The Chain (A Catherine Diary) - Stamfield. Complete

Chapter 93

93

Once the boys had vanished into the block, I took in my surroundings. There was a field of pitches to my right, both for football and rugby, on one pitch, a team in green and white were warming up, they didn't look old enough to be the opponents of our college team. I looked around the car park, boys were turning up in their parents cars, three girls sat in the distance on a low wall sharing a joke. Looking to the left of the changing block, was a path that obviously lead to the college in the distance. This was clearly a very large college campus. I spotted Duncan having what looked like a heated discussion with someone at the other end of the car park, he waved his hands in my direction frantically and I turned away abruptly, not wanting him to notice I was seeing him.

A couple minutes later Duncan was back. 'That was the care taker, he's in charge of the changing block. Unfortunately, there are three matches going on today and he already given the physio room to another team'.

He stopped talking and was busy checking the bags, making sure we had everything. I was bemused, what did that mean, was this trip a wasted journey? Did that mean we were just going to go home?

'Come on then', he said grabbing the massage bench and as much of the bags as he could, 'let's go'

He lead me to the changing block, there was a current of boys pushing me in the opposite direction and I received the occasional glance. I made an effort to refrained from making any eye contact.

The changing block was remarkably similar to the one at our college, the same grey, cold brick walls, the same mud strewn across the concrete floor, the same odor of sweaty socks. The only difference was the main entrance wasn't in the middle, but at the far end, meaning there was only one direction to go.

I followed Duncan half way down the corridor, weaving between boys and men. The doors to the rooms, on the side, were numbered, we stopped at room five, the door opened up to a huge open space, the boys were seated, dressed in their rugby gear, in a semi circle around the side, quietly listening to their coach's voice.

I didn't take note of anything he was saying, it wouldn't have meant much to me. However, it surprised me how this rowdy group of lads sat there intensely quite, concentrating on every word Terry said.

'This way', Duncan said, nodding to the opposite side of the room, close to the shower unit, 'we'll set up there'

I nodded and followed him. I was a little relieved when I finally put down the bags, clearly his ex-wife was far stronger than I was.

'Can you give me a hand?'

I assisted Duncan with setting up the massage bench, we folded some towels to the side and he started unloading tapes, oils, ice packs and puzzlingly cling film on a roll.

'It's for wrapping the ice to their body, saves them from having to hold it there', he said as an explanation, 'you put the ice in one of these sandwich bags, get them to hold it in place and wrap it up to the boy'.

Behind us Terry had completed his speech, not that I was listening, but it was obvious he had finished, because the volume in the room dramatically increased supplemented by rugby boots being stamped on the concrete flooring. I glanced round to see some of the boys leaving the changing room, one of them was Jack, who looked over to see if I was fine, I gave him a discrete nod and he left, Dwayne left moments later.