"So do you think he will like to?" Mrs. Mendoza was overheard saying as Luis walked into the living room near the kitchen door.

"The kid likes hockey." His dad muttered as he bit his lip. "But the Junior Goodwill Games that's a bit much."

"No not at all." Don Tibbles was heard saying as Luis slightly leaned on the swinging door. "It's just right for him."

"But how about all the pressure." His mom replied in her motherly tone.

"There is no real pressure." Tibbles said as he looked at Mrs. Mendoza. "I tell you this team is a great bunch of kids and their coach is an easy going fun guy. He believes hockey is supposed to be fun."

"Yes you keep telling us that. Lets get to the point Mr. Tibbles." Mr. Mendoza said as he looked at Don. "But what financial banking is this going to take?"

"Call me Don." Don said with a smile as he looked at the parents. "This is going to cost you nothing."

"There is no need to try and pulling one over me Don." Mr. Mendoza said, "Nothing in this world is free."

"All you need to do is make sure the kid shows up and performs and I'll cover the rest."

"Luis is good." Mrs. Mendoza acknowledged as she stood up. "More coffee?" Luis smiled at this. Her mother always had a fixation on having to be serving coffee. He didn't know what it was but every time they had guests over she could be found making and serving hot cups of coffee. "It's only for the summer."

"Our scouts have been scouting him for weeks." Don Tibbles retorted as he took his coffee cup. "He's good. He'd be a great asset to the team."

"I know he's good." Mr. Mendoza snorted into his cup. "He learned from me."

"Then let him show the world how good he is." Don wiggled his brows. "Let Luis play for his country. Let him show off his talent. Let him play in the Junior Goodwill Games."

"WHAT?" Luis screamed as he pushed the swinging door open. "I get to play in the Junior Goodwill Games!" He screamed as his mother and father looked at each other. "Are you serious? Wow!"

"Now Luis." Mr. Mendoza looked at his son sternly. "We haven't fully discussed this yet."

"But I get to play on Team USA." Luis wailed as he jumped up and down. "What's there to discuss." Luis was looking at his one way ticket out of a rotten summer. Just days ago he was complaining that he had a rotten life, that summer was going to be his lowest point this year and how much he had wanted school to start. Luis had gotten that bad. Summer a few days ago looked very boring and un appealing but now, now things were going to change. Luis was going to play on Team USA or so he hoped.

"Financial details and your lodging and all that." Mr. Mendoza stared at his son. "Now if you don't mind we have adult matters to discuss."

"But you can't turn this down." Luis pleaded as he looked at his father. "This is my once and a life time opportunity."

"You don't even know if hockey is what you really want." His father countered as he looked at the boy.

"I love to play hockey."

"That's not good enough for a career choice."

"You have to let me go." Luis suddenly snapped, "You have to."

"I don't have to do anything. I'm the parent here and you have to listen to me."

"But you can't say no." Luis said as he looked at his father.

"This is a major decision son." His mother interjected, "This could give you openings to a career in hockey."

"That's right son." Don Tibbles squeezed Luis's shoulder. "There are going to be many scouts scouting the games looking for the next hot shot player."

"I just want to play hockey."

"You can't even stop." His father countered as his tone deepened. "That's a major drawback in hockey Luis."

"I can learn." Luis snapped back, "If they've been scouting me like they said then they know that and they still believe in me."

"You should be getting to work." Mr. Mendoza pointed to the door as Luis glared at his father. "Go now." Luis stomped out of the kitchen door retrieving his jacket from the couch and leaving the house slamming the door behind him.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

He was invited to play with Team USA how cool was that Luis pondered this as he prepared himself for yet another day. How cool was it that he could be representing his country? That was major cool he thought as he rummaged the locker rooms.

"Hey Luis." A familiar voice called behind him. "Shall we hang at the diamond?"

"Hey small fry." Luis greeted with the regular handshake. "Yeah is the team gathered?"

"Yeah we just missing Roo. He said the Riley's are really being a pain this year. I heard they are in an economical melt down."

