"It's been six years I really don't think he's going to recognize me," I stated to my mother, getting all my stuff out the car. "You're meeting your father out there right?" She questioned me. "Yes, as soon as I get to the airport, I'm taking a shuttle to the conference center where dad's going to pick me up after practice." I told her. "I'll see you in two weeks, take care Hailey." My mom kissed me on my check and I carried my bag inside of the airport. The flight was little over an hour long; it took me half an hour to find my luggage and to finally track down the right shuttle bus. It was 4:25 by the time I actually got to the ice arena, I was supposed to meet dad there at three o'clock. I walked around for a little bit trying to find signs that would help me find him but I quit after twenty minutes and returned to the main entrance to wait for him. While walking to the entrance, I finally found him but it looked like they were having some big meeting with all the boys trying out. I decided to head back to the front of the arena. I put my luggage against the wall then leaned on both my bags and the wall. I bunch of guys started for the door with all their hockey gear; none of them had recognized me. I received a bunch of looks from the guys but choose to ignore them. About five minutes later another group of guys were heading out the door.
"Now would you look at that? Making the cut and finding a gorgeous girl all in the same day, looks like I'm having good luck today boys," Phil Verchota said. "Leave her alone Philly," John told him. "Come on she's way out of your league anyways Phil," Rammer pointed out. "She looks really familiar…" Mac admitted.
I smiled as the boys watched me. I instantly noticed my old best friend; he looked so happy right then. But, he kept walking, like he didn't even recognize me; I wouldn't blame him we hadn't seen each other for four years. We both had changed a lot, but I could have not seen him for twenty years and still pointed him out of a crowded room. The boys cleared out and another ten minutes went by.
"Hailey," Exclaimed a voice. "Hey Craig, how are you?" I said hugging him. "I'm doing well how about you?" "Pretty good," I said yawning. "Suffering from jet lag are we?" He said, we both laughed. "Good to have you hear kid, we'll need you tomorrow." Craig said walking away. "There's my Hailey," I heard my dad. "Hi daddy," I hugged him. "You were supposed to be here at three, what happened?" He asked. "My plane was late coming in, then I couldn't find my luggage, and I missed the shuttle and had to wait for the next one…" I told him. "How'd try outs go today?" I asked. "Good, not too many injuries." He replied. "Hi Herb," I said seeing him walking passed us, he stopped. "Hailey is that you? You're all grown up." He stated, and then I blushed. "I'm glad you're here to help out, it'll do these boys some good. I'll see you tomorrow." He said then left. "Well are you ready to leave?" Dad asked me.
In the car he asked if I saw anyone I knew. "Well I did see a few Minnesota players that I remember, then I saw Robbie but it's like he didn't recognize me at all." I said sighing. We got something to eat, went to the hotel and I instantly fell asleep because of jet lag.
My father woke me up and it was 7am. "Marcie, go back to your room," I said. "Hail, Hailey, wake up we have to go to the arena." Dad said. I got up and took a hot shower to wake me up. We got to the hockey rink and met up with Craig Patrick and Herb Brooks. "Hails, I want you to help out your dad, and get to know these boys." Herb told me. Dad and Craig were talking and Herb went off to go talk to some guy head of the Olympic Committee. I quietly pulled on my skates and stepped out on the ice. There was still at least half an hour before try outs were supposed to start. It was so weird how I still knew every sequence to my skating routine, from four years ago. I jumped and twirled and skated, it made me feel at home. Little did I know that boys were watching me, as they came into the arena. I continued skating until Herb finally kicked me off. I skated off the ice and walked back to find my dad, I passed a bunch of the players along the way. I was rounding the corner to the locker rooms and someone ran into me, I actually fell.
"Sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going." He apologized. "It's ok," I said as he helped me get up. We both smiled then he went on his way, he was cute I'll give him that. I took off my skates and found my dad. He needed to ask Herb something but an injured played came in and he sent me to find Herb. I went to the box where dad had said Herb would, nobody was there but paper work was. I went over and scanned it, notes and names, I didn't really care. I looked out onto the ice, seeing players skate back and forth. I zeroed in on one player in particular.
My mind flashed back to five years ago, I had to say goodbye to my best friend. Dad got a letter from his sister; she was offering me to live with her for the summer. My dad was originally from Latvia, and his sister and family still lived over there. I immediately jumped on the chance to go over there for the summer. Rob McClanahan and I had been friends ever since we met each other, that was eighteen years ago. Saying goodbye to Rob was surprisingly harder than I thought. I was leaving in the middle of June and wouldn't return until late August. Rob came with my parents to the airport to see me off. I hugged, kissed and told my parents that I loved them. Next was Rob, the moment I saw him tears began to stream down my face. He took me in his arms, hugging me laughing at me. "It's only for the summer right?" I asked. "You're the one that's going Hails," Rob laughed wiping my tears away. "Why am I crying? Its not like I'm never going to see you again." I said. "Last call for International Flight 253," an announcer said. "That's me," I said looking down at the ground. I left my parents and Rob and headed off for Latvia. I learned the language surprisingly quick. Little did I know when I left that the summer would turn into a year. Granted Rob and I wrote each other at least once a week, I never even came home until the summer before college. Mom and papa came to Latvia for Thanksgiving, and Christmas, so that papa could spend time with his family and his childhood home.
Now I stood watching my old friend skate on the ice, he had just smashed another player into the ice and that player was down. "So Hails when are you going to go show those boys how it's done?" Herb asked, it had startled me and I jumped a little, and ran into the wall. "You ok?" He asked. "Fine, you just startled me." I replied, try outs continued, but it literally turned into practice the moment Herb handed Craig a list of 26 players. I drove back from Colorado Springs with papa and it felt so good to be home. I hadn't spent more than three weeks there at the most. Dad and I arrived early, and instantly the rink felt like my second home.