Chapter 56: Epilogue: When I Was Sixty Years Old

The dim glow from the crystal chandelier on the ceiling doesn't fully illuminate the bar, but it can bring a touch of warmth to the heart on this rainy late autumn day.

There were a lot of people gathered in this old bar, they were chatting in groups of three or five, maybe the topic was different, but everyone glanced at the door, as if they were waiting for someone.

The bar was playing soothing music, an old song, "When I Was Sixty-Four hen_im_sixty" by the Beatles.

When I got old, my hair fell out.

Many, many years later.

Will you still give me a Valentine's Day gift?

A birthday card and a bottle of wine.

……

The bar wasn't noisy, so the Beatles' soft voice was clear. Everyone lowered their voices and chatted quietly.

Outside, there is a sign hanging on the gate - closed.

Kenny, with gray hair and a somewhat hunched back. Burns sat behind a somewhat broken wooden bar, cup in one hand and towel in the other.

His eyes looked straight ahead, looking through the old glass window, which was covered with a layer of moisture, and looked out.

Just across the street is a construction site that is breaking ground. The white fence was knocked to the ground, and it became dirty in the muddy water. There was an excavator parked on the side of the road, the rain was a bit heavy, and the construction site was stopped.

A year ago, it was a row of two-story residential buildings.

It is said that a large supermarket will be built here in two years' time. Behind the Forest Bar is also a construction site, where several high-rise buildings will be built as new office buildings. Wilford became Nottingham's new centre of development.

The bar on the corner of the street stands alone between two construction sites, surrounded by construction machinery. It's like an isolated island surrounded by mechanical monsters.

Outside the door, the roar of a car's motor was heard, followed by the sound of stopping. Hear the voice. Everyone in the room stopped talking and turned their eyes to the door.

The person pushing the door open was indeed a woman's face. Everyone was a little disappointed at first, but then they all stood up.

"Ma'am. They all greeted the woman with only one face at the door.

"You startled me, this ...... who stood up suddenly" The woman who spoke pushed the door open, but did not come in immediately, but waited for someone.

Seeing her like this, the big guy looked forward to it, and everyone was like a duck hanging from a crossbar. He craned his neck and looked out of the doorway.

The second person to appear at the door was George, whom they were familiar with. Wood. Wood took the woman's job and blocked the door. The woman withdrew.

No one had been seen yet, but everyone had heard the familiar, somewhat hoarse voice.

"Don't mix with me, I look like I can't walk?"

"Okay, okay, if you want to hold me, just hold my arm, but don't put on a posture of supporting the patient......"

As soon as the words fell, the owner of the voice appeared at the door.

When the somewhat hunched figure appeared in the doorway. Everyone in the bar opened their mouths wide and shouted, "Boss! ”

Seeing this scene in front of him, the old man grinned and laughed. He raised his hand, "Long time no see, guys. ”

The guy who was waiting for the whole bar – Tony. Donn, it's finally here.

And the woman who supported him was naturally his wife Shania.

Don took off his old-fashioned wide-brimmed hat from his head. Wood tried to catch it, but let Shania get the first place. Next, a gray scarf and a large black trench coat were also handed to her. Shania went to hang her clothes, and Don sat down in her chair. There were people all around, and he held up the soda glass on the table: "I don't drink, you guys are as you please." ”

Then someone came up and wanted to talk to Donn.

The first person to succeed was Kenny, the owner of the bar. Burns, a man older than everyone present.

He walked slowly over to Don and pulled up a chair and sat down. When everyone saw this, they all dispersed with interest.

"Look at you're all like this. Don grinned at Burns and "mocked" him.

"You're no better, Tony. Burns looked at the man across from him, his hair much whiter than before. But the spirit is good, the face is ruddy, and it is indeed much stronger than himself.

But on second thought, I'm seventy-five years old, and Tony is only sixty years old, fifteen years younger than him. Don't you think you were in the same spirit when you were sixty years old? People will always grow old, this is the law of nature.

"I almost couldn't find my way when I came, and you've changed a lot around you. Ha! Don laughed.

Before, when he sat in the car and came all the way. Seeing the environment and Burns' bar, I burst out laughing. Neither Shania nor Wood, who was driving, knew why he was laughing. Of course they won't find it. They may never know it for the rest of their lives. Seeing the forest bar surrounded by construction machinery and sparsely dug construction sites, the word "nail household" naturally came to Don's mind. In Donn's opinion. Kenny's Burns is clearly the nail on the head, and all the buildings adjacent to the bar have been demolished, leaving only this one in existence. But it is said that there is no escape from the fate of being demolished.

