Rocket Blues

by David Skuy

  “Power move by the Blakester,” André said. “We don’t back down ever again.”

  “What’s that loser AAA team called again?” Reid said.

  “Who cares?” Blake said. “Let ’em worry about the Blues.”

  Rocket loved it. He exchanged a high-five with Blake and Noah and skated toward centre. A tap on the shin pads from André held him up.

  “Assume we tie this game. Since we won our first game, and since the Huskies will beat the Blackbirds this afternoon — they’ll be tired after playing us — all we have to do is tie the Huskies and we’re in the playoff round,” André said. His eyes were so bright and intense it looked like they would burst right out of his cage.

  Tie the Huskies?

  Rocket set up for the faceoff.

  Why not?

  CHAPTER 26

  Rocket craned his neck to see if they were coming. It was a quarter after six. The sun was about to fall behind the condo. Griffen was late again. He was going to miss the start of the Huskies game!

  The Blues had ended up tying the Blackbirds, and the Huskies had beaten the Blackbirds later that day, just like André had said. The Blues might actually have a chance at the playoffs.

  The Huskies had beaten the Blackbirds 9–0, though. Could the Blues really tie them?

  “I told him to come at six sharp,” his mom muttered. She looked at her cellphone and brushed her hair back. “He’s so unreliable. Every time it’s the same. I’m going to have a heart attack one day.” She looked up at the sky. “So where are you, Griffen?”

  She scowled and crossed her arms. He could tell she was angry, really angry. Was it something more than Griffen coming late? She wasn’t the kind of person to just lose it. It had to be something else.

  A horrible thought popped into his head, and not for the first time. It had been torturing him for days, and it made him sick to think about it. Maybe, and he hoped desperately that he was wrong, but maybe his mom had become Griffen’s girlfriend so he could get a lift to hockey.

  “Have you had any luck with the other parents about a carpool, or even the occasional drive?” he asked.

  “I haven’t had a chance,” she snapped. “Griffen took me to some awful place Friday night before you played the Penguins. He called it a café; I’d call it a scuzzy bar. He actually tried to order a drink — and he was driving! I couldn’t believe it. We had a huge fight over it, and I missed the whole game and didn’t have a chance to speak to anyone or your coach. I asked Griffen to speak to your coach this morning, but Mr. Can’t Remember didn’t remember. I wanted to speak to her before this game, but at this rate, I won’t have time. Maybe after.” She stamped her foot and glared at her cellphone.

  “Griffen can be a difficult guy sometimes,” he said.

  “He can be a royal pain.”

  “Yeah. I guess.” He dug out a small rock from the grass and began to stickhandle. “Maddy and I were kind of talking yesterday, before the game, when we were waiting for Griffen to pick us up.” He fired the rock across the street. Whenever he had something serious to say, he got nervous and couldn’t think of how to start. “She, I mean Maddy, she was saying that maybe, well not maybe, she was saying it, that you … anyway, like that you and Griffen …”

  She put her phone in her purse. “Me and Griffen?”

  “She said Griffen was your boyfriend,” he said.

  He was terrified of her answer, and he felt his body stiffen.

  “Bryan, if I ever have a boyfriend, I promise you’ll be the first to know.”

  “But Maddy?”

  “She might have exaggerated the relationship.”

  “But Griffen told her, to her face, that you were his girlfriend.”

  She took a moment to consider that piece of info. “He did? Hmm. Perhaps he and I need to have a talk. This is awkward, though. He won’t take it well, and his car is … useful.”

  “You don’t have to be his girlfriend so I can get to hockey, Mom,” he said.

  She burst out laughing. “I’m not that dedicated to your hockey career, Bryan. Sorry to disappoint you. But I admit I’m nice to him because, until we work things out, it’s easier. But don’t worry. By September, when the season starts, we’ll have it sorted out.”

  “There’s something else, too — about Griffen. Maddy told me some stuff: about him and her, about how he treats her.”

  A pained look clouded his mom’s face.

