Page 103 of Dreams
“It’s taken me all week to get this set up, but there’s a way that you don’t have to leave the game.”
Josh sucked in a breath and waited.
“The coach of the Ohio State hockey team is a friend of mine, and he’s worried his team is missing something that would help them get to the playoffs and do some damage. A part of their mentality. There are a few players in particular. Guys who have been drafted by NHL clubs and have all the talent in the world, but don’t quite know what it takes to be great. I told him about you.”
“What are you getting at, Coach?” Josh paced in front of him.
“If you want to stay in the game, this is your chance.”
“Coaching?”
“I know it hasn’t been long, but this is an opportunity that won’t wait for you.”
Josh sighed. “I want to be on the ice, not behind the bench.”
“We all have to hang it up some time, but that doesn’t mean we walk away.”
“I’m not walking away.”
“Aren’t you? You love the game. Maybe this is its way to love you back.”
“But coaching?” Josh looked at him skeptically and plopped down in the chair again. “What do I know about that?”
“Do you remember what I said to you the first time we met?” he asked.
“That I had bad positioning and worse hands.” Josh offered him a weak smile.
“That you were smart, and I can’t teach that. You’ve been a coach all year and you don’t even realize it. I’ve seen Carter improve by leaps and bounds while working with you. You won’t be coaching the whole team, only a few of the guys at first. If it goes well, they’ll have an assistant position open in the fall, and they’d love to have a student coach.”
“Student?”
“Sounds like a logical step for you, doesn’t it?”
Josh nodded and stood up when his coach did, taking the offered hand to shake.
“Promise me you’ll think about it,” Coach said, stopping at the door.
“Yeah,” Josh responded. “I will.”
Josh shut the door behind him and leaned against it. His lips twitched. Once. Twice. Then they settled into a full on smile.
Who was he kidding? Think about it? The game was sending him a life raft, a way to stay connected to it. A way to stay whole.
Josh sent a text to Coach minutes after he left.
I’m in. Thank you.
