Mid June, 1979
Claire Marie Brooks was in her room, hiding from the costume party going on below her. Claire has just finished college and was back home staying with her parents.
She was a very social person with an enchanting aura and made an instant impression on all those who crossed her path, her parent's friends LOVED her. But she had no desire to go make nice with her parent's friends for an entire evening, she could pretend to be interested in the adult's repeated conversation on the world's current events.
Her mother hadn't been pleased, but that was nothing new. In the end, Clarie did manage to make a brief appearance in the costume her mother had provided. Transforming into Glenda the Good Witch from The Wizard of Oz, Clarie was nothing short of breathtaking. Her medium blonde hair flowed in waves, her deep blue eyes sparkled like the ocean, and her petite frame moved with effortless grace. She was the epitome of beauty and allure, inheriting her mother's striking appearance and her father's enduring charm and strength. Her father often cautioned her that these qualities would draw people to her, advising her to be discerning about whom to trust. Her mother beamed with happiness of the sight that Clarie made an appearance.
Claire managed to charm her parents' friends for a moment or two and then quickly retreated up to her room, where she would remain for the rest of the evening.
Claire heard her door open and looked up from the book she was reading, bracing herself to face a lecture from her mother. Instead, it was her father standing there.
"I got the job," Herb told her, looking at her expectantly.
Claire jumped off the bed and threw her arms around him. "That's Oh my God!"
She couldn't even find the words to express it. He got the job. Her father was going to coach the Olympic hockey team!
"So, how do feel about spending the next several months running around after a hockey team?" Herb asked casually.
Clarie grinned. "Really? What about my clinical and nursing exam ?"
Claire had just graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She still needed to complete morning clinical training and take the exam to be a full registered nurse. But recently she had been bored with school and felt like she needed a break.
"You told me you wanted to take a break from school ." Her father pointed out. "This way you'll be spending time with me on something we both love and I spoke with Charles who oversees the clinical training he said that Doc could mentor you and those hours would be credited to the training and besides this is a once in a lifetime opportunity." Her dad paused before his final point that would solidify Claire's decision.
"Besides, you know more about hockey than most of the boys who'll be on the team and you're young. That's really why I need you. I need you to help fill in the gaps, and help the boys become a team, just like you did at the U. You know me; I'm not going to be able to be their friend. That's what I need you for."
"Mom's not going to like it." Claire pointed out, making a face.
The sentiment was rather an understatement. Patti harbored strong disapproval regarding Clarie's deep-seated enthusiasm for hockey, along with various other aspects of her life that revolved around sports. Patti perceived Clarie as being more closely aligned with her father's interests rather than her own. In Patti's eyes, Clarie appeared to be a quintessential Daddy's girl, showing a remarkable affinity for her father's hobbies and pursuits, while seemingly less inclined towards the maternal influences in her life. This disconnect between Patti's preferences and Clarie's interests created tension in their relationship, as Patti struggled to relate to her daughter's fervor for the world of sports
There were additional dynamics at play between the two. Clarie held the distinct honor of being the couple's firstborn, a fact that led Patti to hold certain expectations of having an adorable daughter to dress up and proudly display, Clarie was a girls girl but with an edge, which Patti never managed to break.
Herb and Patti's journey into matrimony was prompted by the revelation of Patti's pregnancy, which occurred just before her father's brief stint in pursuit of an Olympic Gold medal.
As a result, Clarie's arrival solidified her status as Daddy's Girl. Having Clarie as to mentor only soothed Herb's soul of not playing in the Olympic games, he introduced her to every conceivable sport and game, and to his surprise she was natural at everything she did.
Throughout her entire life, Patti remained steadfast in her support of Clarie, even when their interests diverged. Patti, the one who attended every recital and school play, tended to scraped knees, and baked batches of cookies, was always there. Claire cherished her mother deeply, but an intangible barrier persisted between them, a sense of mutual misunderstanding that emanated from Patti's side.
Patti harbored a strong dislike for hockey and only tolerated it due to Herb's unwavering passion. She never concealed her disapproval of Clarie's shared enthusiasm for the sport. From a young age, Clarie found solace in simply watching from the bleachers, a preference that endured as she grew older. Hockey, skating, and books remained her twin pillars of passion.
"I'll speak to your mother about it," Herb reassured her. "She recognizes the incredible opportunity this presents for you, Clarie."
"I can't wait," Clarie said eagerly. Her father was right this was an opportunity that only came around once in a lifetime!