Page 101 of Hockey 101

Wally snorts. Andy’s a badass though. She volunteered to get thrown around at wrestling practice so she could write about it.

Yeah, that wasn’t my favourite of her many ideas, but there’s no stopping her when she’s inspired. For once, I was the one counting the bruises on her body, which was surprisingly fun.

My phone buzzes with a message from Mats: Incoming.

Okay guys, they’re on their way. Get ready, I call out. My teammates are all here helping me. Mats is down at ice level and I’m up here with Swanny, Bergy, Wally, and Coty. Yeah, now that Coty and I are defence partners, we’ve been hanging out off the ice as well. Once I made the top defence pair, I’ve worked my ass off to stay there.

We spread out along the scaffolding and hoist the long banner, getting ready to release it.

Right on schedule, Andy, Jaz, and the Star Trib guy walk into the arena. I can see Andy talking and motioning. The arena is her turf, as much as it is ours.

We wait until the moment that they’re walking through the middle of the stands opposite us.

Now, I command, and we drop the banner in unison. It unfurls with a gentle swish and hangs suspended over centre ice.

At first, the three of them just stare in shock. Jaz is the first one to laugh, followed by the newspaper guy. Andy’s eyes widen and she turns pink. Maybe she’s embarrassed, but the banner only speaks the truth:

ANDY ROBSON IS THE BEST SPORTS EDITOR EVER

Both Jaz and the newspaper guy pull out their phones and take photos of the banner. That seems like a good sign.

I pull out my own phone and message Mats: Release the horse.

From the Zamboni door, out skates Musty the Mustang. Instead of his usual Monarch College flag, he waves one I got specially made.

Everyone watches the mascot zoom to centre ice, where he dramatically waves the flag back and forth, allowing Andy’s group to read his message:

HIRE HER!

Andy buries her face in her hands, but the newspaper guy is full-out howling now. As the trio makes their way out of the arena, his shoulders are still shaking with laughter. Andy is the last one out. She turns and looks towards the scaffolding. I’m sure she can’t see us from there, but she still raises her hand and flips us the bird.

Uh oh. You’re in deep shit, Sinc, says Coty.

I laugh. I think the newspaper guy liked it. I won’t be in trouble if this works.

Besides, that’s how Andy is. She’s not really into surprises, even good ones. Still, I can’t help trying. Because if she got a job in Minnie, it would be so sweet. We could see each other on weekends, or whenever she gets time off.

Thanks so much, I call down to George, the guy inside the Musty costume. He waves the flag at us and skates off.

As we roll the banner back up, Wally asks how I got Musty to cooperate.

Yeah, I heard he’s kind of a prick, Swanny says.

The ironic secret is that our smiling school mascot is a people-hating grouch. But he has great upper body strength, which is all that counts when it comes to waving a flagpole around.

I paid him, I say.

Hey, we didn’t get paid, Bergy complains.

How about I treat you guys to dinner this weekend? I offer. They agree happily, and we head down to meet up with Mats. I already can’t wait to see Andy and find out how it all went.

I’M THE FIRST one to Peggy’s, so I snag a booth and wait. When Andy spots me, she scowls and marches over.

Do you know how embarrassing that was? she asks, hands on hips.

I widen my eyes and smile up at her.

No. Do not give me sad puppy face. I will not fall for that. She takes off her coat and slides into the booth.

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