Chapter 1: The Kid Arrives at the Training Ground
The Kid’s first day at his new club gets off to a difficult start when he arrives late and finds The Boss waiting for him in the car park.
After completing his journey across Madrid with The Cabbie, The Kid finally reaches the training ground. Unfortunately, his new manager is already there—and he is not in the mood for excuses.
A Difficult First Impression
The Kid has only just arrived in Madrid, but he is already facing his first problem.
His opening training session is underway, the rest of the squad is waiting and The Boss is standing in the car park looking for answers.
For a young footballer joining one of the biggest clubs in the world, arriving late is not the ideal way to begin.
The Boss wants to know why his new signing has failed to report on time. The Kid attempts to explain himself, but the explanation is unlikely to improve the manager’s mood.
The Boss Enters the Story
This chapter introduces The Boss, the manager responsible for keeping the club organised and competitive.
He is serious, direct and already under pressure. The arrival of a highly publicised new player should strengthen the team, but only if that player follows instructions and understands what is expected.
The Boss has little interest in reputations, transfer fees or World Cup headlines. He wants players to train properly, arrive on time and contribute to the team.
The Kid, meanwhile, is still adapting to the pace and expectations of his new life.
Football Fame Meets Football Discipline
The Kid arrives in Madrid as one of the most celebrated young players in world football.
His performances on the international stage have made him famous, but that reputation offers no protection once training begins.
The joke at the centre of the chapter is simple: a player can be a World Cup star and still be treated like any other employee who turns up late for work.
The Boss is not interested in excuses. The Kid must prove himself again.
The Football Inspiration Behind the Comic
The chapter reflects the enormous attention surrounding James Rodríguez when he joined Real Madrid after the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Rodríguez arrived as a major international star, but joining an elite club also meant adapting to a new manager, new teammates and far greater expectations.
Storybook uses that situation to explore one of football’s familiar tensions: the difference between a player’s public reputation and the daily discipline required inside a training ground.
A major transfer may create headlines, but the new signing still has to earn the manager’s trust.
Characters Featured
The Kid
The Kid is beginning his first day at his new club after completing his transfer from Monte Carlo. He is talented and enthusiastic, but his late arrival means he must immediately explain himself to the manager.
The Boss
The manager of The Kid’s new club. The Boss is disciplined, demanding and unimpressed by celebrity. His priority is the team, and he expects every player to meet the same professional standards.
The Cabbie
The Cabbie appears briefly as the man responsible for bringing The Kid to the training ground. His involvement suggests that even an ordinary taxi journey can become part of the wider football drama.
Behind the Gag
The humour comes from the contrast between the scale of The Kid’s arrival and the ordinary nature of the problem.
He has just completed a glamorous transfer to Madrid after starring at the World Cup, but his first challenge is not tactical or technical.
He is late.
The Boss reacts exactly as a manager would react to any player arriving after training has started. The Kid’s fame may impress supporters and club executives, but it does not impress the man waiting in the car park.
Looking Back
Originally published in 2015, this chapter established The Boss as a central figure in the original Storybook series.
It also showed that The Kid’s move to Madrid would not be an effortless success story. He may have talent and international recognition, but he still has to adapt to a new environment and prove that he belongs.
With his first meeting with The Boss behind him, The Kid must now meet the players who will become his new teammates.
