Okay, I don't know anything about hockey such as when you make it into the
NHL, but just PRETEND I do, okies? ^_^ It's what I do. And anything I got
about the Anaheim Mighty Ducks I got from the Anaheim Mighty Ducks site and
I know nothing about how it actually works. I'm just using whatever ever
information I can get and changing it to my liking...so again, I'm sorry if
it bothers anyone. ^_^
I hate to change the plot on you guys like this, but the first two were kinda of like intros to the actual story. Once I finish this (and all my others) I'll go back and take care of everything I skipped in detail. I just knew if I wrote it all out now, I'd never get to the story I had originally intended...so yeah. I hope you enjoy the story nonetheless! ^_^
Eh, I have to come up with a British accent by Saturday...we're doing Madrigal Dinner and we're supposed to all pretend we're from England (A pretty big stretch for a buncha hicks from Texas ^_^) and be all Renaissance-like and stuff. We're all like "Yeah...this isn't working" and our teacher's like "Shush! We shall all speak in a British dialect while in this room. Once you walk through that door, there will be no more 'ya'll's, or the vowel sounds 'uh' or short 'a'." and yeah. I'm actually getting pretty good at it! ^_^ Ehehe. It's actually kinda fun once ya get used to it. ^_^ Soph, do people in England really talk like they do in 'Harry Potter' or in 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail'? Cuz that is so cool...lol...do you talk like that? ^_^ Heehee...
Adriana- *pats Adriana's head* It's okay, I still love you even if you weren't the VERY first...you BARELY missed it. I just talk to Liz on AIM and I had updated so I sent her the URL. ^_^ Yes, stupid VCR...bad VCR, not taping her show! Have, um...fun with your science test! ^_^
Banksiesbabe99- Thanks! I'm glad you liked the crossing of Dawson's Creek. ^_^ Lol, yes. Julie loves Charlie. Had we any doubt? ^_^ Heh, thanks for reviewing!
Nebula3- Lol, yeah. They are a wee bit dense. It takes them three days to notice Charlie isn't staying at SOMEONE ELSE'S house. ^_^ Lol, yes. Julie loves Chalrie. Dun dun dun. Wow, I got you to feel sorry for her and you don't even LIKE her? Wow...yeah, I'm not a huge fan of Ken or Portman either. ^_^ I dunno why, they just never really won my affection. ^_^ I'm glad you're likin' Jen and Grams. ^_^ Aw, thanks so much! It really means a lot to me to know that you think I got their characters down. Yes, Jen our little trouble-maker...
Faith-Elizabeth- Wow, thanks. ^_^ Ummm...he ended up in Ontario because I'm from Texas and I don't know any better! *breaks down sobbing* Lol. Not to mention I don't even know where Manitoba IS...lol...I'm totally making everything about the train distance and places it goes up...well...as I go. ^_^ Sorry I didn't get my facts straight. Lol. ^_^ Oh...you don't? How cool is that! ^_^ Yeah, I only know what the Mighty Ducks trilogy tells me about hockey and everything to do with it. ^_^ I'm now whiz-kid-hockey-prodigy. ^_^ By the way...not to sound incredibly stupid, but what is a WHL team? Heh, I probably did anyway...^_^ I can't help it...Anyway! Thanks for reviewing and informing me of this! ^_^
Soph- Yeah, my parents have major spaz-attacks when I'm on for extended amounts of time too...It's very sad. Aw, how sweet! Thank you for not letting me think I had been brutally abandoned! ^_^ It's very sweet of you. ^_^ I love you Sophie! Heeheehee...Yes, I must add in all my loves into one pretty little story. Lol. I could hardly contain myself. ^_^
Disclaimer- I don't own the Mighty Ducks, Jen, or Grams.
-Chapter 3-
---Nine Years Later---
A twenty-three year old Charlie Conway was standing in the locker room amongst those he idolized as a child.
After going to a public school for four years, Charlie was scouted at a game when his coach suggested he might be able to hack it. He tried out for a junior hockey league team the day he turned seventeen and made it in without any trouble. He had been pretty angry when he found out he could have tried out sooner. Jen and some of her friends had to lock him in his room to keep him from breaking anything valuable.
However, it hadn't taken long to climb up the ladder to finally be where he was now.