"Ahh they lost another precious shoe store." Luis laughed as he closed his locker. "Poor Roo Mr. Riley will really be venting out his anger today."

"Yeah." Chris aka small fry replied as they exited the courts. "This is a doomed summer you know that man."

"Well not for me." Luis smiled as he jumped from foot to foot. "Well at least I hope not."

"Well spill the dish." Small fry cried as his eyes went wide. "What happened?"

"I shall tell you when I tell the others."

"Hey guys over here." Mark called waving them over to the basketball courts. "Check this guy out." The two jogged to catch up to their star pitcher Mark Anthony. They both halted as they saw a skinny boy in skates playing street hockey.

"Wow he's good." Luis commented as they came up to the gate.

"That's the Banks kids." Mark informed as he entered the court. "Hey Julian you up for a game of baseball?"

"Hey Mark." Julian stopped sharply allowing his little brother to make a goal.

"I scored." Adam looked at his brother hotly. "You have to go play with dad."

"Hey little man you caught me off guard you little cheat." Julian smiled as he ruffled the boys hair. "Oh by the way this is our missing child." Julian snickered as he looked at Adam. "Adam this is Mark, Chris and Luis."

"Hey guys." Adam smiled politely and offered his hand. The three boys shook them.

"Yeah if you ever need something done these are the boys to do it." Julian chastised as he laughed. "Especially out on the course."

"Always at your service." Small fry said with a half smirk. "So where's your sister this year?" He wiggled his brow suggestively as Adam and Julian laughed.

"She went to Rome with mother." Julian responded as Adam stared at Luis.

"You guys play hockey?" Adam suddenly found himself intrigued.

"A little."

"We dabble in it here and there." Luis responded happily. "Your really good on skates."

"He's killer on the ice." Julian boasted as Adam blushed.

"We should play sometime." Small fry said with a snicker, "That is if Billy has what it takes to play."

"Oh is that a challenge small fry." Julian smiled amused as he looked at Adam. "We could take them down with one armed tied behind our backs isn't that right little bro?"

"Sure could." Adam snickered as he looked at the team.

"Then it's settled whenever where ever you want." Mark said as he turned to leave. "But meanwhile my offer stands do you want to play some baseball?"

"Sure." Julian said as he looked at Adam. "Just let me get my things."

"You playing Adam?" Luis asked as Adam looked at them half heartedly expecting an invitation.

"I didn't bring my glove." Adam replied as Julian began to untie his skates.

"I got extra." Luis said as he pulled an extra glove from his bag. "Meet you at the diamond." With that the group was gone.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"All right so spill Mendoza." Roo said hours later after a game. "So you can get that cheesy smile off your face." He poked his friend in the arm.

"Your going to burst if you don't spill." Mark laughed as they all plopped into the grass.

"I got chosen man." Luis nearly squealed like a girl as he looked at his friends.

"Chosen for what?" Roo asked as he ran his hand through his dark blonde hair.

"To play at the Junior Goodwill Games." Luis blurted out soon to be followed with screams and words of congratulations.

"That's great." Mark said as he looked at Luis. "Wow that's like just wow."

"The Junior Goodwill Games?" Adam stuttered as he looked at Luis in awe. Some guys had all the luck. He would love to play in the Junior Goodwill Games in fact he would kill to play on their team. "You mean on Team USA."

"Yeah." Luis retorted as Adam gave him a congratulations hand shake.

"That is so cool."

"So when you leaving us man?"

"I don't know. Mom and dad are discussing it." Luis suddenly sighed depressed. "By the sound of it I'm not going."

"You can't turn down a chance like this Luis." Julian said, "This is a great opportunity for you. A thing like this opens doors for you."

"You could be going to Miami baby." Roo screamed as he jumped up. "Think about it man you'll be surrounded by hot babes and Hollywood tycoons. You could be the next Wayne Gretzki."

"I wouldn't go that far." Luis laughed as he stood up. "But first things first is getting my parent's to let me go."

"There could be a way of . . ." Roo had a mischievous smile tugging at his lips as he looked at Luis.