AJ stares at his big screen TV from his couch as he shovels a spoon full of Cheerios into his mouth. Nick walks in and sits down next to AJ with a bowl full of Frosted Flakes.
“Why are you eating out of a big cup?” Nick asks AJ.
“Huh?” AJ says.
“That,” Nick says pointing to a large cup filled with Cheerios that AJ is eating out of, “Does that have the Spectrum and Allen Iverson on it?”
AJ smiles and turns the cup so a side shows Boosh standing in net. He holds up a finger until he is finished chewing then swallows, “I got it while I was watching a Flyers game last year. They give you them with your drinks in the boxes so I kept mine. Now I use it to eat cereal. I find it to be more practical then a bowl,” he says and shovels another spoonful into his mouth.
Nick shakes his head and then puts a spoonful of Frosted Flakes into his mouth as AJ changes the channel to Comcast for the five o’clock sports show.
There is a knock on the apartment door and then it opens as Justin Williams walks in and shuts it behind himself.
“You know you really should lock your door AJ. It might be a good concept if say someone tried to break into your house,” Justin says walking over to the couch and sitting down on the other side of AJ.
“Frenchie how you doing?” AJ asks him.
“I really do hate that name AJ,” Justin says.
“Well you’re a Frenchie so deal with it,” AJ says.
“What does he mean Frenchie?” Nick asks.
“I’m a French Canadian,” Justin says, “You’re just Canadian, so he calls all French Canadians Frenchies. I have no idea why.”
AJ nods and makes a thumbs up sign at Justin since his mouth is full of Cheerios again.
“Also I leave the door unlocked because it takes too much effort for me to get up and answer it every time someone knocks on it,” AJ says.
“And this is the guy who is the NHL player of the week?” Nick says.
AJ shrugs, “Maybe they had temporary insanity or something.”
“You hear whose gonna be playing for Therein tonight?” Nick asks Justin.
“Yup Bruno St. Jacques is moving up.”
“Really?” Nick asks, “Great.”
“You know him?” AJ asks Nick.
“Yeah he lives in the same apartment complex as me. He’s my age too. He’s a nice guy.”
“Good player,” AJ says shoveling another spoonful into his mouth looking at the TV as a panel gathered around a table starts talking about the Flyers.
“They really did play a great game last night,” a member says, “but it was a hard blow to them to loose Boucher and Therein in the same game. Our question of the day online to vote on is how is Boucher’s absence going to affect the team. A.) It will give Brian Littrell a chance to regain his confidence and playing ability. B.) It will give Neil Little a chance to play in the NHL. C.) The loose of a goalie will hurt the team. Or D.)…”
AJ shakes his head and looks at Nick who only shakes his head too, “At least its Neil who’s moving up. He’s a good player.”
“Did you hear what Clarke said about him moving up?” Justin asks them.
“Nope,” AJ says.
“He was asked how many times Neil Little was moved up to play for the Flyers because they asked Neil earlier and he said around twenty some. So Clarke goes that’s not what matters it’s easier to just see how many times he’s actually played.”
“I hate Bobby Clarke,” AJ says, “I mean it I hate him and Barber. Both complete assholes. Great team we have here but the organization is a joke. They should both be fired.”
“Strong words,” Justin says.
“The fat fucks are always on me I could care less,” AJ says then shovels another spoonful into his mouth, “They’re really on you too.”
“I know,” Justin says looking at the ground, “I’ve really hit a slump.”
“Who cares your first string now,” AJ says, “Big deal you haven’t gotten a goal in a while you’re still playing good.”
Nick looks over at Justin and nods in agreement with AJ.
“Guys I think I’m gonna be traded,” Williams blurts out.
“What?” Nick asks.
“You’re first string,” AJ says.
“But they want Guerin I think,” Justin says rubbing the back of his neck, “Everyone is saying to trade Havlac, a first round draft pick and me. If I don’t step up I think I’m gone.”
“Bullshit,” AJ says, “You have four goals this season and we don’t need anymore offense. Hell we don’t need anything.”
Justin shakes his head, “I don’t think I’m very safe.”
