Page 14 of Finding the Forward: Part Two
“After,” the girl with the eyelashes hissed. “The blanket toss is going to start.”
The arena darkened and spotlights lit up the ice as music played. First, the mascot came out. Dizzy was a red fuzzy monster with an ax.
A bunch of people skated out in a chain, one of them looking a little awkward. As they got into the light, my grin spread. I knew she was helping, hence my plan, but I didn’t know they got her on skates. I pulled the sign closer to me.
“Aww, Team Mom’s on the ice,” the one with the eyelashes gushed. “She doesn’t skate, does she?”
“I don’t think so,” the one with the ponytail said. “I’ve only seen one picture of her on skates, and that was with Grif Graf.”
“Hi everyone. I’m Team Mom. Rusty, Liv, Dizzy, the rookies, and I welcome you.” Verity beamed, her voice a bit shaky, as the big screens of the arena broadcast her. She was holding Mercy’s hand. “Your help today means everything.”
“I’m Rusty Nails, and thanks for joining us. I’d also like to thank the Brooklyn Blankets for helping us out today.” Rusty said into the mic and got everyone riled up.
Dizzy and the rookies skated around the rink, encouraging everyone to hold up their blankets.
Someone tossed a blanket onto the ice.
“Uh uh uh.” Verity made a fake scoldy mom face. “Not until we say.”
“Let’s count down from ten. I want to hear youscream!” Rusty shouted.
Colorful lights flashed around the arena as numbers counted down on the screen, and the crowd joined in. This differed from how we did it in hockey, where everyone tossed them on the ice after the home team scored their first goal.
Onone,thousands of blankets rained down from all corners of the arena. I didn’t have a blanket, but the teens next to me launched theirs over the glass and bench and onto the ice.
The lights continued to pulse as the DJ played thumping music, and the overhead bubble machines went off. Because of the angles of the arena, many blankets landed in the lower seats instead of the ice.
“I don’t know any of these songs, but this mix isfire,” the girl with the blinking ponytail said as she tossed armfuls of the blankets over the glass, where Maimers staff stuffed them in bags.
“Have No Mercy might have done it? She always has the best songs no one knows on her Musify,” the one with the eyelashes added, tossing another blanket over.
The Maimers’ DJ texted me that it was almost time. Carlos knew her and had convinced her to help me tonight.
The person operating the crowd cams that put fans on the big screens in the arena was the same for our games. So that had been an easy ask.
The announcer warned everyone to finish throwing their blankets as people wearing uniforms for the Brooklyn Blankets and people in Omega Center polos and police uniforms helped the rookies put the blankets in sacks. Dizzy kept pushing people into the piles.
The music changed to what I’d been told was Verity’s favorite upbeat song. I shot up out of my seat, the sign high over my head.
“Team Mom, Team Mom!” the teens shouted and pointed to me.
“Hey, you’re Grif Graf,” one of the drunk ladies beside me slurred. She turned to her friends. “Help him get Team Mom’s attention. This issoromantic.”
There I was, up oneveryscreen in the arena, wearing my Team Mom jersey and holding my handmade sign that saysGrif Graf Loves Team Momin the center of a big heart. Everyone started yellingTeam Mom,and sayinglook, it’s Grif Graf.
Verity’s face as she saw the screen was everything.
My heart melted. In that moment, I knew everything would be okay.
The screens split, showing me on one side and her reaction on the other. She scanned the arena, looking for me in the stands.
“Here, right here!” the teens yelled, pointing to me.
Verity waved. She skated toward me and wavered a little. Rusty put an arm around her, and they skated until they were right in front of the bench.
Beaming, she made a heart with her hands, and scrambled onto the bench with Rusty’s help, nearly stumbling.
“Grif.” She faced me, looking like she washappyto see me, the glass between us.
