Page 49 of Wrong Pucking Jersey

“I’m so hungry, I’ll pass out from starvation!” I declare and rush to the kitchen. I hear Father sigh but know he won’t push the topic any further.

Setting up the table for my breakfast, I glance at the envelope with my acceptance letter inside.

“Tomorrow, I’ll get to know what this internship is going to be all about. Hope you’re watching, Mom. I’m going to make you proud.”

Helping others in my own unique way.

Pucking Decisions

~MIKAYLA~

“And finally, here is the female change room you can use with the other female staff to change into your scrubs,” Amelia Jonas announces as she points to the pink door with a metallic silver woman sign. “We’re trying to get one more made on the other side, but we’re in a bit of an indecisive pickle with Public Relations.”

“Why is that?” I can’t help to ask why having one more female change room in a huge stadium training center like this would be deemed a crime.

“We’re currently in a gender mutual pursuit with half the town emphasizing there should be neutral washrooms AND change rooms. The other half is rejecting the idea entirely, saying we’re going to encourage scandals and all that lovely stuff when ‘two genders’ are forced into close proximity, especially being the opposite sex.”

So politics and pronouns.

“So, one side is pissed about pronouns and ‘everyone’ not being included in this development, and the other half doesn’t want to acknowledge our shift in society that wishes to include everyone,” I summarize. “Yeah, that’s just too complicated. I’ll be fine with the one female change room if it stops everyone from arguing.”

Miss Jonas laughs.

“It’s ALWAYS something. I was dealing with a damn army of naysayers because one of our new teams has a gay couple.”

“And that’s a problem?” I inquired with an arched eyebrow.

“Oh, honey, you don’t understand how olden folks respond to the ‘new’ ways of acceptance in this life.” She shakes her head in dismay. “Do something new and different from what they’re used to and everyone goes ballistic.”

“Would they get kicked off the team now that they admitted they’re together?”

The whole LGBT movement was still so new and raw in sports that when there’s a bit of change in any department, everyone goes crazy.

The majority of complaints revolve around taking the ‘manly’ qualities of the sport by supporting two males dating one another.

They haven’t publicly acknowledged female to female, so that’s out of the woods.

Not like many enjoy giving female sports clout, anyway.

“Not at all,” Miss Jonas seems pleased by their relationship. “As long as they don’t bring the drama to the ice, that’s all that matters.”

“The ice,” I whisper before it clicks. “I’m going to be the team nurse for a hockey team?”

We hadn’t really jumped into specifics during the tour, but seeing as the hockey rink was going to be the last place we tour, I was putting the pieces together.

“Yes, my dear! You’ll be placed on one of the new hockey teams established to move up the big leagues until they’re in the NHL playoffs,” she reveals with excitement. “I know it’s a whole new system for everyone. As much as we love the Toronto Maple Leafs, we need to broaden ourselves. Having two or three teams representing each country is a delightful new change. It’ll invite more gameplay, and I feel it’ll give the TML a run for their money, having to go against other Canadian teams.”

“That sounds intriguing and a bit complicated,” I admit. Trying to figure out how things will play out seems confusing to me.

“It’s confusing, I know. Think about it this way. These two new teams will each train and begin to compete against other new teams across America. Some from Florida, Detroit, Vegas, etc. Once they move up the ranks, the highest two teams will face one another, and finally, the winning team will get an official NHL contract and go against the TML. Whoever wins there will head to the playoffs. Once the twelve teams are filled for the playoffs, the remaining teams will get a chance to face off again to reclaim the final four spots and will ultimately compete for the Stanley Cup!” She claps her hands together. “That’s the easiest way to put it, but I’d gladly draw a little map thing if you want me to further break it down.”

“No, I’ll do my research and figure it out,” I assure her. “You’ve done more than enough, Ms. Jonas.”

“Oh, please, just call me Amelia. I’m too young for that formality bullshit.” She laughs. “Dakota Weasley and I are chill here, which by the way, Dakota is our Social Media Manager. She’s the girl who makes us look good to the world outside these walls. So try not to piss her off by getting into any scandals,” she teases with a wink. “Which reminds me, are you single, Mikayla?”

“Uh…”How do I answer that without giving away my life problems?“I’m seeing someone. It’s on and off. Depends on our schedules, you know?”

“Oh, I get it! I’m doing long distance with my girl,” she declares, which takes me a minute to figure out.

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