Baby of the team - WSL

part 39

5th October

Beth had asked Jen to talk to tally and had gotten tally and Jen to be in the same room together alone so they could talk. She knew tally wouldn't want to talk but Jen could understand her better than anyone, especially with how she was feeling right now.

After thr revelations of the day before tally was feeling lighter more at peace. She had come to terms with her worries and fears and they felt just that little bit smaller more manageable. Viv and lotte had been checking in on her often and she appreciated it. After there chat the girls went to their respective houses to prepare for travelling to the Manchester grounds.

Tally was in her room doing her schoolwork while some of the girls including leah had gym sessions. It was around 10 o'clock when she heard a knock on the door and saw Jen on the other side. Tally felt confused as they weren't really that close. "I was just wondering how you were doing?" She asked gently. Well as gently as she could with her Scottish accent. Tally shrugged and opened the door for Jen to come in. She gestured to the bed and Jen sat down on tallys bed which she knew was Tally's because of the city blanket and the array of cuddly toys. She noticed tally grab a stuffed cow and pull it in close to her. She was a bit confused but didn't judge after all she was just a little kid essentially maybe it brought her some comfort.

Tally noticed Jen staring at the hot cow and softly said: "still feeling a bit off I'm not sure how much you know but it's a hot cow like you put it in a microwave and it gets all toasty!" Jen nodded at it and smiled. "That's genius that is, leah didn't tell us anything except you felt ill but not ill enough to tell her and then you landed funny on a tackle and ripped some stitches or something so that made you faint!" She explained softly not wanting to freak the girl out. "That kinda half of it yeah!" She said not elaborating further and Jen respected that. "You know Beth asked me to talk to you, she said I would understand better than anyone else but she didn't really say what so yeah?" Jen said laughing slightly.

Tally looked surprised for a moment but then not really. "Of course she did, my little sister Rosaria had to have her lower leg amputated. Bone cancer and familial acute myeloid leukaemia so it's genetic. 4 people in my immediate family have had it... Including me!" She said so quietly. Jen looked at her. She looked shocked for a second but that immediately changed to sorrow. She pulled her into a hug. "How long have you been in remission?" Jen asked softly. Tally looked at her straight into her eyes. "I was 13 the last time I defeated it. and the first time was when I was 6 till I was 7 and then 8 to 10 and then 11 to 13. I've rung the cancer bell 3 times but everyone up until now it's been back in under 8 months!" She said as quietly as a mouse. Jen smiled at her sadly. "I got diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020!" she said softly. tally looked at her surprised.

"Can you help me ask Jonas if Rosie can be a mascot?" Jen nodded immediately happy to help the kid.

Skip to match day

6th October sunday

Tally jumped up and down as they waited in the tunnel getting herself in the zone. Letting everything go. The mascots came out and waited with them. She didn't have one. Yet. Leah looked a bit confused but before she had a chance to ask she saw daan come up to tally with a child. Tally smiled seeing rosie. It had been way to long since shs had sesn her. "Hey roro ready to do this?" She asked softly to her in italian. Rosaria nodded enthusiastically as she was passed from daan to tally. Daan patted tally on the shoulder as she made her way back to her spot. "So proud of you bambina!" Tally whispered to her. Rosie was looking a bit worse for wear. She had shorts on that made her amputation obvious and she had a cute little light blue hat on with green dinosaur spikes in her hand. Tally pulled the hat down so it covered the toddlers completely bald head.