"Re-plan. Burns said, looking out the window at the excavator. "By the time the day is over, my bar will be completely closed. ”

Don was not surprised, he nodded: "And then where do you go?" ”

"Go home. ”

Hearing his words, Donn was stunned for a moment, and then realized that Burns's home was not here, but in Scotland. He's lived here for decades, leading him to think he's always been Nottingham......

The City Stadium was demolished, the Wilford training ground was demolished, and now even the bar is being demolished. One by one, the testimonies of the past disappeared before his eyes, and Don suddenly became silent.

Burns knew what Donn was thinking, and he tapped the table lightly. "Fortunately, the bar and the stadium can be demolished, but the memories can't be demolished. ”

He said so. A smile crossed Don's face, and he thought of a song. Burns certainly hadn't heard this song, but it was uttered with the same meaning. He nodded: "The memory is still there." John: What about them? ”

He also thinks about the lovely fans.

"It's not as fanatical as it used to be, after all, they're older. But now it's their turn to be fanatical, but they don't come to me. The young people said that I looked dull here, not for young people. ”

Don laughed out loud. Burns' pub does look old and dilapidated, though it was fairly clean by him. But I can't get rid of a yellowed photo, the feeling of old film. What he saw when he first came here didn't change much. It's just that there are more group photos on the wall of which he led the team to win the championship, but those group photos now look a little faded.

"I haven't seen them in a long time......"

Don muttered.

Today was his first visit to the bar in 10 years. There is a sense that things are wrong.

Since retiring 10 years ago, he has lived with his wife all over the world. They have lived on the West Coast of the United States for a while, Nottingham in the United Kingdom for a while, and they have lived in China even in China, and they have made people who don't know them think that they have lived in China for many years.

As the media said, his retirement life is quite chic. If it weren't for an illness at the beginning of last year, he might have continued to be so chic.

"They'll ask about you sometimes. Burns said, looking up at the excavator outside the window. "A bunch of old guys got together. It's you who talk about it the most. I've seen John lecture his son and slap him on the head and scold him for not farting here if he hasn't experienced it, ha......"

Don wondered what John and his son had said.

"Actually, it's nothing, John just said that Don is no worse than you. ”

Hear this. Don laughed.

"John scolded him, Tang only won two championships in ten years, which is far worse than your sixteen championships in sixteen years, where is it not worse than you? The old guy always likes to reminisce about the past......"

"Wrong. When they begin to reminisce about the past. That means they're old. Donn corrected.

"Aren't we reminiscing about the past now?"

"So we're getting old, too. Don replied.

Pepe and Piqueur pulled a few people from the back line and came up to take a picture with Donne. Donn told them that there was a bronze statue of himself just outside the Crimson Court, which was only completed four years ago, and it was still very fresh. Pepe said that there was a real person in front of him, so why did he go to take a photo with the bronze statue? His words were widely approved by the big guys, so after a democratic vote, Don became the best group photo object.

Several people were in front of the camera, hugging Donn in the middle. He smiled brightly under the flashlight.

With the help of his grandfather, Pique was appointed to the local board of the FC Barcelona and is expected to become the president of the club in the future.

Pepe, who splits his time between Brazil and Portugal, has restaurants in both locations and is no longer involved in football. Pepe, who runs the restaurant, looks fatter than before, with a big round belly, which stands out from the crowd. His already round face was even rounder.

Gareth. Bale, Raphinha, Akinfeev, as well as Pepe and Pique. The main backline of the Forest team in its heyday was all around Donn. It feels like you've stepped back in time. The Russian returned to his homeland and became the goalkeeper coach of Lokomotiv Moscow. Now he is the goalkeeper coach of the Russian national team. Most players retire from football.

Raphinha was hired by Arsenal as Arsenal's scout in Brazil, responsible for digging out the best Brazilian seedlings for Arsenal.

Bale was named for the Welsh Football Association. As the most successful player in Welsh football since Ryan Giggs, it was only natural for him to enter the Football Association. Now Di Bell can't see the naughty appearance of the "little monkey" back then, and he is infinitely close to the officials in a suit and leather shoes.

It's just that when Don called him "little monkey", he still happily agreed.

After the people in the back line left, a few people came in the midfield. Don was surprised, "Did you discuss it?" Are they all coming in waves? ”

Everyone giggled and hugged him in the middle, and left a group photo.

When Ribery left the Forest, he was suspected of running away. Later, when everyone met on the field, there were conflicts. But now, when it comes to those past events, it is more of a "smile and hatred". It's just that his smile is still ugly, and the scars on his face are still there, and they are no longer so scary as he gets older. He now has his own experience in an agent company, and has become an agent for many French players, and he is considered a successful business person. In Nottingham Forest today, there is a French player introduced by his agent.

