Page 65 of On His Team

“Athletics?”

“Too broad.”

I stop typing.

He waits.

I look at Rowan. He’s sitting with one ankle resting on the opposite knee, watching me. He does not help. Traitor.

I turn back to Derek. “Hockey operations?”

“Closer. Somebody employed by Athletics has to sponsor the reservation and take institutional responsibility for it. Your professor can probably point you toward the academic side, but if you want current players involved, you need somebody inside Athletics willing to own the event.”

I type WHO OWNS IT??? in capitals.

Derek sees it and smiles.

“Next. What happens when your clinic ends at eleven-thirty and game operations needs the second sheet at noon?”

I answer, “I get everybody off at eleven-twenty.”

He shakes his head.

I stare at him.

He waits again.

“Oh.” I lean back. “I need teardown time.”

“You need turnover time. You’re not only scheduling the clinic. You’re scheduling the space after the clinic.”

I type that too.

“And the intermission thing?” he asks.

“Half the kids Friday, half Saturday.”

“Better.”

My fingers stop.

Rowan’s eyes shift toward me.

I don’t look back at him.

Derek asks one more question. “Sponsor wants its logo on the jersey. Who says yes?”

“Compliance.”

“And?”

I hesitate. “Whoever owns the event?”

“There you go.”

I sit back. That was four questions. I now have twelve new notes. And somehow I feel better.

Derek reaches across his desk and pulls a business card out of a holder. “Email me once you have a headcount and a date you think works. One page. I don’t want a deck, and I don’t want fourteen versions of the same idea. Tell me what it is, how many people, what spaces you need, and who you think needs to approve it.”