17. Invitation in Manchester (3 pgs.)

ACT I - CHAPTER 17

INVITATION IN MANCHESTER

Saturday February 24, 2017

Oldchester Vikings Club Stadium

Manchester England

As the new coach spoke, Alexandre remembered Victoria’s joy when he had explained to her that emotions derived from a rational evaluation of cultural norms that went unnoticed. She knew it, but she couldn’t put it into words. She could now help several friends who believed that her emotions were free and spontaneous.

“Let’s continue playing attack! Very well done! Let’s keep things simple! Precision, location, synchronicity, rhythm! Everyone knows who to mark! Seek the goal as a team, you know what to do! Alexandre, come in through the middle and watch out for offside!” said José Capra in the harangue before entering the field.

The Club had changed coaches and they were happier. His philosophy was the same that he was discovering with Ricardo and Arturo. José knew how to place each player according to his abilities and trained them so that each one improved their characteristics. He is applying the Law of Identity and Causality, Alexandre thought when he saw him perform. If A was A, each player was going to do what he had to do, necessarily, according to their particular abilities.

Greg’s hysterical harangues and emotional whims of unfairly benching someone because “he felt it” were a thing of the past. José made them improve individually and they adapted to the new style.

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When they were tied with ten minutes left, Jameson, the Oldchester Vikings’ best forward, scored a great goal for them. They tried to reverse the score, but he scored again five minutes later and they lost four to two.

They were about to score on two occasions, but the rival team played on the counterattack and did not forgive their defensive errors.

The championship had exhausted them since they had all been called up to play for their countries in the World Cup.

Two hours after the game, Victoria and Alexandre were sitting on the couches in front of the hotel bar while they were served sushi and champagne. Francisca entered from the side wearing high heels and a short gray silk dress.

She recognized them and came up to greet them.

“Sit with us,” Victoria said and sat down, leaving Alexandre in the middle.

“How well accompanied you are, philosopher!” a teammate shouted goodbye to him from afar and he raised his hand to greet him.

“Today we will celebrate my father’s birthday here,” Francisca said, crossing one leg over the other and leaving one of her thighs close to Alexandre’s hand.

“You look beautiful in that dress,” Victoria said and thought, How shameless!

“And you are a piece of heaven in summer,” Francisca responded and thought, How cute!

“Do you want to stay for the party? I invite you! It will be very elegant, then we can have our own private party,” she added, tilting her head to the side, moving her long, curly red hair and thought, Will little birds fall, will they fall?

“Unfortunately, I’m afraid we won’t be able to, we have to leave for the airport, they’re expecting us tomorrow in Cambridge,” said Victoria and thought, I’ll unmask you.

“Oh! What a pity. I would have liked to serve you. I have a private suite that you would love and it is ideal for talking about philosophy,” said Francisca.

“It’s a family commitment. My parents invited us to dinner. We really would have loved to stay!” Victoria added, crossing one of her legs over the other and she really felt tempted because it was a good opportunity to unmask the enemy.

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“Do not worry darling! We will find an opportunity for the three of us to be together,” Francisca said, placing the palm of her hand on Victoria’s thigh and leaving it there.

“If the Barcelona Kings Club uses your father’s hotels we will surely meet again,” Victoria said, placing her hand on hers.

“Of course! Oh! Just looking at you makes me happy!” she said looking at Victoria and stood up.

“You’re leaving now? Why so soon?” Victoria pleaded, standing up.

“I must attend to my work. Do you keep my card?” Francisca asked.

“Indeed!” she said taking it out of her bag.

“When you have time, call me so we can go shopping in London,” Francisca added.

“Oh! I’d love to!” Victoria said.

“Goodbye Alexandre,” Francisca said and he stood up.

“I like that you are becoming good friends,” Alexandre said, taking them by the waist and thinking, Ayayay!

“You two are mine!” Francisca said, gave them a goodbye kiss, turned around and left.

“You like her?” Victoria asked when she walked away from them and thought, Of course you do!

“You know I do. I’m not going to lie to you,” he replied.

“She’s dangerous,” Victoria said and thought, I will know what happened.

“Dangerous? I thought you were going shopping in London!”

“You’re right. Forget it.”

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