Page 43 of Offside

Half, forever.

It held last night. It holds this morning.

It’s a semifinal. Everything else is filed.

?

BRNO'S BEST #2

Hájek

matchday. breakfast until nine thirty. walk at eleven. pre-match meal at one. bus at four fifteen. phones off by three unless your mother is calling

Novotný

my mother is ALWAYS calling

Hájek

then three ten

Šíma

morning items, semifinal edition

item one. the forecast. hot. Georgia files it under normal and physics files it under hostile. hydrate like it is your life

item two. section one fourteen is fully staffed as of last night. the horn has been cleared for entry. the stadium has no idea what is coming

Hájek

the horn is my mother’s. respect the horn

Novotný

if I score I am pointing at the horn

Šíma

noted for the record. the horn will point back

Horak

what do I do during the anthem. where do I look

Polášek

at the flag. or the camera finds you and you become content again

Horak

that happened ONE time

Šíma

item three. for the kid. tonight the crosses arrive already knowing your name. let the gloves work and let the anthem look after itself

Horak