The workshop is silly, but the laughter has everyone in a better mood. It even has the feeling in my chest dissipating.
The room is set up with stations so each group goes around trying each one. From the human knot to hockey trivia, and even the classic trust fall, each station tests a different part of our togetherness as a team. Like Clay asked, I throw myself into it full force. Even when the guys make fun of the activity, I give it my all.
By the end, I can feel the difference. I do feel closer to the guys in my group. I learned a lot about them. From the fact that Wyatt likes classic rock songs while we played Name That Tune or that Lamar hates bananas with a passion.
For the first time since I was accepted on the team, I feel the camaraderie.
We are in the final circle now. All of us facing one another as we sit on the floor.
“The last activity is two truths and a lie. We will each do ours, and the person to the left gets to guess. If they get it wrong, the speaker will go to the person on their right. Once the lie is revealed, we will go clockwise until everyone has had a turn. This is meant to bring us closer, so let’s take this seriously and give good truths.” Clay looks around the room at everyone. “I’ll start. I would give up anything to be in the PHL. I get nervous before every game to the point that I feel like I might puke. I once stole bread from the corner store to feed myself and got caught.”
He turns to his right, which is Mack, one of the freshman players.
“The stealing. You have too much integrity for it,” he says confidently.
Clay smiles and shakes his head. “Nope. That’s true. I was eleven. My sister was starving, and our mom was at work. She didn’t have enough money to buy a lot of food that week, so I went to the store and stole the bread. The owner felt bad for me and ended up sending me home with a bag of food for me and Cora. They kept sending home food for us until we both graduated.”
It breaks my heart to hear that story from him. Especially knowing it is about Cora. I already understood his protective nature, being that he’s her brother, but knowing what lengths he has gone to for her has me gaining new respect for our captain.
He turns to his left, where he placed Hendricks.
He scoffs. “Obviously the second one. Wouldn’t all of us give up anything to play in the PHL?”
He’s wrong. Looking at Clay right now, I know he wouldn’t give up anything. He wouldn’t let Grace go. He would already be in the PHL if that was true. I don’t think he would take the position over his sister or mother either.
He’s a family man at heart.
“Wrong again.” Clay smiles. “I would love to play in the PHL, but I understand that there is more to life than a fat paycheck and the fame that comes with being in the PHL. I’m just as happy to pursue my passion while starting my own business or being involved in other ways. Especially if it means I keep my family, because I would never give them up. Lamar, you’re next.”
Each team member goes, most of them taking it seriously. Some reveal some deep stuff like Clay, while others keep it on the surface.
As it gets closer to me, I feel that heavy feeling return to my chest. I swallow hard, trying to keep myself from showing any discomfort. I must not be doing a good job at it because Wyatt leans over to me.
“You okay?” he whispers.
Clay looks over at us, concern on his face.
“Yeah. I don’t like speaking in groups,” I tell him.
It’s not exactly a lie, but it’s not the full truth. Right now, it’s that I feel anxious about what I’m about to reveal.
Wyatt goes next, giving me one last bit of reprieve before I have to tell my truths.
“I was raised by a nanny because I’m an only child and my parents didn’t want children. My number one school was Yale, but I ended up here instead. I never wanted to be a goalie,” Wyatt says, looking at me.
I think over his answers. It’s sad, but the first one is true. I don’t know how I know, but I do. I also think the second one is.
“You always wanted to be a goalie,” I tell him.
He nods. “That’s the lie. As soon as I got on the ice, I knew I wanted to be a goalie. I wanted to go to Yale because my father did. I thought it would make him pay attention to me, but it didn’t. I got accepted, but he didn’t care. So I came here.”
He doesn’t explain the first one, but he doesn’t have to. His pain is palpable to me. I reach out, patting his shoulder before turning the attention to me. Anything to get the attention off of him. I know he has to hate the pity looks from the other guys.
“I have been handed everything in my life, so I don’t know how to appreciate hard work when I see it. Last year was the worst year of my life because the real world is harder than the world I lived in prior to then. I’m an only child and have the syndrome that comes with being spoiled by my parents.”
I look to my right, nodding to one of the juniors, Gabe.
“Um, I don’t know, man. The last one?” he asks.
