Chapter 7: Cheaters
Author's Note: Been awhile since my last update. Typing this out on a tablet. Probably some mistakes. I will fix later.
Gordon Bombay watched from the bench as his team, District Five, tripped and fell all over the ice. The refs were not having any of it. In fact, on the last play, half way through the 2nd, one of the refs told him that if there was one more dive, that he would have to forfeit the game.
Gordon looked up at the score. District Five was trailing the Jets 4 -0 and the game was only half over. He was even contemplating forfeiting the game just to get the humiliation over with. If only so he could get out of there and go for a drink. Although he was attending AA on a regular basis, Bombay was just going through the motions until his sentence was up.
The game continued until the end of the second period. District Five, dejectedly made their way to the locker room.
"That went well," Bombay said sarcastically. "You..."
There was a knock on the door and one of the arena attendants poked their head into the locker room. "Mr. Bombay, there is a call for you. Do you want to take it or call them back later?"
"I'll take it," Gordon replied and followed the attendant into one of the conference rooms.
'Maybe it's Ducksworth calling letting me know that my community service is up,' Bombay thought to himself. Bombay wanting nothing more at that moment then to never have to step foot inside a hockey rink ever again. He would rather pick up trash on the side of the highway. Even if it was twenty below. There was something about these kids which made him feel uneasy.
Gordon hastily picked up the phone. "Gordon Bombay speaking."
Bombay was right about one thing. It was Mr. Ducksworth. But he was not calling about the community service.
"Gordon, I want to talk to you about agreement to go to alcoholics anonymous. How is that going for you?"
Bombay felt his stomach sink. He knew he had to put up a good front. "AA? Just great, Mr. Duksworth. Just great." Bombay thought for a moment. "I've been to every meeting so far," Bombay added.
"Have you?" Ducksworth asked skeptically.
"Yes sir."
The was a pause on the phone. "Gordon, did you think I would find out?"
"I don't understand Sir."
Bombay could hear Ducksworth sigh on the phone. "I know this isn't easy Gordon. I'm not so old that I don't remember what it was like to be young. "
Mr. Ducksworth paused to see if Gordon would say anything. Bombay remained silent. "Gordon. Someone saw you last week at the bar on fifth street. You stayed until closing."
"Who?" Bombay demanded. He did not remember seeing anyone he knew there. But after five drinks, Bombay rarely remembered anything.
Ducksworth brushed aside Bombay's question. "Doesn't matter. The important thing is that you were going to all these meetings pretending that everything is alright when it's not."
"Everything is alright. I have this completely under control."
"You sure about that Bombay? "
The rink attendant knocked on the door before letting himself in. "Are you almost done? The third period is about to start."
Bombay shot the attendant a glare. "Be out in a minute."
" I have to go now," Bombay said sadly.
"I understand. Why don't you come by the office next week? Wednesday. You will have to tell me all about how the community service is going. "
"Right. Good bye Mr. Ducksworth. "
Later in the third period, Charlie was about to take the face-off. Gordon called him over to the bench. He was still reeling from his conversation with Ducksworth. He was not looking forward to it. He hated letting his mentor down. Mr. Ducksworth had taught him how to win in the court room. The least he could do is show him that he could win on the ice.
"Charlie!" Bombay yelled from the bench. Charlie skated to the bench with his head down.
"Look, Gordon told him. " That guy is twice your size. So next time he gets you in the corner like that; grab your eye like its cut. Then hit the ice. Got it? "
Charlie stared at Gordon without saying yes or no, then skated back for the face-off.
The ref dropped the puck. The Jets player slapped it against the boards. Charlie hustled after it. The Jet slammed into him as they both struggled to control the puck.
From the bench, Gordon watched eagerly. "That's it, Charlie!" He shouted. Gordon waited for Charlie to fake the hit and go down.
Instead, Charlie backed off. "Dammit Charlie, " Bombay yelled in disgust from the bench.
