Chapitre 21: Need For An Agent

Benjamin's surgery preparations proceeded swiftly over the course of the following several days.

He spoke with the doctor, who provided him with thorough explanations of the process, and the medical personnel reassured him.

For obvious reasons, he had also asked Diane to be his primary nurse since his being admitted. She was usually cheerful around him and paid him frequent visits.

"Are you feeling nervous?" she inquired one afternoon.

Benjamin remained silent for a moment. The risks and what-ifs of the surgery had been on his mind constantly. "A little," he said in a quiet voice.

Diane smiled at him warmly. She didn't know why, but she always felt cheerful around him. "That's normal. But you shouldn't worry, the doctors here are some of the best, and they've done this surgery many times before."

Benjamin nodded, though the knot in his stomach didn't loosen. "Yes, I am aware. It's just..." He hesitated, uncertain whether he could express his thoughts in words.

How could he explain that the surgery wasn't the only thing that scared him? it was about the possibility that he would never be the same player again.

She appeared to sense what he was unable to express. "you've been through a lot, Benjamin," she said quietly, "But you're strong. I'm sure you'll get through this too."

Long after she had left the room, her words continued to play in his head.

*****

The morning of the surgery arrived sooner than he expected.

Diane came in early. She helped him into a wheelchair, and together, they made their way down the halls of the hospital toward the operating room.

"You'll be just fine," Diane said, squeezing his shoulder as they reached the doors. "I'll be here when you wake up." Benjamin nodded and gave her a tight-lipped smile.

Inside the operating room, the surgeons were already making preparation. The anesthesiologist spoke to him briefly about how the anesthesia would work, but Benjamin barely heard him.

His thoughts were elsewhere, shifting between memories of his sister, his parents, and the field he loved so much. Before long, the mask was put over his face, and the gentle haze of the anesthesia started to draw him in.

***

When Benjamin woke up, the first feeling he experienced was a dull, heavy aching in his leg.

He blinked against the intense brightness of the hospital room as his eyelids flickered open. His body felt weak as though he had completed a marathon while he was asleep.

The surgery was over.

He tried to move, but the pain in his knee made him stop. It wasn't sharp, more like a deep soreness, but it was enough to remind him that he had just been through something serious.

With a slight grunt, he turned his head to the side. Beside him, Diane was reading a magazine. She heard him move, looked up, and grinned.

"You're awake," she said softly. "How are you feeling?"

Benjamin blinked, still feeling sleepy. "Sore," he muttered in a hoarse voice.

"That's normal," Diane remarked and put the magazine down. "Benjamin, the surgery went well. The doctor will arrive shortly to provide an explanation."

Unaware that he had been holding his breath, he released it. The operation was successful. At least he had moved past that phase.

When Coach Jansen visited later that afternoon, he noticed Benjamin awake and his worried expression softened with a slight smile.

"How's the knee?" He pulled up a chair next to him and inquired.

""It hurts," Benjamin said, his voice remaining silent. "But they said it went well."

Coach Jansen nodded with a contemplative look on his face. "All right, the first step is a success. But the difficult phase is about to begin."

Benjamin understood his meaning. The surgery was just the start. It was the next weeks, the rehab, the grind, that would really test him. He would be starting from scratch, trying to get back to shape.

"I'm ready." he said with certainty.

"Good," said Coach Jansen with a small smile. "because that mindset will be necessary for you."

Benjamin gave a nod. There was nothing he could do. He couldn't allow anything to stop him if he truly wanted to return to the field and fulfill the potential that his future club recognized in him. No matter how difficult it became, he had to keep going.

Benjamin's pain subsided over the next few days, but the work started nearly immediately.

He received assistance from physical therapists who taught him how to move his leg without putting excessive strain on the healed ligaments through simple exercises. It was slow and agonizing work.

***

Over the next few weeks, Benjamin began doing light exercises and then training in the academy.

One sunny afternoon, Coach Jansen invited him out to a restaurant close to the Harlem Academy grounds. Benjamin was glad of the change of environment, and he had something important to talk about.

A little table by the window was where they sat. The restaurant was full with soft voices and the aroma of food. Coach Jansen took a drink of his coffee as Benjamin picked at his plate, not really hungry.

After discussing Benjamin's rehabilitation casually for a few minutes, Coach Jansen stepped forward and rested his elbows on the table. His face shifted to one of seriousness. "You're going to need an agent soon, Benjamin," he said calmly. "Someone who can handle the legal side of things, manage contracts, and make sure you're protected."

Benjamin paused, his fork halfway to his mouth. He hadn't really thought about that. An agent?

That seemed like something for big-time professionals, not someone like him. He had barely made it through surgery, and now he was thinking about an agent?

"I don't know," Benjamin said, lowering his fork. "Isn't that a bit... too soon? I haven't even recovered fully."

Coach Jansen shook his head. "It's never too soon, especially now that AZ Alkmaar is showing interest. You don't want to be caught off guard when they come to you with paperwork for the contract offer. If you're not careful, it's easy to make mistakes."

Benjamin glanced down at his plate with his thoughts wandering. Naturally, Coach Jansen was correct. He had heard stories of young players being exploited, accepting contracts they didn't fully comprehend, and then later regretting it.

"I guess... I wouldn't even know where to start, I don't know any agents." Benjamin remarked following a pause.

Coach Jansen, grinned. "I can be of assistance there. Ashley, my niece, recently received her graduate certificate. She received her training as a football agent while growing up in America. I believe she would be a fantastic fit for you, as she has been seeking to launch her career."

Benjamin's eyebrows went up. "Your niece?"

Coach Jansen nodded, leaning back in his chair. "She's smart, driven, and knows the business. She is also eager for success because she is new. Ben, she'd put in a lot of effort for you. I have faith in her."

Leaning back, Benjamin considered it. It sounded good to work together with someone new, someone who was still establishing themselves.

A big, flashy agent with dozens of clients was not what he wanted. He needed someone who would care about his career as much as he did, someone who would be invested in him.

However, that lingering doubt persisted. "I don't know," Benjamin uttered slowly, "It just feels... Everything is happening so fast."

After examining him for a while, Coach Jansen nodded. "I understand, Ben. Consider it this way, though: hiring an agent will relieve part of your workload. Ashley takes care of the business aspect while you concentrate on your recuperation and returning to the field. You don't have to worry about it anymore."

Benjamin tapped his fingers on the table and thought about it. Perhaps it wasn't such a horrible idea to have someone assist with the contract and legal matters.

"Okay," he nodded at the end, I'll give it a shot and talk to her."

The face of Coach Jansen lit up with a smile. "All right. I'll set up a meeting. I think you'll like her."

They soon finished their lunch, exited the restaurant, and went out into the fresh afternoon air.

commentaire Commentaire 1

Voter

ENVOYER LE CADEAU

Load failed, please RETRY