  Rocket hesitated. Maddy might be angry if he told. On the other hand, she hadn’t specifically told him not to, and he really needed to tell someone. He described their conversation and how bad things were for Maddy at home.

  His mom didn’t say anything at first. “She’s a strong girl,” she began finally, “but she’s had so much to deal with in her life. I worry about her. She’s mentioned a few things to me, too. Thanks for telling me, Bryan. I won’t tell her that I know about your conversation. I knew things were bad, but never knew they were that bad. I’m going to think about this, okay?”

  “Maybe she could stay with us?” he said. “She basically lives at our place anyway. She’s like my sister.”

  “It’s more complicated than that,” she said. “She can’t leave home yet. She’s only fourteen.”

  “That’s not fair.”

  “That’s the law until she’s sixteen.”

  “I don’t think she’ll last two more years with the guy. That’s like torture.”

  “Poor Maddy.” She took her phone out of her purse and sighed. “I’ll try calling again.”

  “If you’d let me take the bus at night, I wouldn’t have to wait for him,” he said as she phoned, “and you wouldn’t need to be … so nice to him.”

  “No answer.” His mom stuffed the phone back in her purse. “I don’t like you coming back alone late at night on the bus. Anyways, let’s not worry about that now. We need to grab the bus, and we can take a taxi after that. He obviously forgot, or he’s just being his typical selfish self.”

  A red car turned the corner, did a U-turn in front of the apartment and stopped in front of them. The driver’s side window rolled down. Griffen leaned his head out and rolled his eyes. “Hurry up, Risa. I don’t feel like wasting my entire Saturday night driving to another stupid game.”

  His mom took a few steps toward him, leaned down and then took a step back. “You’ve been drinking! You’ve got to be kidding. You’re late, and then you show up drunk?”

  “I had one beer, woman. Lay off the drama, and give me a break.”

  “I’m not putting Bryan in that car, and I’m certainly not getting in either. I’m not really comfortable with Maddy in there. And thanks for being twenty minutes late!”

  Griffen’s face twisted in anger. “I’m doing you a favour, and I have to take your grief? Don’t think so. You’re kind of missing the big picture.”

  “There’s no picture to miss.” She practically spat out each word. “Thanks for the offer, but I think Bryan and I can find our own way to the game.”

  “I’m so upset I don’t get to see the mighty midget play hockey.” Griffen laughed.

  His mom let out an exasperated sigh. “Maddy, do you want to come with us?”

  “She isn’t going anywhere. She can do her homework — and clean the apartment for once. She’s such a slob; all kids are lazy.”

  His mom’s eyes blazed. “Maddy? Do you want to come with us?”

  “I said she’s staying put.”

  Maddy opened the door. He spun sideways. “You step one foot on that pavement and you’re outta my life forever. Don’t forget, I don’t actually have custody. I can go to the government any time I want and give you up, then it’s into social services and foster families and group homes, and I don’t care what else. So you mind me and close the door.”

  Rocket caught a glimpse of Maddy’s face. She was pale as a ghost and there was a tear in her eye. She closed the door and Griffen smirked. Rocket wanted to smack that arrogant grin off his face.

  Th
en he got the surprise of his life.

  “You’re the cruellest, most awful man I know!” his mom roared. “How dare you talk to Maddy like that? How dare you! I have half a mind to call social services myself and report you for abuse.”

  Griffen’s cheeks turned bright red. He stared at her, and then he opened his door and got out. “You do that and you’ll have so much trouble coming down on your head, you won’t know what hit you, Miss Smarty Pants.”

  His mom didn’t back down a centimetre. “I’d worry about my own head if I were you,” she said. “You definitely do not want to get into a war with me. I work in social services, and I know a ton of cops. One word from me and you’ll have twenty policemen lined up to see you. Who do you have on your side?”

  Rocket had moved next to his mom. He had never seen her this mad. She put her hands on her hips and took a step forward. Griffen snorted and rolled his eyes. Then Rocket heard the car door crack open, and Maddy got out.

