Chapter 20: Medical
The day dawned crisp and clear, with a low winter sun struggling to warm the narrow streets of Utrecht. Frost glazed the pavements like sugar on a pastry, and every breath Amani took formed little white clouds that danced briefly before vanishing into the freezing air.
By 8:55 AM, Amani and Malik were already waiting in the hotel parking lot, bundled up in layers that made them look twice their normal size.
Despite the heavy jackets, gloves, and scarves, the cold still found ways to bite at their skin. Excitement danced in their eyes, but beneath it lay a thin layer of nerves that neither would openly admit.
Today marked their first official step into life as academy players in the Netherlands, a world away from the sun-baked pitches of home.
Right on time, Mr. Stein’s Toyota Camry glided into the lot, its tires crunching softly on the frost-covered gravel. The old scout gave them a quick once-over as they climbed into the backseat, his experienced eyes missing nothing.
"How was your first night in Europe?" Stein asked as he pulled onto the main road, his hands steady on the wheel.
"Fantastic!" Malik declared with his trademark grin. "I slept like a baby."
"Same here," Amani added, though his eyes betrayed the restless night he’d actually had. "That bed was... something else."
He could still feel the plushness of the silk duvet and cotton sheets against his skin. His body had sunk into that mattress like it was made of clouds which was a stark contrast to the thin, lumpy mattress he’d grown up with in Malindi.
After cooking himself a hot dinner and listening to the comforting hum of the room’s heater, he’d tried to sleep, but his mind had been too busy racing through all the possibilities that lay ahead.
"Glad to hear that," Stein said, his eyes never leaving the road. "Because today, you’ve got work to do. First stop, UMC Utrecht for your full medical assessments."