Smith

SIXTY FOUR

  BLOODY DOG

  Thompson had his evening planned out. Pizza, beer and football. He had bought a second hand television to replace the one of Smith’s that had been stolen; the pizza was warming up in the oven and the national anthems were just about to begin. England versus Germany in the1966 World Cup Final. Thompson had been a child when England had played Germany in the final but he remembered it like it was yesterday. Theakston ran into the room with something in his mouth. It was one of Thompson’s slippers.

  “Give that back,” Thompson demanded but Theakston carried on chewing it.

  Thompson got up from the couch and walked towards the puppy. He tried to take the slipper out of his mouth. Theakston thought this was great; he shook the slipper and pulled it from Thompson’s grip.

  “Bloody dog,” Thompson moaned. “You’ll sleep in the rain tonight if you’re not careful.”

  The alarm on the oven sounded. The pizza was ready. Thompson forgot about his slipper, pressed pause on the video machine and walked through to the kitchen. He put the pizza on a plate, took a beer from the fridge and walked back to the living room. He put the pizza on the coffee table, pressed play on the machine and settled down to watch the game. Theakston could smell the pizza and he dropped the slipper and sat next to the table begging.

  “Bugger off,” Thompson said, “you’ve got plenty of food in your bowl.”

  Theakston did not want dog food, he wanted pizza. Siegfried Held sent the ball into the England penalty box and Thompson groaned as he knew what was coming up next. Ray Wilson headed the ball straight to the German Helmut Haller who put the ball past Gordon Banks. England 0 Germany 1.

  “You’re a moron Wilson,” Thompson said.

  He took a slice of pizza. Theakston sat there wagging his tail but Thompson ignored him. Bobby Moore was about to take a free kick. Thompson put the pizza down and watched the television intently. Moore curved the free kick straight to the head of Geoff Hurst who headed it down into the back of the net. England 1 Germany 1. Thompson stood up and did his victory dance. He sat down again and picked up his pizza. The slice was gone. While Thompson was dancing around, Theakston had not only helped himself to the slice but he had eaten nearly half of the pizza on the plate.

  “Bloody dog,” Thompson said again.

  He knew there would be no more goals until the second half of the game so he picked Theakston up, took him to the kitchen and closed the door. The puppy started to bark. Thompson merely turned up the volume on the television. Theakston’s bark had turned into an almighty whining sound. This dog has been spoiled, Thompson thought. He went back to the kitchen, picked the puppy up and carried him back to the living room. He put him on the couch beside him.

  “Now keep quiet,” he ordered, “the second half is about to start.”

  Theakston curled up beside him and watched as the players returned to the pitch. Thompson picked up his phone and dialled Smith’s number. After two rings it went to voice mail. He tried again. The voice mail message came up after one ring. Once more, he thought. Voice mail immediately. The bastard has switched his phone off, he thought; I wonder what he’s up to.

  Allan Ball was about to take a corner. He sent the ball straight to Geoff Hurst. Hurst’s shot was deflected to Martin Peters who quickly slotted the ball in the back of the net from eight yards. England 2 Germany 1. Thompson patted Theakston.

  “Don’t get too excited boy,” he said, “the bloody Krauts equalise just before full time.”

  Theakston stretched out his paws. The Germans were awarded a free kick.

  “Open your bloody eyes ref,” Thompson shouted.

  Emmerich passed the ball straight to Cohen who blocked it. He sent the ball to Weber whose shot went into the back of the net.

  “Hand ball.” Thompson protested, “That referee needs glasses,” he said to Theakston.

  England 2 Germany 2.

  “Extra time now boy,” Thompson said, “What am I doing? I’m sitting talking about football with a bloody dog.”

  Thompson went to the kitchen to get another beer. Theakston jumped off the couch and followed him. There was one slice of pizza left so Thompson cut it up and put it in Theakston’s bowl.

  Ten minutes into extra time, Allan Ball sent in a cross to Geoff Hurst who turned and shot. The ball hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced back down. The referee gave the goal and the crowd went wild. England 3 Germany 2. With one minute to go before full time the Germans pushed forward with everything they had. Bobby Moore threaded a pass through to Geoff Hurst. People started to run onto the pitch. Hurst blasted a shot towards the goal and it smashed into the back of the net.

  “Some people are on the pitch,” Thompson said, “they think it’s all over. It is now, four.”

  England 4 Germany 2. Thompson patted Theakston on the head.

  “Good boy,” he said.