Chapter 25—Are Those Scouts?
February 5th, 2000
Charlie's POV
Tonight, we were facing Princeton on our ice. Bella was out for the last game, and it looks like she will be out until districts. Coach's Bombay, Orion and Dean Buckley were pissed that she missed school and that Connie and Julie covered up for her. Julie and Connie were given a 2-game suspension each. All three of the girls had to serve a week in school suspension during lunch. Needless to say, I was lonely without my Angel. Thanks to Adam's goal at the last-minute last night gave us the win, right now we are 11-8-1. Right now, we had twenty-three points to get into districts and we needed a solid thirty points, we would have to win the next four games. Gunnar was finally bumped up to the first line last night.
I talked to Fred about the money that the Banks had given me. He said that he would have to speak to his financial advisor about the money. The advisor finally got back to us yesterday and said that if we claimed it in earnings that I would have to report that to the federal government and my chances of getting aid was slim and nil. With slim out of town, whatever that meant. The only option was to cash the check and hide the money in a safe. We cashed the check and hid it in a safe deposit box at Fred's bank. I got to hold onto the key since it was my money. Fred had no choice but to tell mom because they don't keep secrets from each other. Mom wanted me to return the check immediately. I most definitely didn't need Phillip Banks money to find my birth father, since he doesn't want to be found at all. I told mom that I had to try to find him, and the money would run out in a year or so. It was then that mom gave the ok to cash the check.
"Alright ducks, listen up, these Princeton Tigers are a little peskier than last year's bunch. Also, they are hungry and would love to win this game tonight. I don't need to remind you that we need to win the next four games to get into the districts. Think defense, remember the two plays that we put together this last week, just like we did last night, Captain," Coach Orion said.
"We are back on a winning streak, so let's string the next four victories together so we can get into districts. Bash brothers Defense, Guy you're on the right, I am in the center, Gunnar you're on the left, Aaron's in goal. Let's get Aaron's first win and show the girls that we can win without them! Alright let's go get those Tigers," Adam said.
We all stood up and exited the locker room, Quacking the whole way to the ice.
Bella stood up and waved at me when I hit the ice and I waved back, she then sat down to Julie and Connie on her left. On her right was Seraphina and Phillip was on Seraphina's right. Next to him where 5 guys in business suits all with notepads out jotting down notes. All had what looked like a patch on the sports coat, although I could not tell which teams.
"Adam are those scouts?" I asked once we got to the bench.
"Where?" Adam asked.
"Scouts?" Guy asked.
"Sitting next to you dad, I mean Phillip," I said.
Adam looked up into the stands and saw his birth father up in the stands and said, "Yes those are scouts. Probably NHL scouts."
"Where?" Gunnar said.
"What the hell are they doing here?" Portman said.
"Do you think that they are here to see Charlie?" Fulton asked.
"No, no, no its got to be Adam," Averman said.
"Yeah I agree it's got to be about Adam," Goldberg said.
"Me, in the NHL?" Adam said.
"Why not, you deserve it, Captain," I said.
"Cool," Adam said.
"Hey ducks get those scouts out of your mind and focus on the game," Coach Orion said.
Adam's POV
We won 3-2. It felt good to win that game. The goals came from Guy, Charlie and I. Guy and I gave each other an assist. After the game we were down in the locker room celebrating the win. When there was a knock at the door.
"Excuse me Coach Orion?" said the scout at the door.
"Yeah?" Coach Orion said.
"We were wondering if we could talk to a few of your boys?" the scout said as he handed Orion a piece of paper.
Coach Orion looked over the paper and then said, "Banks, Conway and Germaine, there are some people that want to talk to you."
Charlie, Guy, and I looked at each other, before we went outside of the locker room still dressed in our Jersey's and pads. Just having removed our skates. Once we appeared outside of the locker room.
"Ah, there are the boys we want to speak to, Gentleman," the scout that was at the locker room door before said.
"Can we help you?" Charlie said.
"Let us introduce ourselves, I'm Shawn White with the NHL Central Scouting division. These are my colleagues, Ken Morrow with the New York Islanders, John Markin with the Minnesota Wild, Thomas Johnson with the Colorado Avalanche and Robert Tompkins with the St. Louis Blues," Shawn said. Ken was the tallest one and the quietest out of the bunch. The rest were all average heights.
"What is this about?" Guy asked.
"Well, we wanted to congratulate you on your well-played game, and we were wanting to know your plans for next year," John said.
"College, Adam got a full ride to University of Minnesota and Charlie got a scholarship to University of Wisconsin," Guy said.
"And what about you is it Germaine?" Thomas said.
"Yeah, Minnesota State University at Mankato," Guy said.
"Have you all thought about the NHL?" Ken said.
"Well yeah, of course," Charlie said.
"But that's a pipe dream," Guy said.
"What if the pipe was real?" Shawn said.
"It is?" Guy and I said together.
"Yes look we saw you on the ice and we think that you have what it takes to be in the NHL, we want you to think about it. Especially you Banks," Robert said.
"Actually, it's Bombay," I said.
"Yeah but I spoke to Phillip Banks he is your father right?" Thomas said.
"Well yeah, but I changed my name when I was adopted," I said.
"You have a lot of grit and determination. Phillip says that you are a lot like what he was at your age," Robert said.
"Really?" I asked.
"Yes and we saw it the way that you handled the game and checked that defenseman into the corner during the second period," John said.
