Another year, another
football party. This time at 'Goals' in Tolworth somewhere off the A3. Eitan whoops up his nine with his pals, including three girls - the ratio, I note, in decline. He tells me yesterday in the car, rather dramatically, that
"it is war" between the sexes. The girls in Year Four, I observe, advanced - Imogen can barely contain her boredom today - and into dresses and frilly things, including make-up and cell phones. They are 'clicky' and sometimes mean to each other. The boys, meanwhile, play Legos and Star Wars action figures - they have no idea about the truck soon to hit them. But all that for the future and today a
boys affair. On the pitch, the captains chosen and teams drawn leaving the weak and the female for last - same as it ever was. Brutal. From then, it is a calorie-burn broken by the intermittent joyful huzzay! when a goal scored (Orlando pulls off his shirt and races around the astro pitch). Eitan gets to show off his skills but, for once, he is not the best - that honour goes to Jack who is also Sheen Mt year-four but in the parallel class. Jack plays for Wester Park and scouted by Reading, which is the feeder for Chelsea FC - big time. Later, I ask Eitan what makes Jack so good, and he shrugs:
"He always knows what he wants to do and is able to make it happen." Eitan will have his chance, I am sure. And the party? Contentedly he nods:
"thumbs up."
