by David Skuy
Pudge anticipated his move perfectly and slid it over from the back wall. He had to take it on his backhand, unfortunately. There was no time to transfer to his forehand. He could sense the pressure. Pudge stormed back in front. Charlie took a half step to the right and drove to the inside post. The goalie dropped to the ice. He saw the smallest of openings between the goalie’s right skate and the post. A flick of his stick sent the puck flying. The crowd roared, and Charlie began to lift his stick.
A huge groan from the Rebels supporters told Charlie all he needed to know. The puck had nicked the goalie’s left toe and dribbled wide. Charlie could not believe the save. The puck should have been in. The Wildcats right defenceman raced behind the net to snag the rebound. Angry at himself for missing such a glorious chance, Charlie slid across to his left to cut off the passing lane up the middle, and then turned sideways, facing the boards, figuring the defenceman would pass to Jake on the flank, and Charlie would have the chance for a little payback. Without warning, the defenceman spun and swung at the puck.
Whack.
The puck bounced off the inside of Charlie’s right skate and back to the defenceman, who this time passed it to Jake. The pain in Charlie’s foot almost made him sick, and it took all his willpower not to drop to the ice. Jake wasted no time headmanning the puck to Roscoe. The turnover had been unexpected and sudden, and with Robert caught deep with Pudge and Matt, Liam and Roscoe had a two-on-one against Christopher.
Jake took off like a rocket. If he caught up it would be a three-on-one disaster. Charlie gritted his teeth and began to skate. He could barely put pressure on his right foot, and the only way he could move was to limp and push off his left as hard as he could. He heard some laughing in the stands; and he could only imagine how ridiculous he looked, bobbing up and down like a piston, pumping his arms, hobbling after Jake.
Liam took a feed from Roscoe and swung out to the left. Christopher remained in the middle of the two attackers, holding his stick in front of him, left arm held out to the side. Roscoe was really motoring down the right side, and Liam feathered a pass a couple of metres from the blue line. Christopher had to pivot to cut him off, and when he did, Roscoe flipped a forehand under his stick back to Liam. Christopher let him go and he spun back to stop Liam.
Liam slowed down, which allowed Christopher to get between him and Martin. That did not give Charlie any comfort. Jake had crossed the blue line. Charlie could see it clearly from his vantage point. Liam was setting Christopher up by getting him to commit, and then he would give it to Jake for a breakaway, with Roscoe camped out on the right hand side for a tap in.
“Use me,” Jake yelled.
Martin had to stay with Liam or he could blast it into the short side. A pass to Jake and the puck was in the net. Liam curled the tip of his blade around the puck, drawing it toward his feet and freezing Christopher with a stutter-step. Then, without so much as a glance, he calmly slid the puck into the high slot. If Charlie had not despised Liam, he might have admired that piece of skill. Moreover, he was still a good two metres behind Jake. He lowered his head and forced himself to skate normally. It was excruciating and Charlie felt lightheaded, but he had to stop that shot.
Christopher and his brother had proven their toughness countless times before. This time even Charlie could not believe it when Christopher dove forward, stick extended over his head, into the slot to try to stop Jake’s shot. Jake held back, deciding instead to stickhandle around him to the left, which meant he had to transfer the puck to his backhand. For the first time Charlie felt he had a chance. Jake’s move let him close the gap, and as a left-hander Charlie could use his forehand.
Jake was almost around Christopher. Charlie launched himself with a push off his left foot. “Next time,” he gasped.
In one motion, he lifted Jake’s stick, took a half stride and swept the puck with a backhand to the boards. Jake stood up straight, looking around for the puck, obviously in shock that someone had caught him. He also forgot about Christopher, who slid into him and took his feet out from under him. He went flying over Christopher and into Liam, and the two Wildcats forwards went down in a jumble of arms and legs.