The newest member of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
He, Jen, and Grams had moved from Toronto to California so Jen could go to college to become a movie producer. Charlie originally wasn't going to go because they were no longer his legal guardians, but he couldn't help but tag along. He was soon glad he did when it presented a chance to become one of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
Charlie had just finished his very first game as an NHL player and his adrenaline was still pumping. He was grinning madly and could hardly keep still. He had managed to hone his skills over the years once he recovered from his phobia of new coaches. He had been rightfully humbled on several occasions when he was playing in Juniors.
"Great job, Conway!" Andy McDonald declared, pulling the younger man into a quick macho-hug.
Several of the other players congratulated him on his first game. They had won 4-0 and Charlie was just glad he had managed to play. He had been extremely nervous before the game and was terrified of screwing it up.
Charlie was still beaming as their coach, Mike Babock, came in and congratulated them.
"You all played well tonight, and I'm proud of you. But we have another game to prepare for. We're leaving for Minnesota tomorrow, so put on your traveling shoes. Again, great game out there. Nice first game, Conway." Babock said, patting Charlie on the shoulder before leaving the locker room.
But Charlie hadn't heard a word the man said. Only one word was echoing in his head.
Minnesota.
~~~*~~~
Charlie had gone to bed early instead of following the rest of the team to the bar to celebrate. He could have if he had wanted to, but he was in no mood to celebrate. The emotional high he had been on from the game had simmered down the second he found out where their next game was.
He wasn't sure why, but he was afraid to go.
No, he DID know why. That's what bothered him...
He shook his head. C'mon, what were the chances he would see any of them? Who said they even still lived there? Minnesota was a big place anyway. Charlie decided he was just being paranoid.
He settled down for sleep and let out a sigh. He couldn't help but wonder how they were doing...
~~~*~~~
"DAD!" the voice of a young boy rang through the house as he bolted down the stairs. He nearly tripped on the last step, but caught himself just in time. He saw his dad sitting at the kitchen table, sipping coffee. The boy's face brightened. "DAD!" he called again.
Gordon Bombay looked up from the newspaper to see his son bounding towards him.
"Yes?" the man asked.
"The Ducks are gonna be playing here at the end of the week! Can we PLEASE go! PLEASE!" the nine-year-old boy begged, getting on his knees and pleading.
Gordon let out a sigh. "I don't know if we can..." he began.
The boy's face dropped. "But...but dad! I gotta go! We haven't gone to ANY games in FOREVER! The WILDS are playing the DUCKS! Come ON! I HAVE to see it!" the boy protested.
"I don't think we can, Jeremy. We simply just can't. You can watch it on TV if you'd like." Gordon replied firmly, taking a sip of coffee.
Jeremy let out an aggravated sigh. "But DAD that is NOT the SAME!" the boy said, his voice angry.
"I know, but maybe I can take you some other time. This isn't the LAST time they are ever going to play." Gordon reasoned. "Now are you ready for school?" he asked, turning to his son.
Jeremy just pursed his lips and stormed up the stairs, slamming his bedroom door behind him angrily.
Suddenly Casey appeared in the kitchen doorway. "He seems upset." She said quietly.
"That's because he is..." Gordon said, placing his face in his hands. "I feel bad, but I don't think I will be able to take him. He just wants to go so badly that I'm not sure what to do." Gordon confessed.
Casey nodded and walked over to him. She then began gently massaging his shoulders.
"I'll support whatever decision you come up with. However, I think maybe it will be good for him, for the both of you, to go to the game. You've been so busy that it'll be good for you to take a break." She reasoned, kissing him on the cheek.
Gordon nodded. "Yeah, I guess you're right...but what about the kids' hockey practice?" Gordon asked, referring to his son and his son's hockey team. Gordon was coaching part-time for the District Five Mighty Ducks alongside his job as an attorney.
"You make a lot of money, bring them all." She said with a smile.
Gordon laughed. "Yeah, that would be interesting. I don't think I could keep up with 13 nine and ten year olds. I'm getting old, Casey." He said jokingly.
She laughed with him. "Just think about it, okay?" she said looking into his eyes.
Gordon could sense the hidden meaning behind Casey's suggestion and his heart wrenched. It had been nine years and they had yet to find out anything about Charlie and his whereabouts. They had searched EVERYWHERE, and yet he was nowhere to be found. Casey still kept her oldest son's picture on her nightstand.
They had kept all of Charlie's stuff, unable to let it go. When they had moved into their new two-story house, Gordon had set it up in another room next to Jeremy's. When Jeremy was old enough to understand enough to ask who the boy in the picture was, they explained that it was his big brother. Casey and Gordon had figured they would never see Charlie again, but they refused to forget him. They had finally given in to the fact he was probably dead, as much as it pained them.