These two groups of people set a precedent. Everyone took turns to take pictures with Don En, some in groups and some alone. Tang En took advantage of the photo with them to chat briefly and learn about their current situation.

The guys who dominated the stadium and ran rampant in European football at the beginning have all retired, and they have all become middle-aged men in their forties. Some of them are still in touch, and some of them are seeing each other again because of this gathering. Usually, everyone has another identity, their career and life. But today. In the pub that was about to be demolished, they reverted to their original identities – Nottingham Forest player, Tony. Donn's soldiers.

After the group photo, they continued to chat together, telling about the longing they hadn't seen for many years. Or talk about the eventful years on the pitch.

Don didn't get involved, he sat by his wife, Shania, and watched quietly with a deep sense of satisfaction.

He found that by this time his memory had become very good. He suddenly remembered a long-forgotten past. Usually he definitely can't remember it.

If memory serves, it was May 2004, where he attended a similar party. But the main character at the time was Brian. Clough and his soldiers. They are commemorating the 15th anniversary of winning the Champions League. At that time, watching those people talk together, reminiscing about the late 70s, he himself felt envious as an outsider. He had a fantasy in his heart that one day, he would be able to sit here with his former subordinates and reminisce about the years of European kingship.

Now. Fantasy comes true, things are not people.

As the assistant coach of the championship team, Don was also invited today. He is still the manager of Nottingham Forest and he took a leave of absence to attend the party. At this moment, he was sitting on the sidelines, chatting with his old colleagues. Don spotted him. I wonder if he will have the same longing in his heart at this time?

He got up and walked over slowly, sitting down next to the coaches.

"Guys, see you're all still there. I'm so happy. ”

The big guy saw Donn coming. They all stood up to show their respect. After Don sat down, they sat down.

Don glanced around, "What about Freddy?" ”

"He. He said he was a player and ran to catch up with his old teammates. "David is older than Donn. Chrislak pointed in one direction, and Donn looked along. Sure enough, Eastwood was sitting with Ribery chatting about something.

He grinned and withdrew his gaze.

"You're all old. ”

"Aren't you too, Tony?" The big guy replied to him.

Most of these people are still in the Forest team and are still doing their previous jobs, and they are arguably the least changed group. For example, David. Chris Lak is also Forest's assistant coach, while Eastwood is the head of the Academy.

"How's your two good daughters, Tony?" Someone in the crowd asked.

As soon as Don heard this question, he puffed up his chest, held his head high and said proudly, "Teresa is very beautiful, as for Liv...... Luckily, she looks more like her mom. ”

There was a burst of laughter from the crowd.

Teresa is fourteen years old and very handsome. Whenever he saw her, Don felt sorry for Teresa's biological parents in his heart - how could he be willing to throw away such a beautiful and lovely daughter?

Liv is Donn's youngest daughter, the baby that Shania gave birth to him the year he retired, and is now almost ten years old. Unlike the quiet Teresa, Liv is lively and active, with a typical Western girl personality. Quite like her mother.

What makes him happy is that Liv and Teresa have a good relationship and do not snub and bully their quiet and shy sister. This may have something to do with the fact that he and Shania lead by example - after Liv was born, Theresa feared that she would lose the love of her parents, but the couple answered with more love.

What bothers him is that Liv prefers the sunny West Coast of the United States to the gloomy United Kingdom, and her personality is a bit like that of an American. Lively excessively. So in order to satisfy this little guy, the family spent more time away from the UK, for which Donn also gave up his job at BBC5, and now he only publishes his own articles in newspapers and on the Internet, but he does not make a living from it.

In the depths of Donn's heart, there was a selfish man who no one told. He wants his two daughters to like China, so apart from the United States and the United Kingdom, the place where he spends most time staying is China. He misses being there. Especially as he gets older, the more intense his thoughts become. Maybe it's the Chinese soul in the bones that is doing it, it's a kind of instinct of "returning to the roots......