Nick looks at him and shakes his head then looks down at the floor, “We might not always get along Just, but you’re a good player, a damn good one for only just turning twenty. They’re on you because they know your potential. Just try and let it go that’s what I’ve been doing lately.”
Justin nods.
“You guys ready for tomorrow?” AJ asks them, “The Devils.”
“Not a chance in hell,” Nick says, “I need a goal just as bad as Justin does too.”
“I still say Marten is the New Jersey Devil,” AJ says and shivers, “Well him or Jason Arnott.”
“You keep on believing that AJ,” Justin says as Nick smirks.
Brian stares at the TV as the poll results come up. With 54% as the winner choice A came up saying that with the lose of Brian Boucher Brian was going to have a chance to regain his playing ability and confidence. Of course with 30% in second place was it is going to hurt the team.
Brian sighs and leans back into the chair he is sitting in. Tomorrow was his game to prove himself to the fans and the team that he could play as good as Boucher. He needed to or else God only knows what would happen to him. Brian was going to be out for two to three weeks, which meant he was going to miss seven or more games. It was expected that Brian would start in all of them.
Yes they had won last night, but Brian still felt uncomfortable with how he was playing. Now he was going up against the Devils the fallen team in the East who were in last place now. It was expected for him to win the game.
All the stories about the game last night had read like a song on repeat. They all said how the team had played well, but had been hit hard with the lose of Boucher in net. Some people had faith in Brian, but the majority were still worried about how the lose of Boucher was going to affect the team’s record which was in third place in the East. They were expected to he higher in the standings and when they finally got Dopita back they loose Boucher.
Now was the time for Brian to step up and show the city of Philadelphia what he was made of.
Even more it was the time to prove to himself what he was made of.
“I hate these stupid one o’clock games,” AJ says to Kevin as they skate around in the free skate before the game to warm up.
“I think everyone does,” Kevin says, “It throws off my whole schedule.”
“You think Neil will get to play at all during Boosh time out?”
“Honestly?”
“Yeah.”
“Not a chance in hell,” Kevin says, “He’s a great goalie, but Barber isn’t going to play him.”
AJ shakes his head, “He’s just waiting to play that first NHL game. I feel bad for him. That’s all he wanted to do when I was playing for the Phantoms.”
“That St. Jacques kid is a good defender,” Kevin says motioning toward Bruno.
“Yeah,” AJ says, “He’s probably going to stay up for Therein.”
Kevin nods, “Chris won’t be out that long though,” he says then turns to look at the bench, “Time to go man,” he says and starts skating toward the bench to get orders from Barber.
“It’s gonna be a good game,” Kevin says to Brian.
“I hope,” Brian says pulling his mask over his face and skating over to the net.
“I got your back man,” Kevin yells to Brian taking his position on defense. Kevin looks over at Bruno St. Jacques and nods to him, “You ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” Bruno says.
The first period was scoreless with both goalies doing a good job of protecting the net. The second period broke the 0-0 score as Havlac shots and scores making the score 1-0. But it was matched with a shot from Holik that made it’s way into the net past Brian. Bruno St. Jacques had the check of the game early in the first and a few other good ones in the second, but yet again another defender feel to the ice when Bruno got hurt.
It was about a few minutes into the second and Dejardens and Bruno were on the ice. Bruno was skating backwards in front of a Devil in their end of the ice. The Devil flips the puck up and nails Bruno in the face with the puck and Bruno falls to the ice. Kevin leaned over the bench to get a better look as people rush out onto the ice to help Bruno up and hold a towel to his face.
“It’s his nose,” AJ says skating over to the bench to inform Barber and the others, “He nailed him right in the nose. I don’t know if it’s broken or something less serious. He should be happy it wasn’t the eye or the teeth though. He’s bleeding all over though,” he says as people help Bruno down into the locker room.
“Damn,” Kevin mutters.
Another injury to the list and Bruno didn’t come back for the rest of the game.
