, but I don't think I'll be able to get to the level that you girls operate with each other. Especially not with some of my teammates treating communists with... fucking respect and admiration. I can't handle being people like that. I just can't."
"I'm sorry that it had to end this way," Karen said. "I really am."
"Besides, you're getting a good keeper in Mia Rojo," Isa added. "She's one of the people that made me into the player I am today. You guys are getting someone just as good, if not better than Yannie in Rojo."
"I'm not disputing that she's good, Isa," Karen said. "But is she willing to take just half of the money she's earning from Southeastern? Because honestly, she's not good enough for two hundred thousand per week."
"And even if she does agree to take a pay cut," Jeanine added, "who's to say that she won't slip up in the LPL? With our luck she's probably going to concede a penalty and Victoria Carter ends up slotting past Rojo in the 90th minute. I wouldn't even be surprised if that happens."
"All right, girls, that's enough talking now," Alex said as she finished pouring the last of her coffee wine into the shot glasses. "Girls, take your glasses, raise them up, and listen to me." We followed as she said, taking our shot glasses and raising them up high.
"Look upon us, o great golden eagle on our breasts," Alex began, "and see that we have been faithful servants to your badge. We, the sisterhood of the gold and blue harpies, are here to celebrate the departure of two of our sisters to foreign lands in order to spread their wings and set their eyes on broader horizons. Gaze upon your loyal sisters and servants Mabel and Isa, who now depart for the shores of Schottia and Armeia in order to gain valuable experience in the pursuit of great football. Watch them, guide them in their journey, and may the blessings of goals, assists, clean sheets, appearances and caps rain down upon them. Now, sisters, let us drink in the golden eagle's name." Alex then tipped back her head and downed her shot of coffee wine in one gulp. The others, me included, did the same, and then we all put back the glasses bottoms-up on the table at the same time.
Some might call this kind of behavior and ceremony strange; cultish even. But for us it was just a part of being part of Rosenpfelblatz City F.C.