The puck barely kissed the side wall and bounced back a few inches at the hash marks. Charlie curled tightly around the face-off dot and scooped it on his backhand. His foot was throbbing. It had been a long shift, and he was winded from the backcheck. On the other hand, all three Wildcats forwards were caught, and Pudge and Matt were waving their sticks in the neutral zone, with Robert hustling back.
Charlie fired it up ice to Pudge near the red line and then began his crazy bobbing to try to catch up. Pudge took it to the right side, faked an outside move, and when the defenceman did not bite, continued to the outside. The defenceman dropped low, hoping to crush Pudge against the boards with a hip check. Pudge did not even try to avoid the contact. He threw himself against the defender, keeping his feet moving the entire time. The contact sent Pudge banging against the boards but he stayed up and held the puck with an outstretched stick. To his credit the defenceman also kept his feet and, after regaining his stride, pivoted and extended his stick to stop Pudge from getting the angle and cutting in on goal.
Pudge then put on the brakes and banked it off the wall backward with a forehand to Matt, who came swooping in behind about two metres inside the top of the circle. He carved on his inside edges and headed for the net, with only the left defenceman to beat.
Charlie’s legs were burning and his lungs were on fire. His foot felt like a solid object, like a big rock but with pins and needles sticking into it. He began to doubt his decision not to shift. Another turnover and he would never be able to get back. Just as he was about to break off to the bench, Matt slid the puck back to his feet, headfaked an outside move, and lobbed it into the high slot, as Liam had done before.
Charlie did not even feel the puck on his stick. He could not hear the crowd. He could barely think. His first instinct was to shoot, and as if by magic the goalie moved back in his goal, almost daring him to. Charlie brought the puck to his backhand, then to his forehand again. The goalie was not buying any of it and Charlie saw him move his blocker higher up the shaft. He’d go for a poke check, Charlie knew it.
Two metres from the crease Charlie threw on the brakes, showering the goalie with snow. The goalie dropped to his knees and extended his stick. At the same time Charlie spun with his back to the goalie, keeping the puck on his backhand and then extending his arms as far as he could to shovel the puck toward the corner of the glove side.
The Wildcats defenceman lowered the boom and knocked him clear off his feet. He landed with a thud, and slid on his back into the net. With his last particle of strength he raised his head. Pudge and Matt had their sticks over their heads and they were hugging each other. The goalie’s head was bent, his weight supported his blocker and glove. Charlie lay back and closed his eyes. His heart was pounding so hard he could hear it. His body hurt from head to toe.
He felt awesome.
25
HOME
Charlie slouched against the dressing room wall and plopped his feet on his hockey bag.
“I insist on another side-five, three times over, with a two-snap finish,” Scott said to him.
“Can’t I relax?” Charlie complained.
“No,” Scott said.
They slapped hands, pulling back sharply with two snaps to end it.
“That’s the tenth time,” Nick said. “Guys, I know I’ve said it before, but this time I’m serious. We have to kill Scott. It’s the only way to stop it.”
Scott gaped at him. “Dude, we crush the Wildcats 2–0 in the most epic game I’ve ever seen. I sweat through my shirt by the end of the first period. Charlie’s last game and he sets up the first and scores the insurance goal, and now I need another side-five or I’m gonna burst into tears.”
“Quick. Do it, Charlie,” Nick pleaded. “He’s so ugly when he cries.”
“It is a nice feeli
ng, though,” Charlie said. “I wanted that game so bad my chest hurt.”
“I lost two kilos just watching,” Zachary said.
The last period had been played so close to the edge Charlie wondered how it ended the way it did. All the boys took it to the limit, every shift a contest of wills, a question of who wanted the puck more, who could fight through the fatigue, who could ignore the pain. Even Charlie had wanted to quit a hundred times. Only something deep inside spurred him on; not the fear of losing to Jake and the Wildcats, but rather the desire to prove his loyalty to the Rebels. Time after time he would come out of the corner with the puck, nicked up a bit more and his foot still throbbing; but the puck would get out of the Rebels end, and that made everything worth it.