"I will." Gordon said, giving her a kiss and standing up to get his briefcase. "I will..."
~~~*~~~
It was that Friday and Jeremy had been walking around with a cloud over his head. He was SO angry with his dad! How could he not see how IMPORTANT this was to him?!
Jeremy sat down roughly in his desk, simmering with anger.
Another boy sat down next to him. "Hey Jer, what's wrong?" the boy, Luke McNamara, asked his friend.
"My dad won't let me go to the game tonight." Jeremy said sourly.
"Aw, that bites. I wish we could go. That would be SO awesome...I heard the Ducks got a new player." Luke said.
"Yeah, I saw him play last night on TV. He's really good." Another boy said from behind Jeremy.
They turned to see the African American boy plop down beside them. "Did you guys get to see him?" the boy asked.
"Nope." Luke admitted.
Jeremy nodded. "I did! He was really good! He's my new hero!" Jeremy gushed.
"He wasn't THAT good." Another kid said skeptically.
Jeremy turned and hit him with his half-empty backpack. "Yes he was! Did you SEE that last goal?!" Jeremy exclaimed disbelievingly.
"What? What happened? I didn't get to see!" Luke complained as the teacher began talking.
Jeremy turned his attention back to his friend. "It was AWESOME! He was surrounded by all these guys and he stole the puck, went out on a breakaway, and triple deked it! It was so cool! I wanna learn how to do that!" the boy whispered giddily as he stood up, animatedly explaining the game to his friend.
"Jeremy Bombay! Would you please mind sitting back in your seat? We are trying to have a class here." The teacher said, glaring at the boy.
Jeremy's face turned red as he abruptly sat back down. He could hear giggles and snickers around him, but he and Luke just grinned at each other.
After a few minutes, the boys decided the coast was clear. Luke scribbled something down on a piece of paper and handed it across the aisle to Jeremy.
The light-haired boy accepted the gift. He read it to himself:
'What is the new player's name and what's his number? He sounds really good.'
Jeremy grinned and scribbled back a reply. He handed it back to Luke and Luke read the reply:
Charlie Conway, #96.
~~~*~~~
Charlie let out a sigh as he watched the scenery pass. He had been staring out the window the entire time. They were riding on a bus, and Charlie hoped it ended soon. They had been in Montana for the last game so it was in a reasonable driving range. It saved them money for plane tickets.
"What's wrong, Conway?" Andy asked.
Charlie shrugged and leaned back in his seat.
Andy raised his eyebrows skeptically.
"I guess I just...never mind." Charlie started, before changing his mind.
Andy nodded and turned forward again. He wouldn't force anything out of the younger man. If Conway wanted to tell him, he would. If he didn't, he wouldn't. Simple as that.
~~~*~~~
Jeremy came home, back in a sour mood. He had told Luke all about his new hero and how badly he wanted to go. He would give ANYTHING to go to that game...
He stormed into his room and grabbed his hockey bag and stick. His dad was driving him to practice soon, but that didn't mean he had to like it.
He sat on his bed and let out a sigh. Life was SO unfair.
He heard a knock on the door and a muffled voice. "Jeremy?" the voice called.
Jeremy got his stuff together again and opened the door just as his father was about to knock again. "I'm ready." He said, not bothering to hide the hostility in his voice.
Gordon Bombay winced slightly, but nodded and led his son to the door. The child trudged along behind his dad as the man started the car.
Jeremy got in the car and put on his seatbelt. They drove for a few minutes before arriving at 'The Pond.'
Jeremy unbuckled his seat belt and got out of the car the second the engine cut. He put on his skates and walked angrily onto the ice where he was met with his friends and...their parents?
He didn't bother to conceal his confusion as he turned to see his father. Gordon just smiled and walked past his son. The nine-year-old boy was now BEYOND confused. He numbly walked behind his father to see what was going on.
"Everyone here?" Gordon asked.
They all nodded. Gordon then turned to his players' parents. "Thanks you for bringing them here and allowing me to do this. I promise you don't have to pay a cent." He assured them. They nodded and smiled gratefully.
By now, the children were all confused. None of them knew what was going on.
Gordon turned to the street where several cars drove up. Out of them stepped several people in their twenties. The people then walked over to the group.
"We ready, Coach?" one asked.
Gordon grinned. "Yep, we're ready."
Jeremy furrowed his eyebrows. "Ready for what, dad?"
"Going to the game. Now come on kids, if we don't hurry we're gonna miss it!" Gordon said before blowing his whistle, a shrill sound filling the air.