The third period was the Flyer’s though. Three goals found their way into the net from Fedetenko, Gagne and AJ. Williams made a good shot but it hit the top pipe of the net and bounced off. Kevin could actually see Williams face fall as it hit the pipe because he knew it would have gone in if it was a quarter of an inch down. The game ended with a score of 4-1 in favor of the Flyers with Williams continuing his dry spell, but Brian proving that he had what it took to keep the Flyers in the game.
The most amazing thing to Kevin though was the fact that AJ had managed to keep himself out of a fight for the whole game. It had to be some kind of new record for AJ and Kevin was sure of it.
“What did I tell you I knew you could do it,” Kevin says to Brian walking up to him in the locker room.
Brian smiles at him and shrugs, “It feels good to win again. It really does.”
“Good job though man. Great job,” Kevin says to him again before walking over to Williams and patting him on the back, “You got close tonight Willy.”
“Please don’t remind me,” Williams says, “I know it’s your job as Captain to encourage me, but it isn’t working. I still am playing horribly.”
Kevin stares at Justin and sees himself a few years earlier. Just a young guy who is just starting is career in the NHL at a young age. A kid that was having a dry spell and trying everything in his power to stop it. In some cases trying to hard. He was showing up two hours early to the games and sitting on the bench or working on things. Kevin had always been the earliest and he was getting to games and practices to find Williams already dressed and skating around. Kevin felt bad to for to say the least and hoped that all the work paid off for him because Justin was a good wing and deserved it.
“You know I thought you were the cockiest little shit in the beginning of last year,” Kevin says to Williams who looks at him puzzled.
“Is that supposed to help me?”
“No hear me out,” Kevin says, “You were a cocky little bastard, but you had reason to be. I mean you came out with goal after goal in the preseason and early in the season. Then you broke your hand and you sat and sat and sat. Your ego deflated a lot.”
“Yeah then I didn’t get to play,” Williams says.
“Exactly and you learned the hard way that you weren’t as good as you thought. You can’t come out and have a game a night Just. You did that in the preseason and early in the season this year too, but you need to calm down. It will come to you in time.”
“Thanks Kev,” Justin says, “but I don’t know if that’s gonna work. I gotta go though, so I’ll see you tomorrow ok.”
“Ok Willy,” Kevin sighs patting Justin on the back again and walking away over to where Roenick was sitting with AJ.”
“Hey Kev,” Jeremy was looking up at him.
“Hey JR. Good job tonight AJ.”
“Thanks or are you just saying that because you’re the captain,” AJ asks.
“Mixture of both.”
“Is Willy still beating himself up about goals?” Roenick asks.
“Yeah pretty bad too.”
AJ shakes his head, “Is he leaving now?”
“Yeah.”
“Is he still in the locker room?”
Kevin turns around, “Walking out now.”
“Oh,” AJ says bolting up and running up to Justin jumping on his back almost knocking him over and starting to sing REM’s “Everybody Hurts”.
Kevin shakes his head and looks at Jeremy, “He’s defiantly a character.”
“Oh yeah,” Roenick says, “but hell so am I. This team would be boring without us. Admit it.”
“Yeah yeah it would.”
Roenick nods, “Of course I don’t think I would happier anywhere else,” he says looking over at AJ who was making Justin sway back and forth while singing still as Justin starts laughing.
“Neither would I,” Kevin says, “Neither would I,” Kevin says shaking his head as AJ starts to sing Five for Fighting’s “Superman”.
“I can't stand to fly. I'm not that naïve. I'm just out to find. The better part of me. I'm more than a bird...I'm more than a plane. More than some pretty face beside a train. It's not easy to be me. Wish that I could cry. Fall upon my knees. Find a way to lie. About a home I'll never see. It may sound absurd...but don't be naive. Even Heroes have the right to bleed .I may be disturbed...but won't you concede. Even Heroes have the right to dream. It's not easy to be me. Up, up and away...away from me. It's all right...you can all sleep sound tonight. I'm not crazy...or anything...I can't stand to fly. I'm not that naïve. Men weren't meant to ride. With clouds between their knees. I'm only a man in a silly red sheet. Digging for kryptonite on this one-way street. Only a man in a funny red sheet. Looking for special things inside of me. It's not easy to be me.”
