“You do that a lot?”
“Yeah, sweetheart. My speed and my slap shot are what I’m known for.”
“But you’re four seconds behind?”
“Behind my counterpart in oursecondline by four seconds and two second in our third line.”
“What’s the second and third line?”
“You really don’t know anything about hockey do you?”
“Not a thing.”
“Have you ever been ice skating?”
“No. I’ve been on roller blades but never on ice skates. It’s not really a thing where I’m from.”
Now that is something we are going to change.
“Then you can’t understand the joy it can bring you.”
“Doesn’t sound like you’re getting much joy out of it right now.”
“I’ve been trying to find a way to get back on track, but it’s not working. I can’t shave those seconds off and the scouts are going to be here at tomorrow’s opening game.”
“And that is why you’re having a shit day.”
I nod miserably. “They’re expecting to see me at my best, not worse than the third line.”
“And how are they supposed to know that? Are they going to be timing you or something?”
“It’s not out of the realm of possibility.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yeah.”
“Dang.”
“You really don’t cuss a lot do you?”
“Nah, I’ve usually got better words to use and its fun trying to watch people sort out if I’ve insulted them or not when they usually have no idea of what I’m talking about.”
“Are you insulting them?”
“Usually.”
I laugh at her statement of fact.
“I’ve never really met anyone like you.”
“Now it’s my turn to wonder if you just insulted me.”
“I didn’t, promise. I’m just not used to girls who tell it how it is and don’t try to simper and say exactly what they think I want to hear. It’s refreshing.”
“Nana raised us to be straight-forward. Lying gets you nowhere and if you don’t let people know what you’re thinking, then it’s your fault when things don’t turn out. How can they know you’re upset if you don’t tell them? That makes more sense to me than anything else. Be open and honest. You’ll get yourself into a lot less hot water.”
“My mom would agree.”
