Godfather Of Champions

“What kind of game?”

“It’s the kind where a person conveys his message to a second person using body language. Then the second person uses body language to pass on the gist of his understanding to a third person, and so on… Finally, the last person will use words to describe what he has understood to see how much he can match up with the first person’s message. Often times, the difference is as far as the distance from the UK to China. The first person might have said: ‘Hey, do you think the clothes that I’m wearing today look good?'”

Twain stood up and demonstrated as he spoke. He pointed to his clothes and did a turn as if to show off his new clothes to his friends.

“Then the second person nodded and turned to the third person to pass on the message, ‘Do you think there’s something dirty on me?'”

Twain turned in a circle and briskly twisted his head left and right to look behind him.

Seeing this, Gloria began to laugh.

“The third person understands and nods. He turns to the fourth person and says, ‘I’m a little dizzy from spinning around.'”

Gloria threw her head back and laughed.

“The fourth person says to the fifth person: ‘I like to exercise with the hula hoop!'” Twain stuck his tummy out and swung his hips.

“The fifth person says to the sixth person: ‘Don’t do strenuous exercise when you’re pregnant!'” Twain drew an arc with his hands in front of his stomach this time and then raised his arms to wave.

This time, Gloria leaned over on the table, her shoulders shaking with laughter.

“Then we’ll ask the sixth person: ‘Do you know what he said to you just now?’ The sixth person nods confidently and says: ‘I’m very fat, don’t abandon me!'”

Gloria leaned against the back of the chair again as she laughed loudly.

Twain sat down and grinned at her, waiting for her laughter to subside.

After a long while, Gloria said intermittently, “Mr. Twain, you’re…really… Luckily I did not have food in my mouth just now.”

Twain winked at her.

Gloria finally stopped laughing, pressed her sides and leaned against the back of the chair, gasping. “You’re really entertaining.”

Twain scratched his head and did not know what to say.

Looking at his childlike gesture, Gloria smiled. “Do you know, Mr. Twain? When I decided to do this exclusive interview with you and your team, as the anchor and producer, I especially studied your profile information, including your coaching experience, and the media coverage on you over the years. I could not arrive at a conclusion. With most people, I can gauge what kind of person they are based on some impression, and his or her image will be formed in my mind. But I found you different. Well, how do I put it? When I first started my research, I thought of you as a particular kind of person, and that image had been established in my head. However, as I dug deeper, I found a new image that was different. They are complete opposites. Contradictory. But they’re still the same person. I don’t understand. In the end, all the previously established images are gone. I don’t know what kind of image of you I should have.”

Twain pretended to be a profound thinker and said, “Your question is profound, Miss Gloria. With regards to ‘Who am I,’ that’s the ultimate philosophical question. I actually don’t know who I am, where I come from, and where I’m heading…”

Gloria laughed again. “Cheeky!”

Twain laughed as well.

In fact, he did not know how to respond to Gloria’s words. If he answered seriously, the mood would be heavy. If he responded flippantly, he would seem discourteous. So, he muddled through it in a light-hearted manner.

Besides, Twain never thought about needless questions like, “Who I am, where do I come from, and where I’m heading?”. He did not reflect on “What kind of person am I?” So, what if I figured it out? And so what if I did not figure it out? I am who I am. Would I improve my life and let my bank account grow if I understand that?

Gloria looked askew at Twain and narrowed her eyes to carefully appraise the man. She had already been filming in the Nottingham Forest Football Club for three days. She not only observed this person but also interviewed a lot of people in the club, even including the old guard at the gate. Anyone who mentioned this man would say that he was incredible. Nobody had thought the team would be so brilliant when he took over. Some people even thought that there must be some secret behind Twain.

In short, this is a man that makes you want to get close to him, but when you get close to him, you find him harder to fathom.

What kind of man is he exactly?…

He’s an Englishman with a passion for Chinese culture, a man whose disposition changed due to a concussion, a young and promising man, a man who looks a lot younger than his actual age. But those are just some of his many facets. He’s like a man with a thousand faces. You will not know whether he’s showing you a real and complete picture, or just one side of himself.

A man with a thousand faces… does that describe Tony Twain?

Twain realized that Gloria had suddenly stopped speaking; she just stared at him until he was a little spooked. He asked, “Penny for your thoughts, Miss Gloria?”

Gloria snapped out of her thoughts and refocused her gaze on Twain’s face. She suddenly asked, “Mr. Twain, do you have a girlfriend?”

Twain was taken aback by the unexpected question. He paused a little and then asked, “You’ve read so much information about me. None of the information mentioned that?”

Gloria gently shook her head, “Your private life is very well-protected. Even the British media don’t know too much about your life outside of football, let alone me.”

“If the private life of a football manager becomes the focus of the newspapers’ hype, that would be abnormal, wouldn’t it? A manager is not a football star. He’s not handsome, there will be no companies to sign any endorsement contracts with him, so there’s no hype value.”

“That’s why I wanted to ask, Mr. Twain. Do you have a girlfriend?” Gloria repeated the question.

Twain’s digression was thwarted. He hesitated as the names of two people flashed across his mind. It was clear that they obviously were not. He shook his head. “Not yet.”

Gloria was surprised. “Incredible. An outstanding man like yourself, how can you not have a girlfriend?”

“At present… perhaps football is a good girlfriend for me?” Twain used a quizzical tone because he was not sure himself.

“Are you asking me, Mr. Twain?” Gloria astutely perceived that. She winked at Twain.

“Oh… No, it’s just that… I’m quite demanding. I’ve never met someone who meets my requirements.” Twain said offhandedly.

“So, what are your specific requirements, Mr. Twain?” Gloria rested her chin on her hands as she asked.

“My requirements…” Twain suddenly came to his senses and decided to counter. “Are you planning to apply, Miss Gloria?”

“I’m just interested in a fascinating man’s criteria for a girlfriend.” Gloria smilingly defused Twain’s counterattack.

The two people chuckled together, and neither raised the topic again.

※※※

After dinner, Twain insisted on sending Gloria back to her hotel. How could he allow a lady to return to her hotel on her own?

When he sent Gloria back to the hotel, the two of them said goodbye at the entrance.

“I have one more question, Miss Gloria.”

“Please go ahead, Mr. Twain.” Gloria stood at the hotel entrance. She wore a white dress and looked like a quietly blooming lily in the night breeze.

“You said you didn’t have a conclusion of what kind of person I am. What about now?”

“Right now…” Gloria deliberately dragged her words as her gaze drifted around to tease Twain. Her gaze eventually rested on Twain. “I still don’t have one.”

“Ah… That’s a pity.” Twain sighed exaggeratedly.

“Do you have any other questions, Mr. Twain?”

“I think… That’s all.”

“Well, good-bye then.” Gloria gently waved, like a lily swaying in the wind.

“Goodbye, Miss Gloria.” She rested her finger against Twain’s lips, which brought a womanly fragrance to Twain’s nose as he breathed.

Twain was a little startled. Gloria smiled and said to him. “Call me Clarice.”

“Goodbye… Clarice.”

Satisfied, Gloria took back her hand and turned to walk into the hotel lobby.

Twain lifted his hand to touch his lips and then turned to walk back to the taxi, where the driver, Landy, was waiting for him.

“Who’s she, Tony? Is that your girlfriend?”

Sitting in the car, Twain turned around and looked out of the car window at the brightly lit hotel entrance. He shook his head. “No, she’s not. Let’s go. Back to my place, Landy.”