Page 19 of Redeeming Heart

He smiled at me. “I will teach you.”

“While you help me out working on my skills, I can teach you plays and rules of ice hockey.” He offered and I can see that he wants to improve his game.

“Deal, now go to bed.” He smiled and said goodnight before he headed to his room.

I took a moment to stare at his shut bedroom door, thinking about how I never expected to have a little brother who looks up to me.

All this time I was selfish for thinking it was only me suffering but he had to witness his mother being abused by his father.

Brave comes in different forms and he was without a doubt the bravest of us.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Meredith called Jonah’s coach the next day and informed him Jonah will be returning. The coach was more than thrilled to have Jonah back but he was going to be a replacement which was fine for now.

Throughout practice, I tried to eavesdrop on how the game works and watch Jonah closely and memorize his mistakes to help fix them later on.

I started by helping him after everyone has left after practice. Meredith was working late which gave us some time to work on his skills before the Gladiators took over the ice for their practice.

He showed me the basics and explained his position. I was amazed when I learned he was a defenseman. I understood he was fast, but he wasn't aggressive enough.

I wanted him to demonstrate his defense tactics on me and if he can protect and steal the puck from his opponent, but first, I had to get out on the ice. I have never touched ice before where I had to wear skates and glide on around it.

I rented a pair of skates and met Jonah out on the ice after slipping them on. The first touch of ice wasn't that bad but the second I started getting a hang of it and wanted to go faster, I almost made out with the ice.

Jonah met me halfway to offer me some help. “Wow, you do really suck at ice skating.” I didn’t miss his sarcasm.

“Lay off,” I grumbled, holding onto his shoulder when he offered support.

“So, the referee drops the puck and a player of each team goes for it.” I began. “What happens next?”

“We use physical force to win the puck off our opponent. Body checking can even be used.” He explained and I started to think that this sport was crazy.

“There are three forwards, a center, a left-wing, and right-wing with two defensemen on either side. Any player is allowed to handle the puck as often as they want but not allowed to touch or pick up the puck with their hand.”

“Okay, that’s basic rules,” I noted.

“So, you are supposed to be defensemen?” I queried, remembering his position from practice.

He nodded. “Defensemen are usually the fastest players on the team. We block, check, or hit a player with our body, as long as it falls within the rules.”

I arched an eyebrow. He got seriously crushed last time and he was supposed to crush him.

“Why are you a defenseman? Shouldn’t you be a forward or at least a center?” Jonah didn’t seem like the type to use his force to block or hit someone with his body.

“I am fast.” He noted.

“Okay, well, let’s see what you’ve got when it comes to defending.” I at least got the hang of my skates and had a one-on-one with Jonah.

I first had to learn that ice hockey is more of a back-and-forth motion with steady hands. They used the rounded side of the paddle which in field hockey resulted in a loss of possession of the ball. Here, on the ice, they were allowed to stickhandle with the front and back of their stick blade.

He forced me a few times into the billboards, railings, and windows but he didn’t have enough force. I still got through and scored each time. I started to believe that this was probably not the right position for him and maybe that other kid that bullied him was in a much better position to become a defenseman.

Jonah was too small and not aggressive enough.

“I think you should switch up positions.”

He frowned at me.

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