The Sound of Ice

19

Since it's officially December, Sam comes over one Saturday morning and we decorate the house. No one mentions him being gay. Maybe he was right. Maybe it isn't a big deal.

Hailey holds up a ball of tangled lights, a pink knit hat pulled low over her ears. "Let's put the lights up!" she says, her breath clouding in the chilly air. It's a surprisingly nice day; only a few patches of ice and muddy snow are piled on the sidewalks, and the sky is a soft shade of blue.

"How about this?" asks Sam, pulling a light-up candy cane out of a box that's almost as tall as Hailey. His cheeks are flushed from the cold, and his scarf muffles his words a bit. "Where should we stick this? By the mailbox?"

I rub my gloved hands together and lean against the house, resting on my crutch. Mom told me I should stay inside and rest, but I can't miss decorating day.

Veronica sighs dramatically, digging through one of the cardboard boxes. "So many lights."

"The brighter a house is, the easier it is for Santa to find," says Sam. My dad used to say that too. I stick my hands in my coat pockets.

Sam begins untangling the rope of lights, humming a Christmas carol, and Hailey joins in singing loudly. Reluctantly, Veronica's lips curl into a smile and she's singing along too. Even Mom joins in, with her voice that she claims could've made her a star. Everyone's laughing.

I'm laughing too.

I guess this is nice, all of us decorating together.

~

Later that afternoon, when all the lights are strung up and the light-up candy cane is planted in the frozen grass, Mom and I go to the doctors.

She glances sideways at me from the driver's seat, her hands stiff on the wheels. "Is your foot feeling better?" she asks. She doesn't like music when she drives, so the car is silent except for the guttural hum of the engine.

"I guess," I say. "I mean, yeah." I run a hand over my thick boot. I would kill to take this off.

The clinic is cold and bare, the faded yellow wallpaper chipping. A few patients are scattered around, tiredly flipping through outdated magazines.

I take a seat in the corner, resting my crutches against the wall, as Mom signs in with the receptionist.

I don't know if I'm that religious. But you better believe that I'm wishing to whatever's out there that this foot can play hockey again.

"Stop fidgeting," whispers Mom as she takes a seat beside me, setting her purse on her lap.

"I'm not fidgeting."

"You're cracking your knuckles again."

I hold back a sigh and sit on my hands.

"Are you that Beckett boy?" Mom jumps as an old man sitting on the wall opposite of us points at me, his voice raspy and croaky. "You play hockey."

I smile. "Yes, sir."

"I've seen you on my television!" The man barks out what must be a laugh and slaps his knee, his hands withered. "You're a good player, young man."

"Thank you very much," I say. "I'm hoping to be playing again soon."

"Yes, yes," he mutters, nodding his head like he's lost in thought. "Very good. Representing the city, our country, nice young man, very good."

What am I supposed to say? "Yes, sir," I say again, keeping the smile on my face. I'm slightly relieved when the nurse calls my name.

It's weird when people recognize me. But soon there'll be a lot more.

The doctor is an older woman with short, greying hair and a tight-lipped smile. I wince only a little as she rubs my ankle, then asks me questions, then makes me do some activities around the room; stretching my foot, turning it, standing on it.

"Hmm," she says quietly, looking through my folder.

My heart drops. "What?"

She pressed her fingers to her mouth. "Everything looks... good," she says, her tone surprised.

"Oh," I say. "How good?"

Seconds tick by on the clock. This woman sure loves to dangle her patients, doesn't see? "I don't think you need to wear the boot any longer," she says.

"And hockey?"

"You still need to take it easy, start slow on the ice. I'd give it a week before you try anything. It'll be sore, and you need to ice it daily. But everything seems to have healed nicely."

"So I can play at World Juniors?"

The doctor squints. "That's in what, a couple weeks?"

"Yes."

Another pause. "Yes, you should be fine. But like I said, you'll need to ice it often."

I'm about to pass out with relief. "Wow, thank you," I say. I could cry. Mom is smiling. The sun is shining! I'll play at World Juniors! I'll play hockey! And not everything is so bad.

~

When I show up to practice, Coach basically grabs me in a bear hug.

"Good to have you back!" he says gruffly, slapping my shoulder.

"Good to be back," I say. I forgot how much I missed Parkway Arena. The colorful advertisements on the boards, the sea of seats, and the clean, white ice. My second home.

I wanted to play today, but Mom isn't letting me yet. She's sucking up to the doctor. Well, whatever. At least I drove here, in running shoes, to watch my teammates practice. I forgot what it felt like to wear sneakers on my right foot. Apparently, you forget a lot of things when your foot is stuck in a boot for weeks.

As the team starts to scrimmage, Coach turns to me. "So, World Juniors. You'll be able to play?"

"Yes."

A smile spreads across his face. "Good. I already registered you, anyway. When will you be able to practice again?"

"The doctor said a week, but my ankle honestly feels fine. Probably sooner."

Coach points his clipboard at me. "Listen to your doctors."

But I know what he's thinking. The sooner I practice, the more prepared I'll be for Worlds, the better I'll play, the higher chance at winning the tournament, the more secure my NHL spot will be.

At least, that's what I'm thinking.

Matthew fumbles the puck and a defender swoops in and steels it, and I hear coach mutter something under his breath beside me. My fingers start to tingle and I sit on them. I'll play. I'll play. I'll play.

And not everything is so bad.

A/N Hey readers, thank you guys so so much!!! Every vote and comment means so much to me, and I hope you're liking Cameron and Sam's story as much as I am! :)

I'm currently out of town so I won't be able to update AS often, but I'll try and sneak in a few updates while I'm away! Don't worry, I have lots of goods planned, so make sure to stick around!! ;)

- M