Jeremy's face brightened instantly and he grinned so big he thought his head would split. "We're really going?" he exclaimed happily.
Coach Bombay smiled. "Yes, we're really going."
I hate to change the plot on you guys like this, but the first two were kinda of like intros to the actual story. Once I finish this (and all my others) I'll go back and take care of everything I skipped in detail. I just knew if I wrote it all out now, I'd never get to the story I had originally intended...so yeah. I hope you enjoy the story nonetheless! ^_^
Eh, I have to come up with a British accent by Saturday...we're doing Madrigal Dinner and we're supposed to all pretend we're from England (A pretty big stretch for a buncha hicks from Texas ^_^) and be all Renaissance-like and stuff. We're all like "Yeah...this isn't working" and our teacher's like "Shush! We shall all speak in a British dialect while in this room. Once you walk through that door, there will be no more 'ya'll's, or the vowel sounds 'uh' or short 'a'." and yeah. I'm actually getting pretty good at it! ^_^ Ehehe. It's actually kinda fun once ya get used to it. ^_^ Soph, do people in England really talk like they do in 'Harry Potter' or in 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail'? Cuz that is so cool...lol...do you talk like that? ^_^ Heehee...
Adriana- *pats Adriana's head* It's okay, I still love you even if you weren't the VERY first...you BARELY missed it. I just talk to Liz on AIM and I had updated so I sent her the URL. ^_^ Yes, stupid VCR...bad VCR, not taping her show! Have, um...fun with your science test! ^_^
Banksiesbabe99- Thanks! I'm glad you liked the crossing of Dawson's Creek. ^_^ Lol, yes. Julie loves Charlie. Had we any doubt? ^_^ Heh, thanks for reviewing!
Nebula3- Lol, yeah. They are a wee bit dense. It takes them three days to notice Charlie isn't staying at SOMEONE ELSE'S house. ^_^ Lol, yes. Julie loves Chalrie. Dun dun dun. Wow, I got you to feel sorry for her and you don't even LIKE her? Wow...yeah, I'm not a huge fan of Ken or Portman either. ^_^ I dunno why, they just never really won my affection. ^_^ I'm glad you're likin' Jen and Grams. ^_^ Aw, thanks so much! It really means a lot to me to know that you think I got their characters down. Yes, Jen our little trouble-maker...
Faith-Elizabeth- Wow, thanks. ^_^ Ummm...he ended up in Ontario because I'm from Texas and I don't know any better! *breaks down sobbing* Lol. Not to mention I don't even know where Manitoba IS...lol...I'm totally making everything about the train distance and places it goes up...well...as I go. ^_^ Sorry I didn't get my facts straight. Lol. ^_^ Oh...you don't? How cool is that! ^_^ Yeah, I only know what the Mighty Ducks trilogy tells me about hockey and everything to do with it. ^_^ I'm now whiz-kid-hockey-prodigy. ^_^ By the way...not to sound incredibly stupid, but what is a WHL team? Heh, I probably did anyway...^_^ I can't help it...Anyway! Thanks for reviewing and informing me of this! ^_^
Soph- Yeah, my parents have major spaz-attacks when I'm on for extended amounts of time too...It's very sad. Aw, how sweet! Thank you for not letting me think I had been brutally abandoned! ^_^ It's very sweet of you. ^_^ I love you Sophie! Heeheehee...Yes, I must add in all my loves into one pretty little story. Lol. I could hardly contain myself. ^_^
Disclaimer- I don't own the Mighty Ducks, Jen, or Grams.
-Chapter 3-
---Nine Years Later---
A twenty-three year old Charlie Conway was standing in the locker room amongst those he idolized as a child.
After going to a public school for four years, Charlie was scouted at a game when his coach suggested he might be able to hack it. He tried out for a junior hockey league team the day he turned seventeen and made it in without any trouble. He had been pretty angry when he found out he could have tried out sooner. Jen and some of her friends had to lock him in his room to keep him from breaking anything valuable.
However, it hadn't taken long to climb up the ladder to finally be where he was now.
The newest member of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
He, Jen, and Grams had moved from Toronto to California so Jen could go to college to become a movie producer. Charlie originally wasn't going to go because they were no longer his legal guardians, but he couldn't help but tag along. He was soon glad he did when it presented a chance to become one of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
Charlie had just finished his very first game as an NHL player and his adrenaline was still pumping. He was grinning madly and could hardly keep still. He had managed to hone his skills over the years once he recovered from his phobia of new coaches. He had been rightfully humbled on several occasions when he was playing in Juniors.
