Gaël Shaw, Jr. (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
memorylost) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
wickerpark2018-06-24 09:53 pm
memorylost) wrote in wickerpark2018-06-24 09:53 pm
Hello Mate, Nice to meet you...
Gael wasn't sure this had been his best idea since the moment he'd boarded the plane in London. His manager had tried to keep him from reading the news, but it was just a matter of time before someone said something. His blissful ignorance had lasted until he stood up to board and someone screamed out 'wanker!' at him. When he'd turned to look back, the man was wearing a Chelsea jersey and pointing at him aggressively before straight out flipping him the bird.
Things hadn't gotten any better by the time he'd landed. British Airways had Sky News on as their default entertainment, and forty minutes into the flight Gael had the chance to relive the worst game of his career at Chelsea followed by a break down of the 'American' being called up for the USMNT. That was followed by what seemed endless speculation about just why he wasn't playing for England. 'Sure, he was born there. But lets be honest, The Americans have offered him something to get him to play for them,' the man had said. Followed by endless talk about the World Cup qualifiers that detailed how he'd probably made the worst choice in going to play for the US. England was on a bloody tear.
The US...not so much.
Still, with the plane headed straight on to California there was no turning back. He'd agreed to play for the US, and even if he could go back to London and sign up for the Lions- they wouldn't take him.
Getting off the plane, he immediately felt out of place. Sure he'd been back to the US across the years, but the sun was high and bright in the California sky. It was almost alien to him, as he couldn't even recall Chicago being that bright and sunny. Or maybe it was that he spent most of his time indoors, or surrounded by buildings as tall as mountains.
Pushing it back, he grabbed his bags and headed out into the heat of the west coast summer. It only took him a moment to find the car waiting on him, and 2 hours later- he was walking into the newest USMNT training facility.
"Alright, your gear is stored in there, we'll have shuttles pick you up from the hotel and take you back every night. But you're the last one here, so get changed and get out to the field. They've been waiting for you." The trainer said, before leaving him alone and looking more than a little out of place.
"Great, not a problem." He muttered to himself.
Getting changed, he made his way to the field, and looked about. It only took him a few moments to make his introductions, get his marching orders, and again wonder if he'd just made the worst decision ever. So far, no one seemed overly pleased to see him. And to make things better, his first task was apparently to help the keepers warm up.
"'Ello," he said as he came up to the group, "was told to head over here. Shaw, Gael Shaw." He held out his hand as he looked at the other men- all looking at him oddly. Right.
Things hadn't gotten any better by the time he'd landed. British Airways had Sky News on as their default entertainment, and forty minutes into the flight Gael had the chance to relive the worst game of his career at Chelsea followed by a break down of the 'American' being called up for the USMNT. That was followed by what seemed endless speculation about just why he wasn't playing for England. 'Sure, he was born there. But lets be honest, The Americans have offered him something to get him to play for them,' the man had said. Followed by endless talk about the World Cup qualifiers that detailed how he'd probably made the worst choice in going to play for the US. England was on a bloody tear.
The US...not so much.
Still, with the plane headed straight on to California there was no turning back. He'd agreed to play for the US, and even if he could go back to London and sign up for the Lions- they wouldn't take him.
Getting off the plane, he immediately felt out of place. Sure he'd been back to the US across the years, but the sun was high and bright in the California sky. It was almost alien to him, as he couldn't even recall Chicago being that bright and sunny. Or maybe it was that he spent most of his time indoors, or surrounded by buildings as tall as mountains.
Pushing it back, he grabbed his bags and headed out into the heat of the west coast summer. It only took him a moment to find the car waiting on him, and 2 hours later- he was walking into the newest USMNT training facility.
"Alright, your gear is stored in there, we'll have shuttles pick you up from the hotel and take you back every night. But you're the last one here, so get changed and get out to the field. They've been waiting for you." The trainer said, before leaving him alone and looking more than a little out of place.
"Great, not a problem." He muttered to himself.
Getting changed, he made his way to the field, and looked about. It only took him a few moments to make his introductions, get his marching orders, and again wonder if he'd just made the worst decision ever. So far, no one seemed overly pleased to see him. And to make things better, his first task was apparently to help the keepers warm up.
"'Ello," he said as he came up to the group, "was told to head over here. Shaw, Gael Shaw." He held out his hand as he looked at the other men- all looking at him oddly. Right.