"Yeah I guess that's true," I said with a slight smile to my face. Charlie patted my shoulder.
"Well, we were wondering if you would be interested in coming out for the NHL Combine May 31st through June 3rd," Shawn said.
"Seriously?" Charlie and Guy said.
"Yes Seriously, but we need to know if your eligible for the draft, so tell me what are your birthdates," Shawn said.
"January 5th, 1982," Guy said.
"August 15th, 1982," Charlie said.
I mumbled, "September 21st, 1982."
"Did I hear September 21st?" Robert said.
"Yeah," I said.
"Oh, I see," John said.
"Maybe next year, son," Thomas said.
"Wait what does that mean?" Charlie asked.
"He doesn't make the cutoff date, Commissioner Bettman and the majority of the owners in the league are very insistent that players that are drafted are 18 years old by September 15th. Mr. Banks I mean Mr. Bombay doesn't make the cutoff date. Missing it by 6 days," Shawn said.
"Yeah that I knew," I said.
"Isn't there a way that could be waived? I mean we are only talking about a 6 days difference. He has shown more energy on the ice then most of the people that we have played against," Charlie said.
"Well, we can talk to Commissioner Bettman, and I am sure that Adam will be welcomed to work out with the combine this year, to give a few organizations a leg up on next year's draft," Shawn said.
"I would love to see you come play for the Islanders, Adam," Ken said.
"Yeah you would, considering the fact that you haven't been to the playoffs since 94 and haven't won a cup in 17 years," Robert said.
"Yeah what about the Wild. We are going to need some young star power," John said.
"So could the Avalanche," Thomas said.
"Gentleman, that is enough. I believe that we have taken enough of these young men's time. But if you want to go to the combine please do not hesitate to give us a call," Shawn said as he handed us a business card. The rest of the scouts followed suit and then they departed.
"That was weird," Guy said.
"No shit," Charlie and I said together.
We walked back into the locker room to find it deserted, with stuff everywhere.
"Coach where are the guys," Charlie asked.
"In the shower Conway, oh and practice tomorrow afternoon at 1," Coach Orion said.
Guy, Charlie, and I changed out of our pads quickly and walked to the shower.
"It's so nice not to have the girls around," Portman said.
"Why is that Portman," Luis said.
"Because I get to walk around the locker room completely naked," Portman said.
"Oh, Portman you are disgusting," Averman said.
"Well, looky there, we have Babe here in spirit," Portman said.
"Portman how many times do I have to tell you, her name is Julie not babe," I said.
"Oh please, Bommy, it's not like you know what it's like to date a girl, you have dated guys all of your life," Portman said.
That was my new nickname Bommy. I have no idea where it came from. And actually, I did have a crush on Julie when we first met. Then I met Emily and had a puppy dog crush on her, but the biggest crush was on Gunnar. I don't know why but there was something different about him that I liked. I fought my gayness and was bi-sexual from after the Goodwill games until Gunnar walked back into my life almost two and ½ years ago. In fact, it would be two and half years at the end of the month.
"Come on Portman, I want to go and hit the club," Fulton said.
"Just exactly how do you get into these clubs, Fulton?" Averman asked.
"None of your damn fucking business, Averman," Portman said.
We all knew that Portman was way older than all of us, he was nineteen. He had to repeat two grades back in elementary school. Dwayne, Julie, Luis, Guy and Gunnar were 18 and able to get into the club, the rest of us, including Fulton were 17. Too young to be getting into this club. Guy wanted to go to the club but didn't feel right without Connie, since Connie didn't turn eighteen until April. Dwayne and Julie were too much of a goody two shoes to even go to the club. Luis was usually with Portman and Fulton going to the club. Gunnar and I refrained from it, because of the age. Although if Gunnar wanted to he could go, since he was now eighteen.
"Hey Stahl, you coming with us?" Portman said as he almost exited out of the locker room door.
"Yeah, I will be right there," Gunnar said as he was finishing putting his gear away.
"Where are you going, Gunnar?" I asked, I had just gotten out of the shower and was toweling off.
"The club, Portman said it was pretty hot," Gunnar said.
"Oh," I said, and my shoulders slumped.
"If you don't want me to go then I won't," Gunnar said.
"No, go. Have a good time. I have lots of homework to do," I said.
"You sure?" Gunnar said.
"Yeah go," I said.
"Ok, I love you," Gunnar said and then he kissed me.
"Love you too," I said and with that Gunnar exited the locker room.
"So, what is Connie doing tonight Guy?" Charlie asked.
"Don't you remember? Bella, Julie, and Connie are having girl's night at Connie's," Guy said.
"Oh yeah," Charlie said.
"Adam do you really want to stay upstairs and do homework?" Guy said.
"No, not really," I said. Even though I had an Essay due in mom's class on Thursday and having not exactly started on it yet. It was comparing and contrasting what kind of an education a female would receive in the first world verses the 2nd and 3rd world. I was grasping at straws on the third world part due to the lack of information, of course I hadn't exactly looked through the encyclopedia on the CD Rom. Oh how I wished there were an online encyclopedia. That would make my research so much more efficient.
"Come on let's get a movie, you can do your homework tomorrow," Charlie said.
A/N: Wikipedia was not thought off by the year 2000, its first date online was January 15th, 2001. So, What do you think? Please take 5 minutes and leave a review! Thanks in advance!
A/N 2: Happy Easter to all who celebrate!