Take Two

Chapter 1- Olivia

"...So Miss Addison, we have read your work and heard your commentating and you truly do have talent. We would love to have you here at Cornell U. We have an excellent program and we are of course Ivy League. We would put you up in a residence dorm room and you would have a complimentary meal plan card as well. Your salary would be 90K a year and your travel will be covered by team bus. We would need you here by summer camp which is August 20-27. What do you think? Would you like to join the Big Reds?

"Yes! That is an astounding yes!"

"Alright! We are excited to have you join us Ms Addison!"

"Thank you so much Mr MacDonald."

"Please call me Mac."

***

I just pulled into the arena parking lot and I was very excited, my first day as the Cornell University men's Big Red hockey team's media/photographer/color commentator. When I got that call from Mac asking if I wanted to join the squad this season I couldn't say no, it was my dream job and it would lead to so many amazing things! So with a packed trunk and a long drive I made it with a half a day to spare. I went into the rink and found Coach Berns's office to tell him I had arrived. He took me to the dorm I would be staying in for this season and where the dining hall was. Then he told me to rest up, tomorrow was a big day. He wasn't wrong.

The next day we began spring camp with the non signed prospects. I got to the rink at a whopping 8AM, and started meeting the rest of the coaching staff. There was coach Berns and assistant coach Douglas, my co host and boss Mac, the trainer Sasha but we call her Sunny and the office manager Libi. My first task of the day was taking photos of warm ups and posting the red and white rosters for the try out games. We had thirteen players and eleven open spots. Our roster had four graduating players, three signed rookies and the rest were second and third years. When I got my warm up shots I went back to me and Macs shared office and uploaded them to my laptop. Mac asked me since he had interviews to conduct if I could upload the roster and leadership team to the media and our website.

Big Reds (mens):

J. Smithers (S) (Cap.) L. Shager

T. Timmons J. Fredricks (Ro.)

M. Brown (Ro.) V.Laricks (S)

K. Jacobo C. Tomas (A)

D. Varrick (S) R. Samuels (A)

J. Greene (S) D. Kessos

M. McConnors (Ro.)

Then I went out to the lobby and tunnels and took more photos for the media. I had just made it to the red dressing room and was standing in the tunnel entrance to the rink when I could hear two boys speaking behind me.

"Who's the rocket?"

"Who's billet sister is a fucking rocket?"

"Go ask her out."

"Alright."

He came up to me with absolutely no shame nor lack of confidence and tapped me on the shoulder.

"Hey, you're a beauty. Wanna get lunch with me sometime?"

"Nah, I like to date guys with a higher IQ than their age."

I walked away and heard his buddy making fun of him for being shot down. I knew this kind of thing was going to happen, I've been involved with hockey a long time and its not uncommon, but to happen on my very first day, that was much. I was wearing jeans, my Big Reds track jacket and my hair up in a messy bun. I went back up to my office and sat down with a sigh.

"What's up kiddo?" Mac asked.

"I just got hit on and called a "fucking rocket.""

"Jesus, they can't keep it in their pants can they."

I shrugged.

"Look kiddo, this is going to happen, happens to Libi and Sunny all the time, but if it gets to be a problem you tell me alright. Why don't you go down and chat with Sunny about it, maybe she has some tips on how to deal."

It wasn't a terrible idea, so I went down to Sunny's office which was in between the dressing rooms. I lightly tapped on the door and there was a thin, spunky, blonde woman with tan skin sitting in an office chair. She spun around and smiled,

"You're the rookie, working with Mac right?"

"Yeah, that's me."

"Sunny, pleasure to meet ya! And your name is?" she stuck her hand out.

"Olivia but everyone calls me Olly," I shook her hand.

"Nice to meet you, so what do I owe the pleasure?" she asks, motioning for me to sit down.

"Well, you're a woman in a hockey setting, how do you deal with the cat calls?"

"Oh the "fucking rocket" statements?"

"Yes!"

"Snappy comebacks or just ignore it."

"That's it?" I ask.

"Yeah pretty much, unless it becomes relentless or violent, there's not a lot anyone can do."

"Jesus."

"Yeah. It's brutal."

"No kidding."

"Don't worry Mac and Berns make a point of getting guys who are respectful on this team because of you, me and Libi."

I nod, "good to hear."

"That's about all they can do. Well they could always fine people but that's in extreme cases."

I sigh.

"Hey kiddo, it's fine. The NCAA is strict on their rules and doesn't let much slide, don't worry!"

"Alright."

The rest of camp week was more photos, posts, rosters, and work. But it was one of the best weeks ever! I was really looking forward to the start of the season with the team and getting to know everyone. I was learning tones too, I think this season is going to be better than I thought.