Shooting For The Gold
Going for the Gold Anthology
by Whitley Gray
MLR Press
eBook ISBN: 978-1-60820-7732
Print ISBN: 978-1-60820-7725
There’s a lot more to competing at Olympic level than being the best in one’s field. Expectations and pressures from family, friends, coaches and country add up, and sometimes it’s only the love of the right man who can make the effort worth it.
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Chapter One
The place was a madhouse.
Olympic-size mayhem in the Olympic Village, and five days to go until the opening ceremony. A couple of spots outside had scaffolding still in place as the workers hung multicolored banners on balconies. No shoes allowed on the grass, lest it not be picture-perfect for the press. Keeping one eye out for construction debris, Matt Justice negotiated the sidewalk to his assigned lodging in the Athlete’s Village.
Inside, kids filled the hallway, darting in and out of rooms and playing music. A couple trailed bed-size flags like superhero capes. The smells of fresh paint, wood shavings, and new carpet remained, interspersed with whiffs of shampoo and soap issuing from the bathroom.
Something else filled the air. Anticipation.
Matt could relate to that. Every hour at the range all came down to this. For years he’d dreamed of making the USA team and getting to London, and now here he stood among athletes younger than himself, some by half. A red Nerf ball bulleted toward him and he ducked. He located his door and keyed himself into the room, duffle bag in tow.
A familiar body occupied the bed to the left. Norm Haslet could be mistaken for a member of the USA basketball team instead of Matt’s co-competitor in shooting. With his stork-like build, red hair, and freckles, Norm’s exterior hid a hard-nosed police sniper with deadly aim.
“Hey, Justice. What kept you?”
“Had to negotiate the combat zone out there. When did you get here?”
“’Bout an hour ago. What do ya think?” Norm swept out an arm like a game show hostess.
It may have been fifteen years since he’d graduated from college, but Matt would recognize a dorm room anywhere. Two single-wide beds, two wardrobes, two chairs. Utilitarian furniture, the kind bought in a box and assembled on site. Twin luggage racks gave a bit of a hotel flavor, but everything said function over form. “Part of the Olympic experience, right?”
Norm grinned. “Cool set-up, huh? Nice ’n bright?”
Raising an eyebrow, Matt dropped the bag on the luggage rack. The color scheme matched the chaos in the hallway. The duvets reflected a cornucopia of sports images in a riot of hot pink and neon blue. This was the men’s housing? The women’s must have feather boas and sequins.
“As long as it doesn’t glow in the dark.” Shaking his head, Matt flopped on the bed and kicked off his shoes. At least the mattress seemed comfortable.
Norm laughed. “Okay, Justice. You wanna come with me to check out the dining room and the other athletes?”
“You mean the female athletes.” Matt pursed his lips.
“Hey. To each his own. Long live the red rabbit.” Norm held up a sheet of tiny red rabbit stickers. “You see one of these on the keycard slot, don’t unlock the door.” He bounced off the bed and made the doorway in three long-legged strides.
“I know you’re horny, but watch it. We’re sharing a room, remember?”
“Yes, Mother.” Norm rolled his eyes. “You gonna take a nap?”
“Yeah.” The overseas flight had left him with jetlag. It might be two o’clock in the afternoon here, but it was seven a.m. in Colorado and Matt had stayed up all night. He didn’t have Norm’s mid-twenties stamina. Five days to get his internal clock set to London time, and get in some practice at the Royal Artillery Barracks. “I’ll check on the guns later. Maybe get in some practice.” He folded his arms behind his head.
“Deal.”
“Hey, Haslet. Close the door on your way out.”
“Okay, old man.”
Matt lobbed a shoe at him, and it hit the door as Norm slammed it shut.
So began the Olympic experience. Sighing, Matt closed his eyes.
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MLR Press ‖ ARe ‖ Kindle ‖ B&N
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Love the excerpt. Thanks for the giveaway.
lauratroxel@yahoo.com
I'm really enjoying the anthology so far!
vitajex(at)aol(dot)com
Great excerpt…looks like a must read!
ivegotmail8889@yahoo.com