Regardless, these two treasures are Donne's greatest pride and achievement right now. For him, 16 years in charge of the country have been a brilliant achievement. Sixteen important championship trophies have long been thrown out of the clouds, and they are not worth mentioning. Perhaps the Forest fans and club players have been cheering for Tony to this day. Don is proud of the trophies he has won, and perhaps many people will still talk about Donn's sixteen years of legend, or perhaps the media is now complaining that the current stars are grandiose clowns. On the other hand, they miss the "clown" they hate the most, perhaps...... Don didn't care, he felt that the greatest honor and championship trophy in his life was to have a happy family, a wife who loved him, and two healthy and beautiful daughters. Twenty-six years ago, when he crossed over, he lost his affection, but at that time he didn't care, because he felt that his youth was the right time to do a career. Now he felt like he had come full circle. What is the ultimate goal of doing a career? In order to be able to form a happy family, in order to make one's family life worry-free, in order to be able to have family affection......

God made him understand this matter at the age of fifty, and it took another ten years to make him cherish it even more.

There is nothing more important in life than family, all the way to death.

Don was excited to tell the old guys he hadn't seen in years how cute and smart his two daughters were.

Yes, he is showing off, showing off his family. But no one thought he shouldn't do it.

Look at his violant appearance now. The man who was also in high spirits more than twenty years ago is disappearing from everyone's sight. Again, no one feels sorry.

How nice is that.

David. Chris Rac raised his glass to Donn, "I've seen you have such a good time." I ......" He looked back at his old colleagues around him, then turned to look at Don again. "Nope. It's that we're all very happy. ”

Don raised the soda in his hand and greeted his old subordinates who had raised their glasses.

"Thank you. ”

The person who toasted Don was another person that Don knew well, but he never spoke. There was a slight tiredness in the corners of his eyes, his temples were a little gray, and the wrinkles on his forehead were noticeably more. Seeing him gave Don the illusion of going back in time and looking in a mirror. Because he saw his original self in his forties.

is the current manager of Nottingham Forest, Chinese, Tang. A sworn brother who swapped his soul and body with himself.

Noticing that Don was looking at him, Don smiled back.

He moved over and sat down beside Don. lowered his voice and leaned into Tang's ear and asked a question: "Are your parents okay?" ”

Tang nodded quietly: "Very good." ”

After receiving this answer, Tang En raised his head again, and a smile appeared on his face. Then the two men looked at each other speechlessly.

Although Donn runs all over the world, he still pays attention to the Forest, but he has never commented on the Forest team in any public place. Now facing the current manager of the Forest team, he is still the same, and he does not say anything.

Just like when he was coaching at the Forest team, no matter what he did well or badly, the leader Brian. Clough always said nothing. Except for telling him not to be too stressed, not to be too proud, there is almost no mention of his achievements.

He was very naïve at that time, but now Di Tang is not naïve, he knows what he should do and what he should not do. Hasn't he done quite well for the Forest team in the past ten years? Although he only won two league championships, he tamped the foundation that Donn had not filled in before.

Nottingham Forest is led by Don. is getting rid of its influence little by little. The story Burns told is a good reflection of this, and the new generation of fans feel that Don has done a good job, isn't that the best reward for his 10 years in charge?

That's great, you don't have to come out and point fingers and show the outside world that you still have some influence on Nottingham Forest. Those who have retired should look like they are retired, otherwise they might as well continue to coach. It is cowardly behavior to worry about the failure of coaching, but still want to be the emperor of the club, and Don disdains it.

So they looked at each other speechlessly. Don doesn't say "well done" or "not good enough", and Don doesn't take the initiative to talk to Don about his coaching achievements, and he also has his own self-esteem in front of Don.

Don raised the cup in his hand to Don, "Happy tenth anniversary, Don." ”

Don returned the salute: "I wish you good health, Tony." ”

When it's getting dark. The rain outside is getting heavier and heavier, but the warmth inside the bar is extraordinarily warm. Everyone was talking, and the sound in the bar was getting louder, and the music was already suppressed. Don wasn't the only one he hadn't seen in years. There are other people, who are also busy with their lives and careers after retiring, and they don't usually have the opportunity to get together and chat like this.

The 15th anniversary of the five Champions League wins gave them such an opportunity. Of course, we have to catch the friends of the year to chat a few more words, ask about the situation over the years, recall the years of conquest together, talk about those interesting people and things, and even put the contradictions of the year into this afternoon. It has become an extraordinarily warm memory.

Under such circumstances, Don planned to go home.

He knocked on the table in front of his wife and said, "Let's go back." ”

Shania was a little surprised: "Don't stay any longer?" Didn't you say you had a lot to say to the old guys? ”

"It was supposed to be like this, but when I came and saw them, I suddenly had nothing to say. Just looking at them makes me feel good, and I've seen enough anyway. I'm a little tired. ”

Shania knew that Don was really tired, so she nodded in agreement. "Say hello to them before you leave. ”

The two of them stood up and immediately attracted the attention of everyone present.

