replace me///adam banks

s i x

Jane Fox

       Today is sunday and our game against the Iceland Vikings. I'm sitting next to Adam, teaching him how to braid my hair. Which he is surprising good at. Per usual, Bombay is 10 minutes late. But, we expected that. He either is very late to our practices or he doesn't show up at all. Leaving me or Charlie to run the practices. "All right, are we ready for warm-ups?", Coach strolls into the locker room wearing a gray suit and his hair slicked back. He reminds me of someone. Right as Bombay comes into view, the team comes after him. Filling the room with whistles or just plain words. Shutting us all up, "Yeah, all right, all right.". "Nice jacket. Did you get two pairs of pants with that?", Averman taunts. The team bursts out laughing while Bombay clenches his jaw. "He kinda looks like your uncle.", Axel whispers. Our two enforcers walk up to coach, pulling me with them. "Have a good night last night coach?", Fulton asks wearing a fake smile. "Yeah it was fine.", coach replies completely oblivious to the awkward tension between the four of us. Dean looks up from his bandana, "What'd ya do?". "Well I, ya know. Just watched some tv and went to bed early.", coach lies. "But not without a little desert, right?", I ask. Dean and I smile walking away. "A little ice cream, maybe?", Fulton adds before he leaves coach alone and confused.

     As the team finishes their warmup, I'm standing at the goal with Goldie and Averman. "Live from Los Angeles, welcome to the junior goodwill games. Tonight's matchup; team usa faces off against team iceland.", Averman informs the nonexistent listeners. "Cakewalk.", Goldie adds. "We have with us Greg Goldberg, Goldtender for team usa and JJ Fox, America's favorite girl.", Averman introduces not looking away from center ice. I scoff, "I thought we forgot that.". "Nope! Greg, JJ, what's it gonna take to beat these feisty Icelanders tonight?". "I think it'll take a supreme individual effort by me, Greg Goldberg. And a lot of goals by JJ, america's favorite girl.", Greg teases. I push him backwards into the net, making him fall on his butt. The ref blows his whistle hitting the crossbar of the net, "Let's play hockey, ladies and gentlemen.".

      The sports announcers voice ring throughout the ice rink, "Hi everybody. Welcome to today's game. A very important matchup, team usa against iceland. In what could be a preview of the championship game. Iceland coached by Wolf 'the dentist' Stansson. He'll be taking on Gordon Bombay". The first line including me begins to get ready for the ice. "Woah there, Jane you're off. Jesse your on.", Coach orders. I question it but skate back to the bench anyways. "In a surprise move, team usa starting center Jane Fox is not starting. Jesse Hall takes her place, facing off against Gunnar Stahl.", the announcer informs. Julie whispers to me, "This is confusing. Wanna know what he told me? Since Goldberg is on a hot streak, he's gotta keep him in. You haven't lost a face off yet and he takes you off.". "Bombay is definitely a little bit sexist.", I declare.

The puck hits the ground, Jesse and Gunnar fight for it. Both trying to push each other over until Dean skates up in between them knocking Gunnar down. "Come on fool! Get up!", Dean taunts. The ref skates up behind, "This isn't going to end well.", I mumble. "You ran at him, unprovoked.", the ref informs Dean. "Huh?", Dean accidentally pushes the ref over. Resulting in him being kicked out of the game. "You're throwing' him out? You can't do that! It's three seconds into the game!", coach complains. Before Dean leaves the ice, he slams his fist against the glass causing a small crack.

Iceland skates down the ice, easily going past team usa. #27 fakes and than passes it to Gunnar. Gunnar takes his time since Goldberg is slow to get up. 1-0, the vikings erupt with cheers as their players hug on the ice. "Wake up defense! Can't do this all by myself!", Goldberg whines. "Like he could do it with the team.", Luis utters rolling his eyes.

Jesse has the puck skating down the ice, until being flipped over Gunnars back. God damn, we are taking a beating out there. Finally Dwayne has the puck, but won't pass it. Fulton is wide open, tapping his stick on the ice. But the cowboy is too busy showing off. He's smashed in between two iceland players.