Dakota

Chapter 2: Fire Meets Ice

Chapter 2: Fire Meets Ice

Dakota is strapped into a sledge and pushed onto the ice. She is unable to stay balanced, so Terry stays on the ice to move her around on the ice. About half of the team has an assistant on the ice to help maneuver around the rink.

Finally. She is free.

“Alright everyone, lets get started! Just before then, I’d like to introduce you to a visitor that we have playing on the ice today, Dakota Meyers,” he says, motioning towards Dakota and her sledge.

I watch as Dakota slides around the ice with such grace that she would otherwise never get to experience. After the first goal of the practice, the players take a break. Dakota makes her way over to where I am standing in the bleachers.

“I love this Mum!” she exclaims with so much enthusiasm that she tips over.

Terry is at her side almost immediately to help Dakota to return to the proper position. I notice that he is wearing special black shoes with thick orange treads.

An hour later, the practice concludes. One of the mums asks everyone if they want to go for pizza. Most of the team members agree, after some compromises with their parents. Dakota turns to me.

    “Can I go?” she asks.

    Dakota has never been invited to anything like this before. This will be the first time she is away from me. I don’t want to let her go. Despite my emotions, I agree to let Dakota go with one of the other girls on the team.

    25 minutes later, I pull into the driveway. I send Logan and Hunter into the house ahead of me. I call a good friend that I have always been able to vent to.

    “Hello?” Charise answers.

    “Hey Charise, it’s Janine,” I explain.

    “Oh, Janine, I was about to call you! How are you doing?” she asks.

    “I don’t know,” I say, on the verge of tears.

    “What’s that supposed to mean?” Charise asks.

    “I found a sledge hockey club and we went today to try it out to see if Dakot would like it, and she did,” I explain.

    “That’s great! She must be so excited!” Charise exclaims.

    “She is,” I say with a sad tone.

    “Is everything OK?” she asks.

    “She got invited to go for pizza with the team,” I reveal.

    “You make it sound like that’s a bad thing. I don’t get it,” Charise admits.

    “She’s never been away from me like this. She’s never been invited to even a birthday party, let alone a pizza party with a group of people that she barely knows. I don’t know what to do, Charise. I just don’t know-” I say, sobbing so hard I can no longer speak.