"He's recovering from a serious illness. But not as energetic as you. Shania told everyone that Don was leaving early.

Don pouted. "Don't listen to her, I got sick last year. Now I'm in good health. ”

"Madame's word is right. Chief, you have to listen. Someone in the crowd said.

"yes, Tony. Take care of your health, we'll be together again in ten years' time. Everyone stretched out their hands and waved at Don to make a ten-year appointment.

"Okay, we'll see you again in 10 years. Don put on his coat and scarf with Shania's help, and finally took his hat, pinched it in his hand, and waved it at everyone.

George, who was still chatting with his teammates before. Wood squeezed in from the crowd: "I'll take you home." ”

Shania shook her head, "I'll just drive." It's hard for you to get together with everyone, so let's play a little longer. ”

George. Wood retired four years ago, at the age of thirty-eight. As the greatest captain in Nottingham Forest's history, his retirement is comparable to Donn's departure. The scene was sensational and touching, making Wood, a tough guy, have tears in his eyes and choke up several times when he said goodbye. Donn was in the box of the stadium and witnessed the scene. When the 60,000 people in the audience chanted "St. George", his eyes moistened.

George. Wood's retirement ended Nottingham Forest's golden age once and for all, and the last of Donn's familiar players left the world football stage, and since then, Nottingham Forest's most glorious years can only be rummaged through historical sources.

In the summer after retiring from the army, Wood married Vivian, a nurse who had been in love for more than six years, and formed a new family. Now their children are three years old and live happily ever after.

Now Wood really looks like a model of a mature man, and the childishness is gone.

Wood, who is now mature, turned his gaze to Don when he heard Shania's words.

Donn nodded, "Listen to her, George." Even I have to listen to her, haha! ”

The big guy laughed again. Wood gave up on his plan and stepped aside. It was only as Don passed in front of him that he whispered, "I'll see you again in a few days." ”

"Well, bring your wife and your son. Don nodded slightly.

Walking to the door with the help of Shania, Don En buttoned the hat that had been pinching his hand on the top of his head, and he raised his hand and waved to the big guy when he was fully dressed: "Don't send it, it's raining heavily outside." Goodbye, guys. It's a pleasure to see you guys still alive, haha! ”

Amid the laughter, Don turned around, and Shania held out an umbrella for him, covering both of them underneath. The two men walked into the rain like this, the raindrops crackling on the umbrellas, and the reflection of the two of them was reflected in the standing water on the side of the road. Everyone gathered around and saw Shania holding an umbrella in one hand and supporting Don at the same time, and going to the car door with the other, which was a little inconvenient. Several people in the crowd rushed forward to help. Eventually, Wood snatched the umbrella from Shania's hand, while Bell held Done, and Eastwood opened the door for Donne: "Boss, please get in the car." ”

Shania had nothing to do, she stood beside Don and smiled at him, "Look, what a grand farewell ceremony. ”

Don turned his head to look at Eastwood, who was opening the door for him, and smiled. Then he looked back at the door of the bar, which was already crowded with people, and everyone was standing under the eaves looking at him.

Don waved at them, motioning for them to go back. Then he turned and got into the car.

Eastwood closes the door for Donne. Wood held an umbrella for Shania and sent her around to the driver's door and put her in the car.

Shania rolled down the window and reached out to say goodbye to them: "Goodbye, thank you!" ”

Everyone returned the favor.

Then the car started and slowly walked through the construction machinery parked on both sides of the road, splashing the water on the side of the road, driving away from everyone's field of vision, only the yellow tail lights loomed in the rain, and finally even the light of the tail lights disappeared in the rain and fog.

The rain was still falling, crackling and hitting the ground. The players still gathered at the door, looking in the direction of the leader's departure.

After a long time, Bell asked: "The head is just gone?" There seemed to be some disbelief in his tone.

"Well, let's go. Wood replied. "Go back, let's continue. ”

Having said this, he did not move his steps, and everyone stood in the doorway, just like him, continuing to look in the direction that Don had left.

Burns didn't go out, he was in the bar, through the steamy windows, and still saw Donn's car departing. Everyone flocked outside, and it was still lively just now, but the steaming bar suddenly became empty and quiet.

The music playing on the stereo had just finished a round and then moved on to the song at the beginning.

You were old then, too, as long as you said you needed me,

I am willing to stay with you.

I'll be by your side, fix the fuse for you,

When your lights don't come on.

You can knit a sweater by the fireside.

Sunday morning for a ride,

Repair the garden, remove weeds,

I wouldn't ask for more.

Do you still need me then, and will you still serve me?

When I was sixty-four......