“Oh, Trina.” My dad covers his mouth with his hand as my mom parades into the dining room with an eye-wateringly bright neon-pink suit.
“Look what I made you for your big game! I didn’t have it done in time for your first game, but now you can go to Seattle in style.” My mom beams.
“Mom, that is… wow. Are those rhinestones?”
My mom smiles proudly.
“This is some fancy tailoring.”
“It is fancy tailoring. You’re going to be the most visible thing in the Orcas’ stadium tomorrow night.” My cousin snickers.
“Try it on.” My mom holds it up.
Please don’t fit, I pray as I go to the bathroom to put on the suit.
Of course, it fits. My mom sewed all my siblings’ and my Halloween costumes and was the volunteer for all school plays. She learned from Granny Murray, who can sew a men’s three-piece suit drunk and upside down.
“You look so cute,” my mom exclaims when I walk out. “Like Elle Woods and Barbie!” She claps her hands, so happy.
“Trina,” my dad hisses, “I don’t think Ellie can wear a pink suit to coach amen’sNHL hockey team. She’s going against the Seattle Orcas. Emil Maynard is the captain of that team. He’s the best player in the history of hockey.”
“Uh, Zack Murphy,” one of my uncles says, clearly offended.
“Did we watch the same game yesterday?” Nate argues.
“Hey, you can’t skate that well drunk,” his brother retorts.
My dad turns back to me. “They are a dynasty team. They have five cups and won one last year and the year before that. The Orcas are undefeated this year. They’ll laugh her off the West Coast if she wears that.”
My mom looks a little hurt. “Oh, you don’t have to wear it if you don’t want to, snickerdoodle. I want you to feel your best. We just want you to know that we are so proud of you, and we believe in you.” She sounds sad.
I take a deep breath. “I’d love to wear it, Mom. It’s amazing! You’re so talented and crafty.”
“Oh, you are going to look amazing!” Trina squeals.
My dad crosses his arms.
“Look!” My mom walks me through the details. “It has rhinestone hockey sticks on it. And a matching headband.” She slips it on my head. “You look so cute! You’re going to win. I just know it.”
The rookies are yawningwhen I herd everyone into the waiting plane early the next morning. The runway’s been cleared of snow. The drifts line the runway, big and ominous in the dark.
“Yeah, this is the life.” Ren settles down in a seat, stretching out his long legs.
“You have to wear a suit,” I remind him. “We’re going to get fined.”
He opens one eye. “You’re worried about a suit when we’re losing, darling? Really?”
I give a helpless shrug.
Fletcher shoots me another ugly look as he passes me on his way to the back of the plane.
“You don’t want to sit with the team?”
“If the plane goes down, this is the safest place to be.”
“Hell, I don’t care. Take us down.” Ren takes out a flask from his pocket and offers it to Zack Murphy, who slumps next to him.
He hasn’t shaved in days. His eyes are bloodshot.
