Page 65 of Puck You
Subject: Mid-Year Check-in
Hi, Duncan,
Happy holidays!I’m back home for the winter holiday and would love to stop by Little Caesars Arena.I haven’t been out to BELFOR Training Center in a while.I’m happy to make the trip out to Detroit before I head back to school.Any news on my mid-year report?
I hope to hear from you soon!
Sebastian
From: [email protected]
Sent: 24 December 2025 1:36
Subject: Mid-Year Check-in
Hi, Duncan,
Merry Christmas Eve!Tell the wife and kids I say hello.
I’ll be leaving to go back to school in a few days—we have some big games coming up.Let me know if I should stop by the center for a quick skate.I’m feeling great.
I also wanted to check in about my mid-year report.Is there any chance that it’s been delayed?I haven’t seen anything come into my inbox, and I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing anything.
Talk soon!
Sebastian
From: [email protected]
Sent: 28 December 2025 5:55
Subject: Mid-Year Check-in
Hi, Duncan,
Did you get a new number?I tried your cell, and my call didn’t go through.Should I be worried that I haven’t heard from you?Please send an update as soon as possible.
Sebastian
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Grace
“Those look amazing, Dad.”The kitchen smelled divine thanks to a laborious afternoon preparing my grandmother’s famous pierogi recipe.She was usually the one to make them, but this year my grandparents had decided to ditch cold Wisconsin infavor of sunny Florida.The kitchen was a complete disaster, and the dumplings looked slightly deformed, but I’d had fun struggling through the process with my father.
“Thanks, love.Would you mind setting the table?And let Gabby know we’re almost ready for dinner.”
In a not-so-surprising turn of events, Gabby had spent the day locked away in her bedroom.Since I’d arrived home, I’d only seen her come out for meals and, as I liked to call it, forced family time.Otherwise, she remained behind closed doors, seemingly uninterested in spending time with anyone but herself.But I was determined to have a real conversation with her before I went back to school.After laying out the plates and silverware, I retreated upstairs, pausing in front of her door.Hesitantly, I knocked.
“What?”
It was her usual response.The past few days, I’d just barked out that dinner was ready or that Dad wanted to watch a movie.Today, however, I was determined to try something new.
