Page 97 of Redeeming Heart
“Let them underestimate us. Give them what they want so that we can take it back.”
We meet the opposing team and the umpire for the coin toss. It went as I wanted and they got the first strike of the ball.
I inhaled a deep breath and ordered my heart to calm down as I got into my position. We waited patiently for the umpire to blow the whistle and call the game to start.
CHAPTER FIFTY
I never imagined I could feel this satisfied after crushing two teams and watching them realize in horror that I wasn’t as good as I was back then, but better.
“Okay, am I the only one who enjoyed the look on their faces?” Tammy asked, taking a water break while we were catching our breaths.
“I completely forgot how fun this was,” Megan noted with a tired smile.
She had a point. Indoor hockey try-outs were fast-paced and shorter than outdoor hockey. You had to stay focused at all times or else you would lose control of the ball and miss out on a chance or a goal.
“Or how satisfying it is to see them shuffle nervously around on their feet after they underestimated our skills,” Clarissa noted.
I agreed, but we still had a few games to go before we could celebrate. We were in the top five, but we can be kicked out if we don’t stay on top of our game.
“We shouldn’t get too cocky because we still have to face tougher teams,” I informed them, gesturing to the teams that we were still left to face.
“Are we going to go with the same game plan?” Felicity asked.
I shook my head. “No, I think we made it clear what our game plan was and other teams will use it against us. We need to go with Plan B.”
Coach Peterson and Isabelle agreed.
“You want to grab the bull by its horn and just ride it until it gives up?” Megan asked, proving to everyone that we used to be teammates back in the day.”
“Exactly,” I crumbled up my piece of paper from the protein bar I devoured.
“We know what we are cable of and we’ve got to use it before other teams take it,” I remarked and then went over the game plan with them—having the coaches share their opinions before we faced our third team.
Unlike hockey, we were used to where there are eleven players on the field, including the goalkeeper on each team. We are now seven on each side including the goalkeepers. We kept changing teams every chance we got so that everyone can have a taste of the game.
I believed that every player on the team needs to have a chance to play even if they are only replacements. They deserve a chance to prove their ability as well and can’t be left on the bench for too long or else they get demotivated.
We can also use them as a secret weapon because no one places their focus on replacements.
Every girl on my team has greatness in them and skill that no one else has. We had to use it and act as a team.
My mother believed in it and so will I because it used to work for her and her team.
I didn’t believe there was a weak player or a player better than the other. We can all be equal if given a chance.
We made it all the way through until the end where we ended fifth which made us qualify for the championship.
The best three teams were setting the bar quite high with their incredible performances and they were the teams to beat. If we wanted to win this championship, we had to put in everything we had.
My father was delighted when he heard about your day and couldn’t stop congratulating us. I called him the minute we got back to our rooms, but there was one person I wanted to talk to more than anything. He deserved to know because he has proven to me that he cared about what is going on in my life.
I dialed his number and thought he would let it go to voicemail, but to my surprise, he answered.
“Should I assume that you are calling me to let me know that I can break out the champagne?” Brandon's smooth, deep voice answered.
Every time we spoke, I couldn’t stop smiling. “Not yet, but hopefully soon,” I replied.
“How was it?” He asked.