Hockey Mom

Chapter 6

"Shirley, what are we going to do?" Mike asks between sips of his morning coffee.

"I don't Mike," I place my hands on my head,"I just don't know."

"Well Shirley, we cant just have our son walking around like this."

"I know Mike, but if we tell him it will ruin his whole identity."

Mike suddenly pushes back his chair making a ear-piecing screech. As he walks towards he yells,

"And what do you think happened to me when I had to quit Shirey? Hockey was my life, when i had to quit a part of me died."

"but mike you still coach."

"That's not the same!"

Silence blankets the kitchen. I sit there shocked at how Mike just talked to me, he has never raised his voice that much.

"Mike I."

"Shirley just forget it."

He grabs his bag and leaves slamming the door shut. I wince at the door slamming as tears flood my eyes. I wipe them from my face and take some deep breathes, I go upstairs and peek into Wayne's room to see him sitting there quietly. I walk in and sit next to him on his bed.

"Hey mom."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"Wayne, I know you're probably upset but..."

"Mom, you don't have to explain it, just allow me one more time on the ice and I'll be done. For good."

"Really?"

"Really,there's a game next week after that I'll be done."

"Okay sweety, whatever you want."

I ruffle his hair and leave.I sigh and rub my eyes. I go into my bedroom and fall onto my bed out of utter exhaustion. My eyes flutter close. I must have fallen asleep because when I awake Dorothy is home yelling at something. I get up and follow the sound. I walk downstairs to find Dorothy yelling at Mike about ice skating again.

" I don't want to do it anymore!"

"Why?"

"Because I want to be a normal teenager and have a life..."

" this is your life Dorothy!"

"Hey!" I yell.

They look up at me and Mike asks

"Shirley please tell Dorothy that she's making a mistake."

I look at Dorothy and I can tell she's about to cry

"Dorothy we have told you time and time again that if you don't like it that you can quit..."

"But I want to quit mom." She begins to cry and I look at Mike. I can tell he's trying not to cry and rush towards him and hug him. We wrap our arms around Dorothy and say in unison,

" it's okay."

She looks up at us and smiles.

"You can quit honey," Mike says.

Dorothy's smile grows wider and she mouths

"Thank you."

She then leaves us in silence. Mike and I look at each other,he is obviously upset with his decision,but I rub his shoulder and he begins to smile. He takes my hand in his and we walk into the living room. We sit down and Mike finally says,

"Did we make the right choice?"

"Yes, I think we did."

"I hope so."

I place my hand on his face and he grabs it.

"As long as our kids our happy we are making the right choices."

"You're right."

I smile and then stand up,

"Well I better get started on the dinner."

"Need any help?"

"Sure."

We smile and go into the kitchen. As we begin cooking I pray to God that we made the right choice.