"Great job, Conway!" Andy McDonald declared, pulling the younger man into a quick macho-hug.
Several of the other players congratulated him on his first game. They had won 4-0 and Charlie was just glad he had managed to play. He had been extremely nervous before the game and was terrified of screwing it up.
Charlie was still beaming as their coach, Mike Babock, came in and congratulated them.
"You all played well tonight, and I'm proud of you. But we have another game to prepare for. We're leaving for Minnesota tomorrow, so put on your traveling shoes. Again, great game out there. Nice first game, Conway." Babock said, patting Charlie on the shoulder before leaving the locker room.
But Charlie hadn't heard a word the man said. Only one word was echoing in his head.
Minnesota.
~~~*~~~
Charlie had gone to bed early instead of following the rest of the team to the bar to celebrate. He could have if he had wanted to, but he was in no mood to celebrate. The emotional high he had been on from the game had simmered down the second he found out where their next game was.
He wasn't sure why, but he was afraid to go.
No, he DID know why. That's what bothered him...
He shook his head. C'mon, what were the chances he would see any of them? Who said they even still lived there? Minnesota was a big place anyway. Charlie decided he was just being paranoid.
He settled down for sleep and let out a sigh. He couldn't help but wonder how they were doing...
~~~*~~~
"DAD!" the voice of a young boy rang through the house as he bolted down the stairs. He nearly tripped on the last step, but caught himself just in time. He saw his dad sitting at the kitchen table, sipping coffee. The boy's face brightened. "DAD!" he called again.
Gordon Bombay looked up from the newspaper to see his son bounding towards him.
"Yes?" the man asked.
"The Ducks are gonna be playing here at the end of the week! Can we PLEASE go! PLEASE!" the nine-year-old boy begged, getting on his knees and pleading.
Gordon let out a sigh. "I don't know if we can..." he began.
The boy's face dropped. "But...but dad! I gotta go! We haven't gone to ANY games in FOREVER! The WILDS are playing the DUCKS! Come ON! I HAVE to see it!" the boy protested.
"I don't think we can, Jeremy. We simply just can't. You can watch it on TV if you'd like." Gordon replied firmly, taking a sip of coffee.
Jeremy let out an aggravated sigh. "But DAD that is NOT the SAME!" the boy said, his voice angry.
"I know, but maybe I can take you some other time. This isn't the LAST time they are ever going to play." Gordon reasoned. "Now are you ready for school?" he asked, turning to his son.
Jeremy just pursed his lips and stormed up the stairs, slamming his bedroom door behind him angrily.
Suddenly Casey appeared in the kitchen doorway. "He seems upset." She said quietly.
"That's because he is..." Gordon said, placing his face in his hands. "I feel bad, but I don't think I will be able to take him. He just wants to go so badly that I'm not sure what to do." Gordon confessed.
Casey nodded and walked over to him. She then began gently massaging his shoulders.
"I'll support whatever decision you come up with. However, I think maybe it will be good for him, for the both of you, to go to the game. You've been so busy that it'll be good for you to take a break." She reasoned, kissing him on the cheek.
Gordon nodded. "Yeah, I guess you're right...but what about the kids' hockey practice?" Gordon asked, referring to his son and his son's hockey team. Gordon was coaching part-time for the District Five Mighty Ducks alongside his job as an attorney.
"You make a lot of money, bring them all." She said with a smile.
Gordon laughed. "Yeah, that would be interesting. I don't think I could keep up with 13 nine and ten year olds. I'm getting old, Casey." He said jokingly.
She laughed with him. "Just think about it, okay?" she said looking into his eyes.
Gordon could sense the hidden meaning behind Casey's suggestion and his heart wrenched. It had been nine years and they had yet to find out anything about Charlie and his whereabouts. They had searched EVERYWHERE, and yet he was nowhere to be found. Casey still kept her oldest son's picture on her nightstand.
They had kept all of Charlie's stuff, unable to let it go. When they had moved into their new two-story house, Gordon had set it up in another room next to Jeremy's. When Jeremy was old enough to understand enough to ask who the boy in the picture was, they explained that it was his big brother. Casey and Gordon had figured they would never see Charlie again, but they refused to forget him. They had finally given in to the fact he was probably dead, as much as it pained them.
"I will." Gordon said, giving her a kiss and standing up to get his briefcase. "I will..."
~~~*~~~
It was that Friday and Jeremy had been walking around with a cloud over his head. He was SO angry with his dad! How could he not see how IMPORTANT this was to him?!
