Page 100 of Redeeming Heart

“Why hasn’t he gotten a chance to play?” I asked, looking at Brandon while my team found us some empty seats.

“I have no clue. Maybe your dad can inform us.” He then gestured his hand over to my father who was waving at us.

“Hey, rebels,” I called getting my team’s attention. “There are seats over there.” I pointed to where Meredith and my dad were seated alone.

“What’s going on? Why hasn’t Jonah got a chance to play?” I asked after greeting my father and Meredith.

My father pulled up his shoulders, unsure of what was going on.

“We need to get him on the ice or else he won’t be scouted if things are going to stay like this,” Brandon whispered to me, his eyes scanning around the room as if he was looking for someone.

“There is a scout.” He muttered, pointing at a man standing at the railing surrounded by two other men.

“I didn’t even know you can be scouted at this age,” I noted as it came as a surprise.

“They are scouting for clubs. If Jonah gets selected, he can have a very good chance at improving his skills until he is ready to change teams when he is sixteen years old.” Brandon explained.

“How do we get him on the ice?” I asked, wishing there was a way.

“Do you have a million dollars on you?” I gazed up at him when I noted the sarcasm in his voice.

“Are you telling me that these parents are paying off the coach to have their kids play?” I questioned, softly.

He shrugged. “That’s my guess.”

The girls went to buy food while Brandon and I tried to find a way to get Jonah on the ice, but our prayers were answered when one of the players on Jonah’s team got a red card, and Jonah was called on the ice to replace him.

“Here we go,” Brandon whispered, rubbing his hands against each other as he was completely captivated by the game.

He looked at me when he caught me looking and smiling at him.

“What?” He asked, a shy smile playing in the corner of his lips.

I shook my head and decided to watch the game. The girls finally arrived with our food and started cheering when we told them that Jonah was finally playing.

“He looks unsure,” I noted, popping a fry into my mouth while sitting so close to Brandon that I could smell his cologne which had a pretty smooth and manly smell.

“Yeah, it’s because the coach doesn’t motivate him.” He answered with an edge of annoyance.

I looked at the girls and got an idea.

“Who feels up for cheering up my little brother?” I asked them and caught them frowning at me.

“I thought you said that we had to be quiet?” Tammy questioned, being the loudmouth of the bunch.

“Yeah, until I found out that there is a scout here today and it could change his life,” I told them and I know they had to understand. To get a chance at a young age to follow your dream by being selected to play for a well-known team is a big dream for all athletes over the globe because it’s the kick you need to go big.

“Fine, what do we have to do?” Clarissa asked-- reminding me that I can always trust my team.

We cheered each time when Jonah got near the puck, at first, he was a bit taken by surprise that people were cheering for him, but soon he was using the energy to have a great game. He got to touch the puck more than a few times and even got a shot at goal.

Everyone noticed that there was a huge improvement in his performance and I was grateful for what Brandon has accomplished with Jonah. It was the push he needed to show the team and hopefully the scout that he belonged on the ice.

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

We waited for Jonah after their match ended. His team unfortunately lost, but he scored them some points at least that got them back in the game—not enough to win the game though.

“We are heading over to Megan’s, feel like joining us?” Tammy asked Brandon.