Naked Hero - The Journey Away

think it will be a difficult day for him, but hopefully he’ll get through it. The same idiots could turn up, but it won’t matter to him so much this time. He has a different mindset. He knows they’re not important, the ones that shout out. You’ve helped him to see that. You might not have meant to, but you have. And maybe you could help him further... Just be careful please. Don’t make him feel rejected again by someone who is important to him. There’s been enough of that lately.”
    “What do you mean?” asked Lee, gazing intently – all his other questions pushed aside for the moment.
    Fiona flicked her hand, brushing it off. “Nothing really.”
    “Scott Taylor?”
    “It’s not my place to say.”
    “And it’s not for me to ask of Lewis either,” pressed Lee in a state of agitation. “He’s backed out, hasn’t he? Please, tell me. I want to help, and if it’s because of me, then I’d sooner not go tonight.” It was a surprising statement as it would be difficult to retract. But the realisation that he actually meant it was the real surprise to Lee Porter.
    Fiona considered him for a moment before responding. She was unsure of his motives, but heard the sincerity, which was enough for her to continue. “I believe you as well, but Scott knew about you already, so I can’t see how that’s the issue. It was the article today - silly of him if you ask me.”
    “Will it make that much difference if he’s not around?”
    Fiona slowly shook her head. “Hopefully not tonight -we’re lucky it’s Edwin that Lewis is up against. He’s a very predictable player, so Lewis won’t have to think too much for that match. But in the next round...”
    “Gonzales.”
    “Aye, he’ll have to think then, and he’ll have two days of thinking before they meet. Two days to reflect on the rejection, and to lose his belief. Not in his ability - he’s got more of that than anyone else out there, with maybe the one exception, and it’s not Alberto Gonzales. It’s his belief in his right to be there. Rejection! He can get over the rejection of the crowd - you’ve shown him the way there. But Scott Taylor! That’s a different matter.”
    “Does he mean that much to him?” Lee asked, trying to force down the emotion - the one he couldn’t put a name to.
    Fiona heard it in his voice anyway – jealousy, and a degree of concern that couldn’t be faked. Her protective nature and intuition would have heard the falsehood had it lay there - so she decided to try and help him, despite the wariness she felt. “Let’s not confuse what we’re talking about here. Scott Taylor was the player that Lewis admired the most, he still is. It was a huge thing for him when Scott agreed to help. He had so much to offer, and Lewis listened to him. I don’t think he was really listening to Jim any more. Scott was able to help a lot, mainly because of who he was: the most important person in tennis, as far as Lewis was concerned - and the person who could hurt him the most with his rejection.”
    “When is he needed?”
    “Now!” snapped Fiona, betraying a little anger. “But as I say - perhaps not that much tonight. Tomorrow, at the practice, that’s when Lewis will really miss him... It would be nice if you were to be there in his place.”
    “Is that all I’d be? A poor substitute for Scott Taylor,” said Lee, betraying more of his unnamed emotion that he cared for.
    Fiona heard it again, loud and clear this time, and it earned Lee Porter some more of her wisdom. “At tomorrow’s practice – yes, that’s all you’d be. But thereafter - who knows. That would be for you to work on. But I’ll tell you this. No one, as far as tennis is concerned, could compete with Scott Taylor. But tennis is not the most important thing for Lewis - it never was. There’s a void that was left in his life years ago. Filling that void would mean more to him than any trophy - including the one that’s already got his name on it... Now, if you’ll excuse me - I need to go and do something with this old face if I’m to appear on television tonight.”
    “You look fine,” said Lee, as Fiona stood up. “But a bit of lippy never does any harm.”
    “Not much good either, but an effort should be made nonetheless.”
    As she headed off to her room, Lee asked one more question: “Fiona? The Langham - that’s where most of the players and… other people are staying, is that right?”
    “Aye, most of them are there…