For the Ninjas.
The Trial
Dan marked the day down on his calendar. The first trial of 2013. He went through the months and counted how many days there were until the big day – 117. Pre-season training started today.
He pinned the calendar back to the wall and grabbed his gym bag. As he packed it, he felt a shiver down his spine. That trial meant everything to him, he was absolutely desperate to impress. He honestly couldn’t think of anything more important to him.
He slung the bag over his shoulder and headed out the door towards the gym. Taking a look around his surroundings as he locked the front door, he breathed in deeply. It starts today, he thought.
***
6am jogs weren’t Dan’s favourite pastime, not by any means. Today he was getting pushed way beyond his comfort zone, too.
He struggled to take his mind off the pain he felt in his legs, and get them into some sort of automatic rhythm that he wouldn’t have to think about.
He came to a hill and the pain got worse. There was seemingly no way he could keep going, but still he pushed himself further. His legs seared with pain, and his lungs began to burn as he reached the top of the hill. He gasped for air like someone emerging from several minutes under water.
He reached the top of the hill, and his legs buckled. His body crumbled into the path, and he began to vomit.
He’d never pushed himself so hard in his life. As he wiped his mouth dry, he tried to picture the trial – if he impressed in that, it would make this all worthwhile.
***
Dan checked into the gym yet again. This would be his tenth visit this week. The girl at the reception smiled at him.
“Back again?” she said.
Dan was awe-struck, but managed a smile back. “Yeah, sure am. I’m training for the trial. You err ... you going?” he managed to blurt out.
“Sure am, wouldn’t miss it!” she replied enthusiastically. “Are you ... are you playing?” she asked, slightly puzzled.
“Um, might seeya there!” Dan abruptly blurted, hurriedly making his way to the changing rooms.
He tried to calm himself down, but this was going too perfectly. Once reception girl saw him at the trial, there would be no way she could resist his charms.
***
There was precious little time left until the trial, as Dan sprinted between shuttle cones. It was vital that his footwork was at its optimum if he was to perform as he hoped.
He pulled up, finishing the session. D Day was on Saturday, and there was absolutely nothing more he could do to prepare. He was in peak physical and mental shape – his time had come.
***
It was halftime in the 2013 Warriors-Broncos trial in Dunedin, and Dan’s moment was here.
As he watched the players walk off, he stripped down ... taking care not to attract the attention of security. As their attention waned with the players off the field, he took his opportunity, jumping the fence and heading for the centre of the field.
His pace was first rate, exactly as he’d hoped – the training had paid off! Suddenly, something caught the corner of his eye. The already roaring crowd hit a new level of decibels – crap – Ruben Wiki was heading towards him!
Wiki took him down from behind in a classic legs tackle. Dan thanked his stars it wasn’t a shoulder charge. As the security headed towards him, Wiki jogged off, and he saw the chance to go again.
Using the footwork he’d worked months on, he swerved past the security and towards the gate down the far corner which would lead to escape.
His footwork was sublime, the hours of drills paying dividends.
As he reached the fence, he dived up, but couldn’t quite pull himself over. Dammit – not enough upper body work! He felt security around his ankles and was pulled down into the security’s clutches. The crowd groaned at his near escape being thwarted.
Dan’s heart sunk. Security eventually peeled off him and he was lead away. As he trudged off dejectedly, he noticed someone in the crowd. It was reception girl! She was waving frantically at him. He tried to wave back, as best he could.
She blew him a kiss and yelled out “See you Monday!”
“Geez mate, put it away.” one of the security guards muttered to Dan, as he couldn’t help but show his pleasure.
748 words.
Note: I was going to attach this photo to the article, but didn't want to give away the ending for anyone glancing through the thread. So here is a link to it instead:
http://www.odt.co.nz/files/u68/wiki_PIXEL.jpg