Page 89 of Playing the Game

“Hey, Howie,” Tito said.

“Never call me that again,” Howard replied. “You’re nearly late.”

Dean joined them and shook hands with the three players.

“And who do we have here?” he asked Howard.

Howard reared up to his full five feet and nine inches. “I’m Howard Clooney. The Director of Public Relations for Brockton.”

“Dean Jack. The agent to these three groundbreakers.”

They shook hands.

“For future reference, we like to arrive a little early for engagements.”

Dean smirked. “Noted. Terrible traffic. Good goal yesterday, Jonas.”

Jonas nodded. “Thanks.”

“Follow me,” Howard said.

They all filed into the church. A friendly woman waited for them.

“Hello. I’m Miss Tregellas,” she said. “We’re very excited to have you here this morning.”

Jonas had no idea what kind of crowd they were going to pull. Neither Dean nor Howard had given them many details.

Miss Tregellas led them into a small room which contained around twenty people who all fell silent when they came in. They were a mix of men and women, mostly over sixty. It was gone nine on a weekday after all.

“The photographer from theBrockton Gazetteis in the bathroom,” Miss Tregellas explained.

Howard checked his iPad. “We didn’t clear that.”

“Oh but?—”

“I contacted him,” Dean said.

Howard glared. “I would appreciate any decisions to be run past me for events such as this, Mr Jack.”

“Noted, Mr Clooney,” Dean replied. “Once again, you have my apologies.”

“I don’t mind pictures,” Tito said. “Where do you want us?”

Miss Tregellas rubbed her hands together. “Pick a table.”

Noah glanced nervously. “We tend to have our breakfast set,” he explained. “For nutrition.”

“Relax,” Tito said, clapping him on the shoulder. “I’m sure a slice of toast won’t upset anyone.”

Jonas took a seat. Three older women and one older man stared at him.

“Which one are you then?” one woman asked. “I don’t bother with football.”

“I’m Jonas Haber,” he replied. “A pleasure to meet you.”

“Jeanette,” she said. “This is Roza and this is Paula. Your man over there is Stephen.”

Jonas nodded at them all. Jeanette had bright blonde hair that was set in a fashion he imagined hadn’t changed for many a decade. Roza had dark red hair and Paula brown. They were like a girl group from the Seventies.