Page 26 of Tusk & Puck
I look at Verog, and he nods in agreement. This is as good a time to tell them as we’ll ever get. “I think it would be good for us to develop some of that team spirit you were all showing out there on the field. And I’ve got a great idea for just how to do it.”
It’s an idea that had been swimming in the back of my mind for a while, ever since Melody talked about finding a different way to build team spirit. I had checked with the administration and a few of the parents, and all of them thought it was a great idea.
“We’re going to have a team camping trip!” I announce.
The kids cheer, just like I expected them to. Together, Verog and I talk about the schedule, what they’re expected to bring, and of course, the behavior expectations.
Of course, Melody’s going to be with us. They wouldn’t have a camping trip without sending along the school nurse. I wonder if this might be the chance to finally turn things around with her. A few days, spending time together but without making her feel like I’m pursuing her. It ought to be perfect.
It will be,I tell myself.I’ll make it perfect.
14
MELODY
“Ican’t remember the last time I’ve been camping,” one of the dads sitting across the aisle from me says to no one in particular. “I think I must’ve been Hailey’s age myself. My dad took me fishing, Mom taught me how to cook on a campfire, and Uncle Red played songs on his guitar all night.”
“That sounds really boring,” Greg Wilson, one of Ryan’s teammates, says. He’s sitting in the seat in front of me and Tina. “This is gonna suck. They don’t even have Wi-Fi!”
“Oooh, oh noooo, you might have to use… your own braaaiiinnn!” Tina says, waving her hands around and making exaggerated expressions of terror.
“Shut up, Tina, we get it. You like boring stuff.”
“Hey, be nice, both of you,” I say, asserting my chaperone authority.
“I can understand why you’d be scared of having to think for yourself for a whole day. I bet it’s nothing but smoke and cobwebs in there,” Tina continues despite my warning.
“That’s it!” Greg stands up on his chair and puffs himself up like he’s going to hit Tina.
“Hey, absolutely not,” I snap. The dad next to me stands up and makes Greg sit back down. “Tina, go sit with Ryan in the back. What you just said was uncalled for.”
Tina makes a bratty face but slides out of her seat and does what she’s told. I lean my head back and sigh. This is what happens when she doesn’t get enough sleep. She was up all night packing for this two-day trip, only to have to repack everything in the morning because she wasted too much space on her stamps. And now she’s a grumpy jerk.
At least this camping trip will be in cabins and no one will have to set up a tent. I don’t even want to think about what chaos that would’ve entailed.
“Almost there,” the dad says, looking at his watch. “I’m Charles, by the way.” He extends his hand for me to shake. I do so as one of the boys walks up to us.
“Tina said we needed to switch seats,” he whispers a little awkwardly. I nod and let him settle in by the window.
“If you told me a year ago my son would be learning hockey from a pro player who then funded and organized a camping trip for the whole team by himself, well, I’d hardly believe you. But here we are! Crazy, isn’t it?”
I frown. “He funded this? I thought the bake sale two weeks ago funded this trip.” I wasn’t able to attend since Tina was sick, but thatwasthe intent.
“Unfortunately it was a bust. Cheryl Johannsen’s car was in the shop because a raccoon chewed up her brake line, so she couldn’t make it. And without her famous lemon raspberry squares, no one really bought anything. So, Jaromir set up a fundraiser online and sold autographs. Made the money in an hour, I heard! Real surprise for everyone.”
I blink, stunned. “Oh.” With how irresponsible he was with the kids and their drills, I never would have thought he’d take the initiative to do something so important like that.
“Are we talking about Jaromir?” one of the team moms, and a secretary in the school office, asks. She leans over Charles’ seat and sighs dreamily. “I have never seen someone take the reins like that with planning a field trip. I usually have to clean up some missed details or unmade phone calls. You know, all those boring admin tasks? But Jaromir took care of everything with this.”
“That’s true. I heard Coach Hill say he couldn’t have organized something this big on his own. Jaromir really stepped up to make this team trip something special.”
I bit my lip. That’s genuinely interesting to hear. No wonder there are campers besides just the players. The funding allowed for it.
I suppose I may have been wrong to write him off so thoroughly. But that doesn’t change the fact that he takes some unnecessary risks with kids and safety. Camping is an activity rife with opportunities for injury and illness. Even forgetting to wear enough sunscreen can end with a kid in the hospital! We’ll see what kind of orc he really is when the fun stops.
The bus comes to a stop, and we all get off in an orderly fashion. Only two kids misplaced their backpacks, which is a record for this school.
An administrator of the campground greets us and welcomes us to this beautiful piece of nature by the lake.I have to admit, if Jaromir picked this place, he did a great job. It's gorgeous. “And with that, I’ll hand you over to your team coach, Jaromir!” She claps and a few students join her in doing so. Then she walks away as Jaromir becomes the focus.