way to the trees. Some may think this might not be a good idea before a game, but Fin does this regularly to be able to play. He sees what he likes, and feels good when he’s finished. Finto walks off his run before leaving. The black rumbler is no longer in the lines, but taking the road out of Park Lake.
He reaches Jules residence, but Jules was not there. So he parks his rumbler out of sight, and hides in some bushes to surprise her. With the shade of a tree overhead, Finto cannot control his bobbing head. The bob puts him to sleep. Jules arrives as Fin deeply sleeps in the early part of the afternoon. When Jules gets to her door she notices something in her peripheral. She turns to look bouncing backward a step from being startled by a person sleeping in her bushes. Leaning forward to pear off her step, Jules takes a closer look at the sweaty headed person. “That’s…” she says with a frustrated look turning into a mischievous smile, she unlocks the door. Jules enters the house leaving her keys attached to the open door.
Dropping her bag in the hallway, she turns into an opening leading to another part of the house. The sound of pots clang before running water can be heard. The ending sound of a container nearly being filled turns off the faucet. Jules reenters the hallway holding a large cooking pot by its handles. She crosses the threshold as quiet as possible, hoping not to disturb the slumberer. Then in one motion she douses the Rassi. He is standing before he wakes dripping from head to toe.
“You got me,” he says stepping out of the bushes.
“You’re just as ornery as you’ve always been. Where do you think you’re going?”
Fin unconsciously climbs the steps to go inside. “I want to get out of these clothes.”
“You’re not going in there. You’re all wet.” Fin blankly looks at Jules confused. “Well what am I supposed to do?”
Jules begins to laugh. “Take off the wet clothes, or stand out here until you’re dry.”
Fin can’t take her seriously with such a ridiculous request, and tries passing by to go inside.
“I’m serious, Fin.” Jules sticks an arm out stopping the Rassi.
“Really?” he says surprised. “Will you just get me a towel?” Jules stands her ground, “I know why you were hiding.” Fin pleads, “It was meant to be a joke. You know, funny ha, ha. You really think I’m going to strip down to my knickers just to go inside. I’ll clean up the water with a towel after I change.”
Jules goes to the door slightly closing it with her body in between the door and its frame. “Make a decision. I can’t wait all day.”
“Fine.” Finto sheds his soaked attire down to his under shorts, and instinctively hands them to Jules. “Are you happy now?” Fin says with a frustrated tone, shifting his weight towards the door.
“Not yet, funny ha, ha remember,” Jules says with her voice full of laughter before closing the door clicking the lock, stranding the Rassi almost bare on the front step.
“Jules,” Fin begins to shout, but catches himself. “I’m sorry let me in…Jules…this isn’t funny.” The Rassi turns to see if anyone else was around, but they weren’t. He dashes to the black rumbler to drive back around, and park in front of Jules’ house.
Finto dresses in the driver’s seat putting on his football uniform. He walks up to the front door. Curious to see if Jules will let him in, Finto knocks the knocker while ringing the doorbell. With little hesitation, the door is yanked open, and Jules appears to be more annoyed than before. She can’t keep from smiling when she notices Finto was smiling. She lets him in, and they eat lunch.
Before the evening’s match, the constant duo go to the children’s hall. They visit with as many of the children as possible. Most of the hall’s residents were without anyone to care for them. The children come from all over the world rescued from an uncertain fate. The children’s hall was built to accommodate an abundance of the almost lost. Each part of the hall is decorated in a different country’s culture. The idea was to keep the children aware of where they came from in case one day they would like to move back to where they are from. Every country from which a child came from is honored by the country’s flag being flown everyday. When the children reach a certain age, they are given guidance, and helped to pursue their own future.
The children are nurtured from the time they arrive to the hall until they decide to leave, still welcome to return and visit, which they always do. The children’s hall provides a stellar education for students to learn in a hands-on environment. The hall’s education is also open to the community’s children. The Lockharts believed this was important to incorporate the children who live in families with the children of the hall. This kept the hall and the community open to one another purposely, so that the orphaned children grew up feeling welcome and comfortable.
The staff was comprised of grown returned students, educated teachers, volunteers, and a religious order the Rassi helped escape persecution from their homeland. The religious order did not teach the children, but led by example with their harmonist devotion to peace and service as a way of life. The religious order known as the Tewks, were also put in charge of all the properties maintenance because they were such gifted craftsman.
The children’s hall was very dear to Jules because it was founded by her mother and father who had both spent their lives never knowing their own families. Jules cared for every aspect of the home with her heart. She knows every child and what they needed. Not just that they need to eat and that they need to drink, but that they need to feel. She could be every mother each child needed. They all knew her this way. She was able to give them peace, satisfying their need for a mother’s love. She cared for each child as if each were her own. Her mother was this way. When it was time for Finto to leave for the evening’s match, everyone gave their good-byes. Finto was no stranger to the children’s hall. This is where he met Jules.
CHAPTER 6
The team this evening’s match is against happens to have a history with Finto and the squad he plays for. A match between the two teams is usually comparable to battle. Finto had Jules drive to the stadium, cutting it close to the start whistle being blown. On the way, he straps on his guards before lacing up his spiked boots. The stadium seems more active than normal. There was a reason for the lively atmosphere, that reason, a rival opponent. He kisses her before he gets out to go play. She watches him walk in as he approaches the stadium, his jersey reading number seven. Jules says a prayer after him, knowing in this match anything can happen. She knows who he will be playing against. The Baron Ruster has always considered Finto Negrassi an enemy. This was not known until the Rassi caught Baron Ruster underneath his automotive after their first match against one another. The Rassi didn’t ask him what he was doing. Instead the Rassi left enough impressions on the Baron to make sure he would keep the rivalry to the field. No one knew about this, but Finto and Baron Ruster. It came as a surprise to Fin because before the altercation, Finto admired the older Baron Ruster for his conduct on the field, not knowing what kind of person he really was. Fin even hoped they might be friends. The exact opposite was the case. Fin always kept a straight head about the Baron. He was never impressed by the Ruster’s unassuming evils. Finto stays sharp, always keeping an eye out for Baron Ruster’s antics. He knows that if the Baron can get away with something, he will probably do it.
The first goal goes to the opponent. A hard punt is too much for the keeper. Soon after the opposing score, the Rassi assists a teammate for an outstanding goal. This ignites the crowd, which usually ignites Baron Ruster. Finto glances to his position on the field. The Baron Ruster doesn’t seem at all upset. Finto notices that in fact the Baron had somewhat of a grin on his face. This catches Fin’s attention because he’s never witnessed this man smile. Then the Ruster even claps for Fin’s teammate with the same expression. The player who scored was just as bothered by this as the Rassi, but the game ensues, and they are unable to stay curious. Fin makes a mental note of this, and stays aware of where the Ruster is on the field.
The match goes to half, still one goal to one goal. When the teams get back to the field, Finto finds Baron Ruster in the same mood as before. He knows the Baron is doing