Try To Elaborate

Stephen, standing before his young classmates, now presenting this signed ball, at the class’s ‘show an tell’, was immediately honoured with the status given to anyone on the periphery of such icons (In this instance the ‘revered’ All Blacks). Simply by having possession of this supposed ‘relic’ of cultural importance. That aura was bestowed assuming special knowledge, and automatically conferred on any associates of the great, regardless of ‘their’ actual contributions (and I doubt Stephen at nine years old was actually contributing to the All Blacks). It was not dissimilar to the massive controls exerted over people all over the world when religious icons are, or were, involved. Incredible power came with the possession of even the smallest relics. A finger of a ‘saint’, the cloth of a ‘prophet’ (let’s not suggest what the cloth may have been for), or even furniture sat on or handled by the figure of religion involved. In fact historically entire buildings and cities have even been constructed due to such possession and protection of the relic and wars fought between competing lords, clergy and countries, simply to possess such items. In some ways, what’s the difference, sports stadium are built, nations are pitted against nations, crowds massing to see such figures. Is there much difference?

This was however, simply a ball, but the reverence it was already being shown, was in some ways frightening. Stephen, obviously had some form of ‘connection’ with either A; the All Blacks (despite his size, it was doubtful he had yet been asked to apply to play with them, but even that was not impossible), B; Carrisbrook ‘The house of Pain” (perhaps he had worked as a ball boy on the day? Yet very doubtful he had been given a signed ball as a souvenir or payment?) or C; had won a raffle/fundraiser, where the ball had been put up as a prize. If Stephen, now standing akimbo at the front of the class, loving the attention he was getting from several of the other rugby loving ‘lads’ was in such a position, why would he only have the ball for a single day as he had indicated?

He had claimed he had to present the ball today before his father collected the ball back, instead of us continuing with Mr Walsh’s lesson, following my well received acting presentation of the poem of ‘The Sad Tale of a Motor Fan by H. A. Field’ . He now offered the ball and said again, “This is the ball used by the All Blacks when they won on Saturday at Carrisbrook” He looked around proudly, as if we would all know about Carrisbrook and the game on Saturday. “They signed it!” We looked. He looked. Mr Walsh looked… and waited for some further explanation. There was nothing forth coming from Stephen. Mr Walsh tried to encourage Stephen to elaborate. “Who were they playing?’ Stephen, excited by the possession of the ball looked at Mr Walsh. “Who?” He replied.

(Continued tomorrow)