I woke up this morning and....I still own nothing.

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Chapter 6: Herbies

This game is not going well and my dad is not happy. I have never seen him like this. There is actual steam coming out of his ears. I think he may kill one of the guys.

Buzzzzzzzzzz

Saved by the bell. Thank god that's over. We all need to get to bed. If I know my dad, he is going to make them practice before we get on the plane tomorrow. Wait, what is he doing? He is calling all the guys out onto the ice. I am too far away to hear what he is saying. Oh no, he is making them do Herbies now. This is not going to be pretty. I move down so I am close to the ice. Wow I have only heard my dad yell like this when he is really mad at one of his kids.

"Again!"

"Again!"

"Again!"

I think my dad has lost his mind. Someone is going to get hurt. This needs to stop. I go over to Doc. He is thinking the same thing. Dad won't hear it.

"Again!"

I can tell Coach Patrick wants to stop. Thank god the lights just went out. He has to stop now.

"Again!"

What is he doing? Half the guys are throwing up and the other half are on their knees. I look over to Jack just as he looks up at me. He looks like a hurt little boy. It takes every ounce of will power in me not to run onto the ice right then, grab Jack and tell my dad off.

"Again!"

"Again!'

"Mike Eruzione...."

What is Rizzo doing?

"Who do you play for?"

"I play for....the United States of America."

There it is the right answer. I look over at my dad. His face has softened and he walks off the ice. As soon as he is out of sight I run over to Jack.

"Are you ok?"

"Does it look like I am?"

"Usually, I would get mad at that answer. I'll let it slid this time."

I smile at him and he smiles back. It's not quite his signature smile, but after tonight it will have to do.

"I'm sorry. It's not your fault. I just don't think I can get up."

"Here put your arm around my shoulder."

I pull Jack up from his knees. We skate....slowly....to the boards and head into the locker room. I get him out of his pads (leaving him in his underwear) and turn on the shower.

"Take a shower. I'm going to see if anyone else needs help and then I will wait for you outside. I think you earned a message this evening....if you are up for it."

I give him a devilish smile.

"Only if you promise me it will be a long one."

"Whatever you want. Now get into the shower."

The guys looked like the walking dead as they got onto the bus. It was one of the saddest things I have ever seen. Thankfully the hotel was only about a five minute drive from the rink. My dad was always the first one off the bus, the first one in his room and he never enforced curfews or bed checks. He always told me that the best players were the ones who would get caught. So he didn't see Jack go to my room.

"Take your shirt off and lie down on my bed."

"What no foreplay. I feel so used."

We both started to laugh.

"If you feel so used you can leave."

"That's ok I like being taken advantage of."

I start working on Jacks' back first. It feels like a wall of knots. He was going to be so sore in the morning. At first Jack is groaning as I try to work out some of the knots but after awhile he gets silent. I look down at his face and can tell he has fallen asleep. I work on his back a little longer, get into my pjs, and lye down next to him in bed. Fortunately, our flight leaves at 1 in the afternoon, so we can all get a decent night sleep. The guys are going to need every minute of it after the night of Herbies that they just had.