“I really love the scent of your hockey bags,” Zachary said, “but we have to leave at some point. The parents are probably getting a bit grouchy.”
A lot of the guys had left, but a few had stayed behind, as if by some secret, unspoken arrangement. It was clear these guys wanted the moment to last a little longer. Charlie could have stayed in the dressing room all night, hanging out and trading stories. Sure, it was the last game he would play for the Rebels. But tonight was not going to be about feeling sorry for Charlie Joyce. It was going to be a celebration of what they had done together. He had a great idea.
“Listen, guys. I’ve got something on my mind that I really need to talk to you about …” he said in a hushed tone that quieted the group.
They all looked at him, grim-faced.
“What’s up?” Zachary said apprehensively.
Charlie hesitated for a moment, and then put on as pathetic a voice as he could manage. “I was thinking that maybe we could go to the Mercury tonight. I just don’t know whether to have a pizza or take it meaty and go for the burger.”
There was a collective sigh of relief.
“Joyce, that’s thinking small,” Scott said. “Order both and have no regrets.”
“Obviously,” Spencer said.
“It’s the only answer,” Brandon added.
“Yeah, Joyce, use your brain,” Matt said.
“I’m ashamed,” Charlie said.
“I’m ashamed of you, too,” Scott said.
“Why don’t we ask our parents and then be ashamed while we walk,” Nick said. “I’m getting hungry.”
Charlie was relieved, happy that his little joke had worked, and the boys got up to leave. But Julia beat them to the door, coming in with Rebecca and Alexandra in tow.
“Your parents are wondering if you’re ever going to come out. They sent us in to investigate,” Julia said.
“We got to talking,” Charlie said. “We were about to go.”
“Whenever we discuss politics the time tends to get away from us. That was an excellent point about the election, Nicholas,” Scott said.
“Thank you, Mr. Slatsky,” Nick said, “and well done on that PowerPoint presentation, Zachary. I’ll never think of the Roman Empire the same way.”
“Are we being mocked?” Julia asked the other two girls.
“It appears so,” Rebecca answered. “Very shocking under the circumstances.”
“Maybe we should reconsider,” Alexandra said.
“I’m tempted,” Julia said, “but I feel sorry for them. It must be hard having to go through life so stupid.”
“If you have to, okay. I say it’s a huge mistake,” Alexandra said.
“Rebecca’s uncle is sponsoring a showing of A Christmas Carol at the Grand tonight,” Julia said. “He just called and will give us a bunch of tickets, whatever we want. We wondered if some of the Rebels might want to come since there’s no school tomorrow …?”
A few of the guys shot Charlie a look. He shook his head ever so slightly. He did not want to tell the girls, at least not Julia, not like this. He would call her tomorrow. And as for the movie, to be honest he would rather hang with his buds, talking hockey and the Rebels. But Julia might take it the wrong way; and it was nice of Rebecca’s uncle; and Alexandra probably wanted to talk with Brandon … Why was it never straightforward?
“We were going to get something to eat … We were hungry after the game … not sure if there’s time for that and a movie?” he said.
“No problem,” Julia said cheerfully. “The movie’s not till 9:30. If we leave now we can get a bite and still make it.”
She seemed so stoked about it, and the girls had worked so hard at the café. He did not have the heart. “Sounds great,” Charlie said. “Might cost us dessert, but it’s the holidays.”
Scott’s shoulders sagged. “No dessert? This is a nightmare.”
“There’s free popcorn at the theatre,” Rebecca said.
“Are you an angel?” Scott said.
“It’s about time you realized that,” Julia said. Her eyes sparkled. “We’ll meet you gentlemen in the lobby. Hurry up.”
The boys grabbed their bags and filed out.
Pudge hung back, and Charlie did the same, guessing his buddy wanted to say something.
“Nice win,” Charlie said.
“I’ll remember it for a while — maybe forever.”
Charlie looked down at the floor. “I might be moving to Stanville, but it won’t really change anything, not with us. Right?”