  “Get back in that car!” Griffen roared.

  “You come with us, dear,” his mom said. “You’ll stay at our place until we work things out.”

  “You can’t do that. I decide what she does,” Griffen said, his face even redder than before.

  “Call social services,” his mom said. “I want you to. Then a team of psychologists and social workers will ask you a million questions about whether you’re a good guardian to Maddy, and they’ll talk to everyone you know. I wonder what they’ll think, especially after some of the people in this building talk to them.”

  Griffen sneered and stuck his face forward. “Enjoy her. I’ve been trying to get rid of her since that worthless mother of hers left. She’s a worthless piece of junk, too — and you’re welcome to her. Don’t expect a penny from me. She’s your responsibility now.”

  Maddy had turned to stone.

  Griffen looked at Rocket. “Your mom’s quite the firecracker, superstar,” he said.

  “And you’re quite the jerk,” Rocket said.

  “The little mouth that roared,” Griffen said sarcastically. “Have a good game. Maybe you can get me tickets when you’re in the NHL.” He hopped back in his car and slammed the door shut. “I want her crap out of my apartment tonight, otherwise I throw it on the street, hear me?” He closed his window and drove off.

  Rocket felt a flash of heat pass through his body, leaving him cold and disoriented. Maddy still hadn’t moved. He felt so sorry. He couldn’t imagine what was going on in her head, how angry, how scared she was. Griffen wasn’t her father, but he’d lived with Maddy for years, and to just drive off like that was brutal. What a piece of work.

  “He’s the worthless piece of junk,” Rocket said to Maddy. “Don’t listen to him.”

  A tear rolled down her cheek. His mom put her arm around Maddy’s shoulders.

  “We’ll get your stuff tonight, and you’ll stay with us,” his mom said. “Things will be okay, trust me. I’m happy for you to move in. We’ll need to deal with social services, but I don’t think Griffen will put up much of a fuss.”

  “You don’t have the room,” she whispered, “and how are we going to pay for stuff and …” She let out a sob.

  “You don’t worry about that,” his mom said. “I have some money tucked away for emergencies, and I think this qualifies. We’ll get by. Right, Bryan?”

  “Absolutely,” Rocket said. He was so proud of his mom. “You can’t live with that guy anymore. No way. It’ll be fun. And I can tutor you in math and science and help with all your homework.”

  That brought a smile to Maddy’s face.

  Maddy wiped away her tears. “I’m sort of surprised you’ve actually heard of the word homework. That’s a new development.”

  “Tell me about it,” his mom said.

  “Are you guys going to gang up on me all the time?” he said.

  “Big time,” Maddy said.

  “Well, kids, I think that’s enough drama for today — maybe for the year,” his mom said. “If Bryan’s going to actually play we’d better get a serious move on. Let’s get to the bus stop.”

  Maddy gasped. “My student pass is in my room.”

  His mom laughed. “Money’s not that tight, at least not yet. I can pay your fare.”

  “Thanks, Risa.” Then Maddy started to cry again. His mom hugged her for a long time. They were both crying when they let go.

  Maddy came over and gave Rocket a hug, too. “That’s for being such a pain all the time,” she said.

  His mom gave him a hug next.

  “Not to ruin the moment, but is this helping me get to the game?” he said, with a lopsided grin.

  “Please, let there be a parent who lives near us,” his mom said, her eyes lifted to the sky.

  They set off down the street as fast as Rocket could roll his bag.

  CHAPTER 27

  Rocket turned sideways and pushed into the dressing room, pulling his bag behind him.

  “We’ll go with Michel at centre between Blake and Noah,” Coach Sonia was saying, “and then …”

  Their eyes met.

  “Sorry,” Rocket said. He felt sick. The Zamboni was already on the ice. He’d never been late for a game, not like this. He’d be benched for sure, and maybe not even allowed to play. The guys would be totally mad at him, too, as they should be. He’d let them all down.

  “The bus took forever,” he said, looking down at the floor. “We called a taxi, but it’s Saturday night and it never came. I’m sorry.”

