Power Plays by Maureen Ulrich

Author:Maureen Ulrich
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: teen problems, teen, hockey, high school, saskatchewan, peer pressure
ISBN: 9781550507157
Publisher: Coteau Books

––– Chapter Thirteen –––

I’ve got a little surprise for you, girls.” Mrs. Brewer smiles broadly as she enters our dressing room in Regina’s Balfour Arena. “Steve knew you didn’t want to come to this tournament short-handed, so he picked up an extra player.”

“We already know about Randi,” says Amber. “She’s coming for our game tomorrow morning, right?”

“I’m not talking about Randi.”

The door opens, and right on cue, Kim Scott walks in, carrying sticks in one hand and an equipment bag in the ­other.

You could hear a pin drop in our dressing room. I’m not ­kidding.

“Hey, Kim!” Shauna gives a friendly ­wave.

Kim leans her sticks against the wall beside a dozen others, and then deposits her bag in the centre of the ­room.

“Nice to have ya here.” Miranda slides over to make room on the ­bench.

Kim shrugs and sits down next to Miranda. “I’m just here because Steve said you needed another D, and I’m not busy this weekend.”

“That’s a good enough reason,” says Shauna. “We sure need you, Kim. Don’t we, girls?”

Everyone nods and murmurs agreement – except for ­me.

Mrs. Brewer looks around the room and counts heads. “Isn’t Larissa here yet?” she asks when she’s done. “That girl is always late! Well, hurry up and get dressed, ladies. Steve wants to get in here and talk strategy.”

From her flushed face, I can tell she is as nervous and excited as we ­are.

Then it dawns on me that, in spite of all their reserve and ­self-­control, Steve and Mr. Kowalski want to beat a Regina team just as badly as we do. I make a decision right then and there to do my best to steer clear of Kim and not create any unnecessary tension in the dressing room or on the bench. It’s the least I can ­do.

“How’s Jodi doing?” Miranda asks after Mrs. Brewer is gone. “I hear she has to wear one of those straitjacket things – even when she goes to bed. Man, that would suck.”

“Why does she have to wear one of those?” Amber ­asks.

Kim looks at Amber as if she’s the dumbest person on the face of the earth. “Haven’t you heard? She broke her collarbone when she got checked from behind in that game against Yorkton.”

“Do you mean Jodi Palmer?” I ask, ­surprised.

“Of course I mean Jodi Palmer!” Kim says harshly. “Do you know another Jodi who plays hockey?”

“I guess she’s still pretty sore, huh?” Jennifer asks, rummaging around in her hockey ­bag.

Carla whistles. “I’m glad I’m not in her shoes.”

“You said it,” says ­Kathy.

“Do you know everyone here, Kim?” Shauna ­inquires.

Kim looks around the room slowly, examining every face. When it’s my turn, her eyes slide right over me, as if I’m not even there. “I think so,” she says at last. “Everybody knows me, right?”

The girls bob their heads, then resume ­dressing.

That’s when Larissa comes barrelling in. She trips over a skate and ends up sprawled in a heap on top of her equipment ­bag.

“Sorry I’m late, guys!” she gasps. “Dad had to deliver a baby, and –”

“Crap!” Jennifer ­explodes.

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