He looked back up at his friend. Pudge’s eyes were glistening. “No chance, Captain.”
“So let’s go get some grub, Sergeant,” he said. He held out his fist, and Pudge gave it a punch.
Charlie went out first. He didn’t want the other guys to notice anything about Pudge, so to distract them he began to sniff the air. “Do you smell that?”
“Scott!” Nick said.
“Not this time, I swear,” Scott said.
Charlie kept sniffing. “I can’t believe you guys don’t smell it. I’ve never smelled it so strong before.”
Zachary sniffed the air. “All I get is arena.”
“I don’t smell anything either,” Pudge said.
Charlie shrugged. “That’s the odour of barbecued Wildcats.”
“And there’s no sweeter smell than that,” Scott said. “Now guess who needs another side-five with a double snap finish?”
* * *
A gust of wind hit Charlie in the face as he and Pudge turned the corner. On top of it all it had begun to snow. The flakes flew into his eyes, making it painful to keep them open, so much so that he had to turn around and walk backward.
“What happened? Temperature’s dropped like a million degrees since I came to the rink,” Pudge said.
“We should abandon ship,” Scott said. “Conditions are too extreme, and I think Nick’s crying for his mommy.”
“Just great. My brain is frozen and I can’t think of a comeback,” Nick said.
“You guys really are babies,” Julia said. “Fresh air is good for you.”
“You said you had a way better place than the Mercury,” Spencer said. “You didn’t say it was at the North Pole.”
“Buck up, young man,” Alexandra said. “It’s around the corner.”
Around the corner they went. The street was deserted apart from a couple of cars parked on the side and a few people scurrying a block away, their hoods pulled tightly over their heads.
“Is it bad when you can’t feel your feet?” Matt said.
“I wish I still had feet,” Scott said. “Mine snapped off about three blocks ago.”
“I promise it will be worth it,” Julia said.
“Where are we going?” Charlie said. They were on the same street as the Rainbow Café. He knew every restaurant and fast food spot around here.
“It’s new, and we’re going to be practically the first customers,” Julia said.
“Then how do you know it’s so awesome?” Brandon said.
Julia ignored him and the girls pressed on. As they got closer to the Rainbow Café, the boys stopped talking. Charlie knew they were feeling awkward about not being able to fix it. It was not their fault and they knew that too,
but that’s what his buds were like.
If only he had not lost his temper at Jake that night; if only he had not left the stove on. The if onlys were enough to make him lose his mind.
Oddly, the girls were oblivious to it all. Even the normally quiet Rebecca was chatting away and joking with Alexandra and Julia. Come to think of it, Julia was acting downright weird, giggling at anything and talking about totally random stuff, like her science teacher looking like Kermit the Frog, or the snow being so fluffy it looked like floating tissue paper. Charlie was freezing, and so were his teammates, and yet the girls did not seem to feel the cold at all. Very weird. He was about to mention it when Julia clapped and pointed at a building up ahead.
“There it is,” she said. “You’ll love it. I swear. Best place ever.”
Charlie didn’t see anything, and he knew this block like the back of his hand. Suddenly, the girls took off and ran.
“Did three girls who used to be fairly normal just become insane maniacs?” Charlie said.
“Girl behaviour is never easy to understand, but they’ve definitely lost their minds tonight,” Spencer said.
“It’s official, dudes. I’ve frozen to death,” Zachary said.
Charlie saw the girls stop in front of the Rainbow Café. Then it hit him. His heart sank. They already knew. Maybe Brandon had texted Alexandra, or one of the other guys told them at the rink, or maybe Pudge had told his dad who then told other parents. This was going to be too painful for words.
“So … what’s the deal, ladies?” he called out.
“Come here and stop talking so much,” Julia answered.
She was acting beyond weird.
All he wanted was to be with his friends and have a few laughs and to forget about things, just for one night. He forced himself to be quiet. One word and his irritation would come out.