  “Who cares about sorry,” André said. “Get dressed, bro. We’re playing your old team. We’ll get smoked without you.”

  Rocket sat next to Michel by the door and unzipped his bag.

  “Thank god you’re here. I was going to have to play centre the whole game,” Michel said.

  “Why take a bus?” Reid said. “Your car break down?”

  Rocket began throwing on his equipment. “We don’t … My mom doesn’t have a car, and the guy who was going to give us a lift … He didn’t show. We waited, maybe too long, and then …” He stuffed his shin pads in his socks.

  “We can deal with that after the game,” Coach Sonia said. “Maybe one of the other parents can give you a lift when your friend isn’t available.”

  “He’s not my friend,” Rocket said. He realized he’d said that too quickly. The coach looked at him closely.

  “Don’t worry. We’ll figure it out,” she said.

  “We can give him a lift,” André said. “Where do you live?”

  He hated that question. “We’re north — the north … the … umm … north part.”

  He was sounding like an idiot.

  “Not totally sure where that is, but we might be able to do it,” Matthew said. “We live north a bit, too.”

  “My dad would drive across the country to get you to a game,” Blake said. “He’s your biggest fan. He keeps telling me to play more like the new kid. I keep telling him that I would play like the new kid if I could play like the new kid.”

  The boys laughed. Rocket didn’t like being the centre of attention, but at least they weren’t talking about his neighbourhood. He pulled on his hockey pants and reached for his skates.

  “We still have a minute or two before we have to go out,” Coach Sonia said. “I don’t want to slow you down, Bryan, but you know the Huskies pretty well, obviously. Any tips?”

  Rocket tugged on his laces. The Huskies were a solid team: three good lines, good goaltending, three sets of defence. They had speed and size, and they were well coached. They had one weakness, however. He hadn’t seen it when he played for them. But he knew it now.

  He knew it because he’d had the same weakness.

  “They’ll be totally overconfident. Everyone on that team thinks he’s going to the NHL, that he’s a superstar. But, the truth is, they really only have two superstars, Ty and Adam.” He tightened his other skate. “Last year they were numbers six and twelve. They score most of the goals, and are always on the first power play.
We shut them down, the other guys will panic, or at least wait for them to put the puck in the net. If we keep those two off the score sheet, we can give them a serious game. I mean it, too. Don’t be intimidated. We can definitely give them a game. We have as much talent.”

  “Can we do more than just give them a game?” André said.

  Rocket pulled his shoulder pads over his head and slipped his arms through the straps. “We might need a bit of luck for that,” he said. He liked these guys too much to lie. “But if we catch them off guard, and I’m sure we will, and if we play harder than them, every shift, every minute, then maybe?”

  The door opened. “Zamboni’s off the ice,” a parent said. “Other team’s already out there.”

  Dominic and a few other guys got up.

  “Hold on,” André said. “We go out as a team.” He nodded at Rocket.

  Rocket put his elbow pads and sweater on. His hands were shaking slightly and that made him fumble his helmet snaps. After what felt like forever, he got them done up and he popped on his gloves. He punched them together. He’d never been more stoked for a game.

  “Thanks, guys,” he said, his heart racing. “Last game was good. This game needs to be totally amazing. We bring it every shift — every single shift. Go Big Blue!”

  “Go Big Blue!” the boys answered.

  Dominic gave his pads a bash with his paddle, and he waddled to the door.

  “Let’s do this,” Blake said.

  “Hard all game,” Reid barked.

  “Blues all the way,” Michel said.

  Rocket let the others go first. He had to, since he’d told André about his superstition. Besides, he’d made them wait; it only seemed fair. André held back, too. Rocket had a feeling he was about to be asked a difficult question.

  “Do you really think we can compete, I mean for real?” André said.

  “Between you and me, if the Huskies play as good as they can, we don’t have much of a chance. But I know those guys, and I know they’ll be trying fancy stuff, doing the extra pass, looking for the perfect play. If they play like that, we might keep it close.”