Mini Bronze

Chapter 2 • ISLA?!

* Lucy's POV *

I've just finished with Barcelona and am now in the in-between time before the next lionesses camp and today I'm going to a local football team in Manchester to help coach then for a week.

It's about 4:15 when I pull upto the training ground and am met by the coach as soon as I get out of my car
??: Heya, I'm Tim the coach
Lucy: Nice to meet you I'm Lucy
Tim: If you follow me, we can start setting up if that's ok?
Lucy: Yeah, that's fine
We walk over to the pitch
Tim: So I was thinking we could split into 2 and you coach on half whilst I coach the other then we have a game?
Lucy: That sounds good
I say with a smile
Tim: Oh, just so you know we have one girl

I nod with a small smile already proud of this girl.
Tim: the girls called Isla-Wren
My heart faultered at this knowing that this is what I named my little girl 9 years ago.
Tim: and she is autistic and has something called selective Mutism.
I nod
Lucy: What's selective Mutism?
Tim: Well I'm not a psychologist but I can tell you how it presents in Izzy
I nod
Tim: So she physically cannot talk to people sometimes because of anxiety so she has to physically fight it if you're not one of her safe people
I nod
Tim: I'm just telling you this so you're aware so you can interact with her in the best way
I nod
Lucy: Yes, thank you for telling me
He nods
Tim: So are you still ok with surprising them together?
Lucy: Yeah
Tim: Ok, if you want to wait there as they will start coming soon
He says pointing to where he wants me to wait and I nod then go over there.

About 2 minutes later, the first person arrives which is a girl who I presume is Isla-Wren and I watch her talk to Tim then he puts her hair up and when he does that I see a full arm cast on her right arm which makes me feel sad.
I watch as she walks over to the ball bag and hands out balls to the boys as they arrive.

About 15 minutes later, it looks like they are all there and they all gather around Tim as he talks to them then there's a drum roll and I hear
Tim: Lucy Bronze
So I make my way over to them hearing excited cheers.

When I get over to them I hear
??: Hey Izzy, it's your twin
I look over and see the girl who looks so much like me but I shake it off and ask her
Lucy: What's your name?
I see her eyes immediately scan around for help when the boy says
??: Her full name is Isla-Wren Lucia Bronze so we call her your twin
That's her, its her name my baby from 9 years ago's name.
I smile and turn to look at her
Lucy: Well nice to meet you twin
I smile and immediately hear the boys all laugh

Tim: Right we are gonna split into 2 groups and one group will train with Lucy whilst the other trains with me but don't worry, you will swap over next session.

I see all the kids nod and Tim splits them in half.
Tim: Izzy do you want to help Lucy coach?

I see her look at him nervously so I try and relieve some anxiety by joking with her and giving her a comforting smile
Lucy: Come on, I need some help with these boys and hey us girls have got to stick together right?

When she comes over to me
Tim: because of her arm she cannot partake in training right now which she knows but watch her cause she will try

He laughs warning me and I look to her and see she has a cheeky smile on her face which makes me smile and I nod then we make our way over to my group.
Lucy: So we are gonna do some basic training first so passes

I split them into pairs then set them off.
I immediately crouch down to Isla-Wrens height so I'm less intimidating and say
Lucy: So who do I need to watch out for?
And she points to an older boy
Lucy: Him?
I ask confirming whilst pointing to him and she nods
Lucy: Will do thank you

I smile
Lucy: Try going faster
I shout to the boys

After practicing passes, Tim decides to do a mini match so it's my team versus Tim's team so me, Tim and Isla-Wren stand together.
I hear Tim start talking to Isla-Wren

Tim: You ok iz?
Tim: How's home?
What does that mean? How's home? Was she not in a good home?
All these questions run through my head but they all stop and I see the ball roll towards us and stop right at Isla-Wren's feet where she kicks it up twice before booting it onto the pitch with such force
Lucy: Wow that was powerful
I compliment her and watch her go shy which makes me smile at how cute she looks.
Tim: Isla
He says in a warning tone as I watch her turn to look at him sheepishly and he just shakes his head.

The game ends with my team winning so we all celebrate then
Tim: Ok, time to tidy up and go home
I

start tidying up and once it's all packed away I realise Isla-Wren is still here and as stack the cones I hear

Tim: Do you want a lift Iz?
Isla-Wren: it's ok don't worry, I'm fine walking
Tim: Ok kid, if you're sure, see you tomorrow Iz
I look up and she waves at me so I smile and wave back when she picks up a giraffe teddy on her way and I immediately recognise it as the same one I bought for my daughter when she was born.

Tim: Thanks for the help
He says as I put the last bag in his car
Lucy: It's no problem really
He shuts the boot door
I debate asking him the question I want to ask but just decide to go for it.
Lucy: you know Isla-Wren, is she ok?
Tim: what do you mean?
Lucy: I heard you ask her how home was
Tim: Oh yeah, She's in care and is always in and out of different homes and has just come out of a tricky one to now be in a group home. The only consistent thing for her has been this football club and her little giraffe teddy
I nod with a sad smile taking it all in
Lucy: Poor girl
He nods
Tim: Yeah
He says in a sad voice
Tim: Anyway, I will see you tomorrow Lucy
He says perking up
Lucy: Yes, see you tomorrow
With that we both get in our cars and he drives off but I just sit there and think about Isla-Wren and how she has the same name as my little girl, exact same teddy, she looks like me, same age.
I sigh figuring out if I'm just making this up because I can't find my little girl so I take a deep breath before picking up my phone I call Keira and she answers after the second ring
Keira: Hey babe what's up?
She says with a smile
Lucy: So you know my baby girl who I left with her dad then lost her?
Keira nods knowing all about the situation with a concerned look on her face
Lucy: Well I was at this football club today and there was this little girl called Isla-Wren Lucia Bronze and she had the same giraffe teddy as I gave my baby girl, she has the same age, and she looks just like me
I see Keira nod and I can see the cogs turning in her brain
Keira: Well why don't you call your social services liaison and just tell her the situation?
Lucy: But what if Im just imagining it
Keira: Would it hurt to talk to her just so you can have confirmation either way?
Lucy: No
Keira: So do that then
Lucy: Ok, love you babe
Keira: I love you too, bye
We hang up and I decide she's right I mean it wouldn't hurt to ask. I diall my social services liaison and talk to her about it all and she says she will look into it for me so I drive home knowing there was nothing more I can do right now.