Author's Note: I always felt bad for Charlie. I'm sure Casey is a loving mother and all I think, especially in the first movie, but she was a little over protective.
Also would like to give credit to Catherine and her fic 'Casey's Story'. I also agree with her when she says it's most likely that Charlie's dad left them rather than the other way around. She told Charlie that they left him so Charlie wouldn't feel bad. A lot of ideas from that story may or may not be used. But giving credit now
Chapter Six: Casey
"You guys stink!" Coach Bombay yelled. "I thought we came here to play hockey."
Casey Conway watched as her son's new hockey coach yell at his team after loosing 17-0. She wanted to march right up to and give him a piece of her mind. The only reason why she didn't is because she promised her son that she would not get involved unless she absolutely had to. Charlie was getting to the age where he did not want his mother following him around everywhere. She was 'ruining his rep' as he put it.
"Oh you think it's funny?" Demanded Gordon. "You think losing is funny?"
Casey got up from her seat and made her way towards the exit. If she had to listen to him for one more second, she would march right up to Bombay and slap him. On the way out to the parking lot, she spotted Mr. Hall by the canteen. She gave him a friendly waive.
"Hi Casey," Mr. Hall smiled. "How are you doing today?"
"I'm good," Casey replied. "I managed to switch shifts with Maria again so I can watch the game. Do you need me to pick up Terry and Jesse up from the next game?"
"If there is a next game," Mr. Hall replied.
"I know what you mean. I told Charlie that any time he wants to quit, to just let me know. But you know Charlie. He loves hockey."
"I tell you, these coaches they come up with..." Mr. Hall trailed off as he saw his two sons leaving the dressing room.
"Jesse. Terry," Mr. Hall called out to his sons.
Mr. Hall reached into his pocket and retrieved his wallet. He pulled out two dollars and handed it to Jesse.
"Go buy some candy at the canteen. I need to talk to Cas...I mean Ms. Conway for a few minutes."
Jesse took the money and hurried over to the canteen.
"Make sure you share some with your brother," Mr. Hall called out.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah."
Jesse got in line to get himself and Terry a Pepsi and chocolate bar. Mr. Hall looked back at Casey and shook his head. "Kids."
Casey laughed. Then she turned serious. "What is it that you wanted to talk to me about?"
"I was wondering if you could look after Jesse and Terry after school this week. The plant is offering extra hours this week and with Jade not around and I won't be able to pay you much..."
"Of course I will," Casey said. "I'd be glad to help. Charlie will appreciate the company. "
"Thank you," Mr Hall said gratefully. "I'll make it up to you. Somehow."
"Don't worry about it," Casey said. Casey saw Charlie exiting the locker room.
"That was a good try out there," Mr. Hall told Charlie.
"Thanks," Charlie said meekly.
"Anyway, we have to be going. I have to be at work in 45 minutes. I'll see you at the next game."
"See you."
"How does eight o'clock sound?" a handsome man in his late 20s asked Casey.
"Sounds great," Casey smiled. "So where are we going?"
"It's..."
Charlie , Terry and Jesse came bursting into the dinner out of breath.
"I win," Terry announced to the entire diner.
"No way," Charlie disagreed. "You took a short cut. That's cheating."
Charlie, Terry and Jesse propped themselves up unto stools.
"Hi Ms. C," the Hall brother chimed.
Casey laughed. The Hall brothers were a handful at times but she enjoyed looking after them. Casey went back to the kitchen and came back with 3 glasses of milk and sandwiches she had made up before hand.
"Charlie, would you take your friends to the table in the back and stay there for the remainder of my shift?" Casey asked her son. "And do try to get some of your homework done."
Charlie nodded. "Come on guys. Maybe if I get my homework done, we can go hang out with Guy after supper. His older brother just got a new game boy."
Jesse and Terry followed Charlie to the back to the diner and rushed to get their homework done. None of them knew what a game boy was but Guy said it was cool so they all took his word for it.
Casey smiled as she watched her son and his friends rush to get their homework done. She turned back her attention to her work.
"Sorry about that," Casey apologized. "I promised a friend that I would look after his kids after work this week."
The man gave a sigh of relief. "That's alright. I have to get back to work. I'll see you later then."
Charlie looked up from his text book and carefully watched the man as he left.
"Hey Charlie," Terry said. "What are you doing? If you don't hurry up and get your homework done, your mother will never let you go over to Guy's tonight."
Charlie ignored Terry's question and approached his mother. "Mom?"
"What is it Charlie? I thought I told you to stay in the back with your friends until I was done my shift."
"Who was that?" Charlie asked.
"Who was who?" Casey said not particularly paying attention.
"That man you were talking to earlier."
"Oh him," Casey replied. "His name is Carter. We're going out for diner tonight."
Charlie nodded. "Oh."
Casey studied Charlie's reaction. Charlie didn't seem to offer much of an opinion. Casey remembered when Charlie was younger, he would always get excited when her boyfriend would come by and she would make a special meal for the three of them. That was years ago. Now a days she was lucky to get a date never mind go steady with anyone. As soon as they knew she had a son, they were as good a gone.
"Now back to your seat young man," Casey ordered. "I want to see that homework done before I'm finished my shift."
"Yes Mom."
Please read and review. Probably my last chapter for a little while. Going on vacation. Hopefully, with a few reviews, I may post another chapter once I'm back.