The Jet got the puck and flipped it to a teammate, who scored. Charlie held his head low as he skated towards the bench. The Jets scored twice more before the horn sounded to end the third period. Dejected and dejected, District Five returned to the locker room. They were now 0 and 11 for the season.
" Man," Terry complained later as they brooded in the locker room after the game,. "We can't even win when we cheat."
"Stupid cake-eater tricks," Jesse agreed angrily.
"That was embarrassing, " Connie added.
The entire team was angry. Some of the team started to remove their equipment when Bombay came into the locker room. Gordon was enraged. He headed straight for Charlie.
"What the hell is the matter with you?" He demanded. "When I tell you to do something out there, you do it. You got it?"
Charlie dropped his eyes to the floor. He refused to say anything.
"Look at me," Gordon demanded.
Charlie reluctantly looked at Bombay. His eyes misted.
Immediately Gordon felt a pang of guilt. Bombay stared into the young boys eyes and saw many emotions. Fear. Sadness. Anger. Despair. Not one of the positive. Bombay had an epiphany. A moment of clarity. He shared the exact same emotions as Charlie did at that moment. Suddenly understanding.
Bombay lowered his voice. "You got it?"
"You can't make me cheat," he told Gordon. He swiped at his eyes turned and ran from the locker room.
Gordon stood there, unsure what to do next. The kids were staring at him. It was almost a relief when Mr. Hall barged into the locker room.
" ," said Mr. Hall. "Let's go."
Jesse and Terry gathered up their gear and walked out. At the door Mr. Hall turned to Gordon.
"This is what I gave up my overtime pay for?" He said angrily." To see my kids taking falls? "
Mr. Hall shook his head in disgust.
Gordon was speechless. He wondered how many more hours of community service he had left. Somewhere along the way he had lost count.
Casey Conway was checking her make up for the last time before leaving for her date with Carter. Once she was satisfied with how she looked, she smoothed out her skirt and put on her long coat.
"How do I look?" Casey asked her son.
Charlie rolled his eyes. "Fine Mom."
Casey disregarded her son's comment. Normally she would admonish him for having a bad attitude but she couldn't. Not today.
Earlier on that day, she had watched her son quit the game he loved more than anything. He told her he could just not play for his coach anymore. Not that she blamed him. Casey was very proud of Charlie for standing up for what he believed in and told him so.
Casey perked up when she heard a rap at the door.
"That must be Carter."
Casey checked though the peephole and sure enough, Carter was waiting patiently on the other side of the door. She unlocked the door and let Carter in.
"Hello Casey," Carter greeted her. "You look beautiful tonight. You ready?"
Casey smiled at Carter's compliment. Casey knew she was pretty but she was always so busy with work and Charlie that she sometimes forgot what it was like to have someone acknowledge it.
"Almost."
Casey paused. This was her third date with Carter. Normally she would meet him at a neutral location for lunch but she had wanted to introduce Carter to Charlie.
Casey smiled at Carter. "There's someone I'd like you to meet."
Carter raised his eyebrow. He was expecting there to be just the two of them.
"Charlie," Casey called out. "I have someone I'd like you to meet."
Charlie rose from his seat and walked into the living room. Charlie and Carter locked eyes for a brief second. Neither one of them said anything. After Carter realized that he was staring, he quickly looked away
"Carter," Casey said breaking the silence. "I'd like you to meet my son, Charlie. "
"Hi Charlie," Carter said sounding rather uncomfortable. "How's is going?"
"Fine," Charlie muttered.
Neither one of them said anything. It was like the oxygen was sucked out of the room when Carter saw Charlie. He suddenly did not want to be there anymore. Charlie could see in on his face but said nothing.
"Should we get going?" Casey asked
"Umm…I….sure," Carter stuttered. He was not expecting Casey to have a child. "Nice to meet you, Charlie."
Carter opened the door for Casey and the two of them left on their date. Charlie exhaled. He shook his head and went back to his homework. He didn't want to say anything to this mother. She would find out soon enough. Carter would be just like all the others. He just hoped that he would like his mother down easy.