M on a Monday morning, and Mom'

xcited that you're trying out for hockey

ng. You've always been

a bag of borrowed hockey gear that smells like

ut tryouts. She spent forever on the phone last night talking about how pro

s. That I'm sick of being the guy everyone thin

ay. Just handed me skates, pads, a helmet, everyth

?" he asked. "Hockey

'm sure,

not sure. But it'

all glass and steel. I follow the signs to the lo

g hockey since they were five. They're talking and laughing

The pads are too big, the helmet doesn't fit right, and the ska

t, trans

know tha

. He's already half-dressed in gear that actually

the hockey team.

k to my skates. "Just ge

"You? Hocke

can see them nudging each ot

up on wobbly skate blades.

usement to something else. Lik

" he says. "This sh

hese skates feels like I'm about to eat shit

utes," so

inutes

ing before th

s on not falling befor

slippery as hell. Coach Williams is already there with his cli

s. "Tryouts, get on the ice

. No backi

aking. The skates slide everywhere, and for a second

s and steady myself,

obviously have no clue what I'm doing

ks, skating backwards next

," I mutter, trying n

out drills. Skating around cones, stopping and sta

at al

ng, I've fallen three times, and people a

k t

pissed. At the ice for being so damn slippery, at these guys for ma

t angry,

tryouts. My skating still sucks, but now I'm throwing my body a

s after I check him into the

I say, bu

instead of skill. Can't keep up with the fa

ams starts

houts during a break

yso

layed befor

, s

ething down. Can't tel

kicked in every possible way. But I don't give up. Every tim

rts, and I might throw up

ts tomorrow morning," he says. "Most of you kn

t at me when

locker room trying to get these da

ver played," he says. But he

ank

. Making the team and staying

hes, looking perfect again. Not like someon

ll s

utside the athletics building. My name

Chen -

, not believing it. I act

"How did tryouts go yesterday?

e team," I

D! I'm so proud of you! Richard is g

. She really is happy, and

ss kicked by Julian Hayes eve

see him coming out of the athletics

ons," he says

ank

ix AM every day.

won

Same team as the guy w

ke of my life, or I signed up for so

I'll f