call it what you want

7. the view between villages

The next weekend, the first game without Jamie, was an away game, and the boys didn't seem too excited about it.

"Alright everyone," Ted exited the coaches office as Vic and Beard stood at the whiteboard going over game plans, "who's ready to show Everton what we've got?"

The room stayed silent except for Dani, "Whoo!"

"Thank you Dani." Vid put her hand up as she turned to Beard and Ted, "What's up with everyone?"

Ted leaned forward, "What happened? Did Beyoncé dump Jay-Z or something?" Ted put his hand over his heart as Beard put his hand on Ted's arm.

"No, nothing like that."

"Thank goodness. Just saying it out made me immediately sad." Vic patted her uncle's arm as she spoke.

"Let me talk to them." She spun around facing the boys crossing her arms. "What's up guys? You guys love away games, hotels, room service, all that shit. What's wrong?"

Sam spoke up between Colin and Dani, "Well, we're fine."

"Yeah, I'm alright." Isaac said from the bench. She narrowed her eyes at the boys, sensing bullshit a mile away.

"Well that's a fucking lie. Roy," She turned her attention to the team captain. "what's up?"

Roy slammed his locker before speaking, "We're in a shit fucking mood because we never fucking win at Everton and it sucks fucking shit!"

"There it is." Vic tilted her head, "How long has it been since y'all won up there?"

"Sixty years." Colin mumbled.

Beard turned his attention from the board back to the boys, "Jesus Christ."

Ted whistled, "Wow. That is a heck of a long time. Okay. So we got that going on and obviously we're bummed out that O'Brian tore his butt."

"It's my upper hamstring, Coach."

"You tore your butt, son. There's nothing to be ashamed of, okay? It happens." Ted gestured to the boy.

Vic smirked from the seat she had taken next to Isaac, "It's true, it happens. Beard, how many times you tear your butt?"

"Three times."

"Three times." She repeated holding up three fingers.

Ted returned back to his amazing butt speech, "Butt's an amazing muscle. With God as my witness, your butt will heal."

Victoria raised her hands in praise, "Praise Jesus!" The boys laughed as Ted went on.

"The silver lining here, with O'Brian's tore butt, is that our man from Montreal is gonna be filling in at goalie. Give it up for Zorro!"

The boy seated in the middle of the locker room bench spoke up, "Oh, it's pronounced, um, Zoreaux."

"Sorry," Ted tried again, "Zorro."

"Zoreaux." All the French men in the room repeated.

"Ted," Vic sighed, "he's not Anthony Hopkins' Zorro. Anyway." She stood as Isaac handed her her cane. "Point is boys, no one knows what's gonna happen tomorrow. That's why you're gonna go out there and kick ass, right?"

There were a few mumbled 'rights' from around the room as they headed for the bus.

"That's what I get for being the fucking pep talk guy." Vic mumbled as she passed her fellow coaches.

After a long talk of butt muscles and Anthony Hopkins, the team piled into the bus.

Of course Ted and Beard chose to sit with each other in the back while Vic opted to sit in the front with the boys. Dani and Roy behind her with Sam on her left.