Okay where is it? There's the school I thought as I passed the now vacant school playground. I hate to admit it, but I'm lost.
"What are you doing still here?" I jumped out of my skin when I heard some one's voice.
Turning only to find dark man himself. Great, now I have a great set up for him to kill me. Not a witness in sight. I can only imagine the CSI they'll make based on it.
"um, ah…" I stumbled over my own words. "What are you doing here?" I finally shot back. Not the best of comebacks, but it'll do.
"Mrs. Homer, a kindergarten teacher here asked me to help her hang some stuff." A likely story.
"You?" He asked again. His brown eyes meet mine with interest.
"Well," I sighed might as well admit it. "I'm a little lost." That's great admit it to him genius. Famous last words, any minute now he'll shove a knife through my gut.
He leaned against the chain link fence looking very tall all the sudden. "Maybe I can help."
Sure you can, I thought. But somehow my big mouth started saying, "I was supposed to meet up with Goldburg and Charlie and all them at a pond on 74th."
He laughed, "75th you mean."
"Connie specifically said 74th." I said replaying our conversation for the millionth time in my head.
"Well, this may come as a shock, but Connie's not always right. And I happen to know for a fact it's 75th. Come on, I'll take ya." He started walking in his cool slow nature.
I stood there for a moment. I had two options a) run screaming home to my Mommy who in turn would never let me do anything on my own again or b) leave my life in the hands of my psycho stalker. Apparently I picked b because before reason really kicked in I was following him. He led me about three blocks back and turned right. I could see the others already on the pond from a distance.
"Thanks," I mumbled.
He shrugged, "Have fun playing hockey."
"You sure you don't want to come?" Wait, who asked that I though looking around, oh no that was me.
By miracle of some god he was shaking his head. "Can't," and with that he trudged off. I exhaled and crossed the street.
"Hey," Greg waved to me, "We were thinking you wouldn't show."
"Get back to work you little monsters." A very large man barked.
"Coach, this is Les Averman," Jesse said as I joined them out on the ice. "Is it okay if he starts playing with us?"
The stocky man pulled his cigarette away from his lips, "Like I care kid. It's not like it'll change anything."
Charlie skated over, "Great, I'll just get it set up with Hans and we'll be right back." Charlie grabbed my arm and dragged me quickly.
"Hey Conway get back over here."
"Charming man," I said looking over my shoulder.
"Yeah," he said laughing. The walk up the hill was steep and left my ears cold. I hate the cold. It always makes me look like Rudolf the red-eared idiot. Finally we came across a rustic looking building.
"Hey Hans," Charlie called pushing open the door. A bell rang that hung from the ceiling. The warmth of the store engulfed me immediately.
"Hello Charlie," an elderly man came out from the back somewhere. He came into sight nodding to both of us. "Now what can I do for you?" Hi accent was thick making every word he said sound uber-important. I should add get a mysterious accent to my 'things to do before I'm killed by a stalker' list.
"Hans, meet David Averman aka Les." He smiled at me a big warm friendly smile.
"You must be the new player Charlie was telling me about."
"What player?" I asked looking at him, "I said I'd let you teach me how to skate."
"It's only if you want," Charlie said blushing a little.
"Either way it is very nice to meet you Averman aka Les."
"Nice to meet you too." I said relaxing a little. Hans quickly and efficiently fitted me in skates and a helmet. Talking the whole time.
"Your family just moved here, huh?" He asked strapping some padding to my knee.
"Yeah, Sir got transferred here. He's in the army." I explained.
"Moving around so much must be hard." He said looking up at me.
"I guess." I shrugged. "But this time where staying. He got transferred here for good."
"Really?" Charlie asked. I nodded.
"You don't sound to excited." Hans said thoughtfully leaning back. I shrugged again feeling very shy all the sudden. "Ahh, it takes time to get use to it here. I know when I came here it took a long time to get to love it. But don't worry, this boy." He said pointing over to Charlie, "He's been a good friend to me and now he is for you. I have a feeling you'll fit right in." I nodded believing him for some odd reason. "All right, all done." He said. "Have fun boys. And Les, I hope to see you again very soon." He winked at both of us. I thanked him once more before walking out.
"He's nice." I said the bell overhead chiming again. "In a creepy Santa sort of way."
"He can have that effect on people," Charlie laughed, "But yeah, he's been great to us." He added. We came down the hill enough that I could clearly see the rink below us. I paused for a moment watching the 'hockey' game that was happening down on the ice. Either they were really bad or hockey involved much more laying and tripping on the ice then I ever though.
Charlie laughed after a long moment. "We really suck, huh?"
"Oh no," I said immediately, "Your just playing the European version, right?" He shook his head confused. "You know where they confuse their opponents by laying there?" I explained trying to keep from laughing.
"Oh yeah, that's it, I knew I was forgetting something… The European version." He said trying to fight back his own laughter. "Guy Connie and Jesse are all pretty good, and I guess I'm alright. We just need to practice more." He said defending his team.
I shrugged," Lead the way Captain." I saluted him. At this he pushed me. We trudged down to meet the others. The skates felt awkward on my feet. Half way down butterflies started pounding around in my stomach, please God. Or anything else that controls the cosmic universe let something happen so I don't make a complete fool of myself.
"Look who's back?" The man barks as we walk up. "Get on the ice you little Bastards." He bellowed.
I placed one foot out on the ice my eyes tightly shut. I was shocked to find a whole sixty seconds later I was still standing. I tentatively put my other skate down on the ice. All right step one accomplished. I attempted to lift one of my feet to find that it was very heavy.
Charlie skated over to me. "How's it going?" He asked.
"Fine as long as I can play hockey with out ever moving from this spot." I said in a cool casual tone.
He snorted at me. "Real funny." He took one of my arms. "You don't really lift your feet, you kinda glide. Like that." He said pointing over to Connie as she effortlessly moved across the ice. I watched for another second before taking off.
Instead of looking gracefully with all my motions effortless I looked more like a new born giraffe. Eight second into my wobbling my legs came out from under me leaving me on the ice staring up at Charlie.
"Like that?" Was the first thing that came out of my mouth. He laughed extending an arm.
"Not quiet, but almost." He said slowly. We both new that 'almost' was a very kind adjective.
"Oh Charles, you flatter me so." I said with a mock southern accent. He gave me a weird glance and an awkward silence followed. Right. I always seem to forget there are reasons I'm anti-social. No one ever gets it.
Then I heard giggling from behind us. Followed by a crack of laughter. Soon every one was laughing. Charlie mouth breaks into a smile. "Funny Les, real funny." He said pushing me.
Physics question, take the force of Charlie push and put one uncoordinated geeks on skates and what do you get? The answer: me lying flat on my back yet again. Apparently the hilarity of the moment was lost on me.
It took a few minutes before everyone regained composure. The problem with that being the moment they all got over it, the humor caught up with me. Which made me laugh, which in turn made every else laugh again.
I was just about having fun when a whistle was blown. "What the hell do kinds think your doing, hm?" He said lighting another cigar. "You think this is funny, hm. You just want to have fun? Fun is for pansy's you understand." He shook his head. "You little bastards need to learn how to you play. You suck, you stink, you little good for nothing bastards." The man suddenly gripped his arm and hit the ice.
With that came the conclusion of my first ever hockey practice. Can't I do anything normal?
AN: In re-doing everything I didn't bother to leave my comments to reviews so I wanted to let each and every one of you know you ROCK!
Oh and Katie, are you happy now??