Twelve

"I don't know what I'm supposed to do?" I heard Herb in his office; he seemed to be having a spaz-attack, so I entered with extreme caution hoping I could be of some help.

"What's wrong?" I asked, looking from Craig to Herb for an answer.

"What's wrong?" Herb repeated. "What's wrong is that I have to get a hockey team to Norway by tomorrow afternoon."

"It's okay," I assured him.

"It's not okay," Herb insisted. "We have no plane tickets, no hotel reservations."

"Herb!" I started.

"What am I supposed to do?" He babbled.

"Herb!" I yelled.

"I'm in way over my head," he continued.

"HERB!" I yelled, grabbing his face. "Breathe Herb! Breathe!" He calmed down just enough for me to get my point across. "I've already gotten our plane tickets, and made reservations for transportation and lodging."

"You did?" He questioned. "When did you do that?"

"Weeks ago, when you came into my broom closet and said," I tried my best to impersonate a deep-throated hockey player. "'Faye, I'm gonna need you to arrange the trip to Norway.'"

"I said that?" He asked in disbelief. I nodded. "Thank you Faye," He started up. I yelled in surprise as he lifted me off my feet and spun me around, kissing my forehead, before he set me back down. "Thank you, thank you, thank you. I owe you a very big bonus." I gave him an odd look.

"Not to protest the bonus or anything," I started cautiously. "But I was just doing my job."

"You mean that's why I hired you?" He asked as though it was just occurring to him. "I'm so glad I did." I shook my head at him.

I dragged my suitcase down the stairs early the next morning.

"Bye mom, I'm going to Norway," I called.

"Psch, Norway," I heard my mother scoff from her position on the couch as I headed out the door.

"Alright Faye," Patty bid me goodbye at the terminal gate as Herb worked on getting the boys on the plan . "Don't you run off with any hott Norwegian hockey players on me...Can't loose Kelly and Danny's favorite babysitter, can we?"

"Don't worry I won't," I promised. If she only knew...

"And don't let those boys get in too much trouble, alright?" She continued and gave my forehead a little kiss.

"I can't make any promises," I warned. "Because there's twenty of them and one of me."

"I'm more worried about Herb," she joked. I laughed.

"I'll do my best," I promised. "I'd better get going, but I'll see you in a couple days."

"Alright," she agreed as I gathered my things to board the plane. "Good luck! Have fun. Be safe!"

I took my seat on the small charter plane and leaned back with a sigh, ready for a nice long nap. A moment later Jimmy plopped down beside me.

"Morning Sunshine," he teased in an unusually chipper tone for five in the morning. I growled in the back of my throat. "What's wrong?" He asked. I shook my head with a sigh.

"Nothing," I returned curtly, staring out the window.

"Really what's wrong?" He asked sensitively. I sighed.

"It's just," I was trying to figure out how to say this without making him out to be a bad guy. "I've been talking to Jannie, and he's a little...antsy. He just wants to play, and I think he should get the chance."

"Does this mean you're mad at me?" He asked, a little irritable.

"No, not at all," I said. "I just wish he got a chance..."

"And that I wasn't such a net hog," he continued.

"No!" I protested. "I know it's not your fault. I just think Herb should play him once and a while. He at least deserves a shot. Don't you think?" Jimmy rolled his eyes and settled back in his seat. This was going to be a loooonnngg... ride.