Page 2 of Frenemies with a Player
“Sorry, I should’ve called. My flight is delayed.”
“Casey and David are here with the kids already,” she states. My sister lives in New York with her husband and two kids. My niece and nephew are adorable, but I don’t see them often. Casey is a decade older so she’s been more like a mom to me than a sister.
“Cool,” I reply. “Can’t wait to see everyone.” Excitement is lacking in my tone, but I can’t help it. My situation with hockey is grating on my nerves. I’ve still got a political science degree to fall back on and my grades are pretty good, but I really don’t want to have to pursue a career in law. When I think back to my days in high school, when everyone knew what they wanted to be, all I ever wanted to do was play hockey. However, given my parents’ financial situation, they always encouraged me to have a plan B. My plan B was law school, but I didn’t have it in me to write the LSAT over the summer. Instead, I’m betting all my cards on a professional hockey career, which at this point isn’t looking too promising.
We finally board the plane and I place earbuds in my ears and listen to some music while I chill for a bit. Once I get home it’s going to be busy. Between my chores and my sister’s kids there won’t be much time for rest. Don’t get me wrong, I love my family and I miss them dearly, but our town is boring as hell. Most people I went to high school with left for university and never came back. The flight from Boston to Ottawa isn’t long and before I know it we are landing.
I proceed to get my luggage and pass through customs. My parents are waiting for me in arrivals. Mom is waving both her hands up in the air. She’s wearing a bright red Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer sweater. Dad is beside her wearing a matching sweater, only he’s wearing a Santa hat too. With his white beard he really does resemble Santa Claus.
“Mom, I see you. You can stop waving now,” I say when I am in arm’s reach of her. She hops up and wraps her arms around my neck and kisses my cheek. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too,” I reply, hugging her back.
Dad shakes my hand. “Good to see you, Son.”
“Thanks for coming out to get me,” I say.
“Your mom wouldn’t have it any other way.” He smiles.
We head out to their Honda Civic, which they parked in the underground parking lot. It’s a bit of a bugger getting my suitcase in the trunk with all of the knickknacks Dad has in here.
“Any news on prospects for next year?” is Dad’s first question the minute my passenger door closes. “Saw your last game. Some nice saves there, Son.”
“Thanks,” I reply. I decide not to answer his question and he doesn’t press because why should I dampen the mood? I’m not the only one hoping I’ll draft. My parents spent a lot of money on hockey to get me where I am. They are hoping I make it too.
We pull up to my childhood home within twenty minutes. When I leave the car, I inhale deeply, taking in the fresh air. It feels good to be home.
I get my suitcase out of the car, even though Dad offers to help, I don’t let him because he’s been having back trouble.
We don’t even make it up to the front door and my older sister, Casey, is whipping the front door open. She’s wearing reindeer antlers. “Hi, big guy,” she squeals, spreading her hands wide. She hugs me and latches on and I spin her around like I did when I was younger. My sister who is in her thirties laughs like a small child.
“Whoa, this never gets old,” she says, catching her breath. I’m six foot two and Casey is five foot five. She’s wanted me to spin her around ever since I hit my big growth spurt at sixteen.
“Totally,” I agree.
Taylor and Kai, my niece and nephew, are next to greet me. I pick them up and swing them around too. I’m a big guy and they don’t weigh much for a ten-year-old and a twelve year old, but maybe that’s what kids weigh these days.
David, my brother-in-law, is next in line to greet me. He shakes my hand and pulls me in for a half hug. “You going pro?” are his first words.
I wish my family would stop asking me that damn question. Like it’s expected of me at this point in my life being on a Division 1 NCAA team.
“Don’t know yet.”
Mom takes my jacket and ushers me into the kitchen where she has a fresh batch of mac and cheese. I eat like it’s nobody’s business. This is one of my favorite meals.
While I am eating Mom gives me my list of chores. The eaves need cleaning out, the garage could use a good cleanup. The fence in the backyard is missing some boards. The list goes on but I tune her out. It’s when she says that she and Dad have a surprise announcement tomorrow that my ears perk up.
“What kind of surprise?” I ask, shoveling more mac and cheese in my mouth.
“There’s only the good kind,” Casey says, walking into the kitchen.
“Why does she get to know and I don’t?” I ask, reverting to my teenage self.
“Because I need you to get through those chores by tomorrow noon at the latest,” Mom says.
“You want me to clean the garage out now?” I ask, flabbergasted. I just got off a flight and it’s dark outside.
“Trust me, it’ll be totally worth it,” Casey says, her blue eyes sparkling with mischief. My sister clearly likes knowing something I don’t.
