Page 43 of Top Shelf

“Yes, sir,” he says. He was the one who had never been on ice until today.

“You looked great out there today,” I tell him. “You’re gonna do great.” He smiles, and I look around. “Do you have a ride coming?”

“The bus. Should be here soon,” he says.

I nod.

“You live nearby?”

“Crooked Creek,” he says. I smile.

“You wanna call your mom and ask her if it’s okay if I bring you home? I’m headed that way.” He looks at me with big eyes.

“Uh, I can call my sister,” he says. I nod and give him my phone. He puts her on speaker.

“Hi, this is Elijah’s coach, Tyson,” I say. “Practice is over, and I just wanted to make sure it was okay if I give Elijah a ride back. I also live in Crooked Creek.”

“Oh, yeah,” she says, and I hear dishes clanking in the background. “That would be great. My shift at the diner is done in about thirty minutes. E, I left you a sandwich in the fridge.”

“Okay,” he says. “Thank you.”

“Great. He’ll be home in about twenty.”

“Thank you!” she says before hanging up.

He’s quiet on the ride home, just looking out the window, clutching his bag still.

“Did you have fun tonight?” I ask.

He smiles briefly and nods.

“What was your favorite part?” I ask.

He thinks for a moment.

“This turn right here,” he says, motioning to an apartment complex on my right. I pull in as he turns back to me. “Being on a team.”

I look at him as I park in front of the building he’s pointing to.

“You’ve never been on a team before?” I ask. He shakes his head. “For any sport?” He shakes his head again.

I smile and pat his shoulder.

“Well, we’re happy to have you,” I say. He smiles again as he opens his door. He gets out and pulls his bag out behind him.

“I never had a coach before tonight,” he says. “See ya next week, Coach.”

I smile.

“See ya next week, Elijah.”

First coach ever.

He deserves the best.

The next few weeks, I feel more fulfilled than I have in a long, long time. I spend my days teaching. I spend the evenings either at practice with the boys or with Sadie, eating, watching television, fucking like animals.

Earlier this evening in practice, we did some shooting drills now that the boys are all more comfortable on the ice. We’ve had quite a few new kids come out, and we’re really coming together as a team. I have a scrimmage set up in a couple of weeks with a team about an hour or so away, so we need to get ready.

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