Page 43 of Hockey Bois
“Nickolas,” she warned.
He obediently changed topics. “Hockey is fun. Got a few more goals since the last time I called, though one was bounced off my head by the other goalie so not exactly highlight reel material.”
“A goal’s a goal’s a goal,” she said absentmindedly. His dad had said it a million times in defense of ugly goals, and though she’d never shared their love of hockey, she’d picked up the phrase. For years she’d had the wrong enunciation, something about the way it’d rolled off her tongue made it sound like a foreign phrase she’d learned by rote rather than one she understood. Now it was perfect.
“Yeah, but it’s way more satisfying to go bar down since that’smedoing something right instead of it being a fluke.”
“Oh, I understand, baby. But right place, right time is you doing half the job, isn’t it?”
Nick laughed. “If you say so.”
“I do. Now tell me about this cute boy Terry tells me you’re after.”
“Yikes, was that Dad calling me? Sorry to ditch you in here for a bit, but he probably needs my help setting up the tables—”
“Nickolas Jakob,” she scolded as he backed out of the room. Despite the middle name, there was no bite to it, so he knew he was safe.
For now.
*
Nick (7:18 p.m.)
my dad beat me at air hockey
i play actual ice hockey now and he beat me
i am the laughing stock of my family, the hockey player who cannot hockey
Jensie from Hockey (7:45 p.m.)
I’m the Pens fan who lives a few metro stops from the caps and you think you’ve got it bad?
Nick (7:48 p.m.)
i mean… you chose to live here. i did not choose to lose that tournament
Jensie from Hockey (7:52 p.m.)
I’ll talk to benns about moving you down a line and cutting your minutes. clearly the second line isn’t a good fit for you
Nick (7:55 p.m.)
first of all, fuck you
second of all, hope you’re having a good thanksgiving in what i assume to be the frozen wasteland that is pittsburgh
Jensie from Hockey (7:58 p.m.)
[089734ysdfj.jpg]
[Image description: A picture of Jack Nicholson in the snow and ice, frozen.]
Jensie from Hockey (7:59 p.m.)
actually it’s raining which is like ten times worse
Nick (8:01 p.m.)