Jeremy sat down roughly in his desk, simmering with anger.
Another boy sat down next to him. "Hey Jer, what's wrong?" the boy, Luke McNamara, asked his friend.
"My dad won't let me go to the game tonight." Jeremy said sourly.
"Aw, that bites. I wish we could go. That would be SO awesome...I heard the Ducks got a new player." Luke said.
"Yeah, I saw him play last night on TV. He's really good." Another boy said from behind Jeremy.
They turned to see the African American boy plop down beside them. "Did you guys get to see him?" the boy asked.
"Nope." Luke admitted.
Jeremy nodded. "I did! He was really good! He's my new hero!" Jeremy gushed.
"He wasn't THAT good." Another kid said skeptically.
Jeremy turned and hit him with his half-empty backpack. "Yes he was! Did you SEE that last goal?!" Jeremy exclaimed disbelievingly.
"What? What happened? I didn't get to see!" Luke complained as the teacher began talking.
Jeremy turned his attention back to his friend. "It was AWESOME! He was surrounded by all these guys and he stole the puck, went out on a breakaway, and triple deked it! It was so cool! I wanna learn how to do that!" the boy whispered giddily as he stood up, animatedly explaining the game to his friend.
"Jeremy Bombay! Would you please mind sitting back in your seat? We are trying to have a class here." The teacher said, glaring at the boy.
Jeremy's face turned red as he abruptly sat back down. He could hear giggles and snickers around him, but he and Luke just grinned at each other.
After a few minutes, the boys decided the coast was clear. Luke scribbled something down on a piece of paper and handed it across the aisle to Jeremy.
The light-haired boy accepted the gift. He read it to himself:
'What is the new player's name and what's his number? He sounds really good.'
Jeremy grinned and scribbled back a reply. He handed it back to Luke and Luke read the reply:
Charlie Conway, #96.
~~~*~~~
Charlie let out a sigh as he watched the scenery pass. He had been staring out the window the entire time. They were riding on a bus, and Charlie hoped it ended soon. They had been in Montana for the last game so it was in a reasonable driving range. It saved them money for plane tickets.
"What's wrong, Conway?" Andy asked.
Charlie shrugged and leaned back in his seat.
Andy raised his eyebrows skeptically.
"I guess I just...never mind." Charlie started, before changing his mind.
Andy nodded and turned forward again. He wouldn't force anything out of the younger man. If Conway wanted to tell him, he would. If he didn't, he wouldn't. Simple as that.
~~~*~~~
Jeremy came home, back in a sour mood. He had told Luke all about his new hero and how badly he wanted to go. He would give ANYTHING to go to that game...
He stormed into his room and grabbed his hockey bag and stick. His dad was driving him to practice soon, but that didn't mean he had to like it.
He sat on his bed and let out a sigh. Life was SO unfair.
He heard a knock on the door and a muffled voice. "Jeremy?" the voice called.
Jeremy got his stuff together again and opened the door just as his father was about to knock again. "I'm ready." He said, not bothering to hide the hostility in his voice.
Gordon Bombay winced slightly, but nodded and led his son to the door. The child trudged along behind his dad as the man started the car.
Jeremy got in the car and put on his seatbelt. They drove for a few minutes before arriving at 'The Pond.'
Jeremy unbuckled his seat belt and got out of the car the second the engine cut. He put on his skates and walked angrily onto the ice where he was met with his friends and...their parents?
He didn't bother to conceal his confusion as he turned to see his father. Gordon just smiled and walked past his son. The nine-year-old boy was now BEYOND confused. He numbly walked behind his father to see what was going on.
"Everyone here?" Gordon asked.
They all nodded. Gordon then turned to his players' parents. "Thanks you for bringing them here and allowing me to do this. I promise you don't have to pay a cent." He assured them. They nodded and smiled gratefully.
By now, the children were all confused. None of them knew what was going on.
Gordon turned to the street where several cars drove up. Out of them stepped several people in their twenties. The people then walked over to the group.
"We ready, Coach?" one asked.
Gordon grinned. "Yep, we're ready."
Jeremy furrowed his eyebrows. "Ready for what, dad?"
"Going to the game. Now come on kids, if we don't hurry we're gonna miss it!" Gordon said before blowing his whistle, a shrill sound filling the air.
Jeremy's face brightened instantly and he grinned so big he thought his head would split. "We're really going?" he exclaimed happily.
Coach Bombay smiled. "Yes, we're really going."