Drop The Puck, It's Time To Go

It’s September of 2008. The fall air hit my face as I faced the entrance to my new home. It was my brother’s apartment, the place he could live as he looked for the dream architecture job he went to school for. Right now he was just a waiter at the place called Boston Beer Works, a brewery down near the TD Banknorth Garden. It wasn’t something he wanted to keep doing, I knew, but it help make ends meet as he searched and applied for countless architecture jobs around the country.
At least he managed to complete college.
Sighing a headed towards the front door and buzzed myself to his floor. Waiting for a couple of minutes I then saw my tall built red headed brother tearing open the front door and beaming at me.
“Roxanne! My little sister, how is it going?” I smiled at my brother.
“Hi Ben, its going ok. Thank you so much for taking me in to your apartment.”
“Hey, no problem. C’mon, let me help you take you stuff upstairs and we’ll get you settle in. Then how about I take you to Boston Beer Works for dinner and catch up?”
“Sounds like a grand plan. Now show me to the Casa de Benjamin.” Grabbing one of my bags, Ben lead me up the elevator while I carried my other three with me. The apartment wasn’t high end but I wasn’t going to complain. It was a place to sleep in, and for that I was extremely grateful since having to leave college. Shit, I was just a freshman and I had to drop out…
And it was not my fault.
Sadly, I entered into the small apartment, meeting a small hallway leading into a living room with a couch, a chair, table, and decent size TV. To my right was a small kitchen with an island counter. Next to that was the bathroom and the two bedroom on the same wall. The whole wall in the living room was opened up to view the Charles River, trees and the beautiful Boston skyline.
“Nice view…” I told my brother. “It’s amazing.”
“Thanks, that was a selling point of this place. I don’t even have to worry about having to close the shade to think about privacy. I don’t think anyone can see me up here.” I looked over and down upon the park around the Charles River.
“Yeah, I can see that. We’re a bit high up haha.”
“You can say that twice. The only sucky part is the commute to work. We’re a bit far from Boston Beer Works. Shit you can’t even see that Zakim Bridge from here, marking where the TD Garden would be.” I looked out the window and saw what he was saying.
“Yeah that sucks majorly. Thank god to the T though!” Ben laughed.
“Yeah, you can say that twice. Well, this will be your room. Make yourself at home.” I entered the small room, slightly smiling to myself at the fact of actually having a room to myself. Roommates suck, just saying. Especially when you smoosh three girls into a small room.
Yeah, you can fill in the rest, I know you can.
“Thanks bro, let me set to unpacking.”

*****

“I'm shipping up to Boston, ay ay oooooh, I’m shipping up to Boston, ay ay oooooh, I’m shipping up to Boston, ay ay oooooh, I'm shipping off, to find my wooden leg…” Yeah, that was me singing along to Dropkick Murpheys as I began to decorate my now moved in room. I had sheets on the bed, clothes in the closet, little knickknacks spread around and I was now adding the last thing to my wall above my bed.
My Boston Bruins poster.
But it wasn’t just a Boston Bruins poster, no it was my Tuukka Rask poster. Yeah, I was in awe at the newest goalie for the Bruins, Tuukka Rask, however short they had him there in the NHL team. They kept him in Providence but every now and then brought him up. I still remember watching his first game and impressed by the way he handled himself on his first game. Why the Bruins sent him back to Providence, I don’t know. I couldn’t wait for him to come back though. If he did…I ignored hockey for a moment though and went back to thinking about the events that lead me to where I was now. Moving into my brother Benjamin’s apartment after dropping out of college. My name is Roxanne, Roxanne McGregor and I was a red headed, green-eyed MassHole. I may not seem like one right now, but hey, I’ve been through some pretty tough times, so give it a moment ok? Life had been great for me for years though. I had a great childhood, growing up with a supportive family. My dad teaching me the art of hockey and getting me hooked at a young age. Now I just play for recreation here and there, I could never let it become a profession sadly. I just didn’t have the determination and will to. But at least dad took me to games! Oh man, were those games amazing! I remember sitting up in the balcony cheering on my home team, loving every minute of it! Singing to the songs, laughing…those were the days.
The days that ended two years ago when cancer took my dad’s life.
Not only did cancer take my dad’s life, but the effect that it had on my mother crashed her. She started to binge on alcohol and it worried me. I was going to college and my brother had moved out of the house…who would be there to watch her, take care of her? But my mother insisted I go, saying it would do me well.
Yeah, till she got the idea to waste all her money on alcohol and drugs and then run away where not even her own children could find her.
And leave her youngest with no way to pay for college anymore and forced to drop out.
So that’s how I managed to find myself here at my brother’s place because I called my brother crying saying I had nowhere to go. Which I can’t believe I said that because I hate crying and when it happens I hate to admit that I am! Or admit that I did! So now I need to search down a job so I can start paying part of the rent and attempt to get a footing here in the grand city of Boston.
“I’ve been shipped up to Boston…to find a new way into life.”

*****

“Sorry Ben, as much as I would like to hire your sister, I have no place to put her to work here.” I felt my shoulders slump in my seat. I was with my brother down city at his work, Boston Beer Works, attempting to get a job. Ben had been sure that his boss would hire me but sadly that didn’t look like that would be the case.
“Thank you for your time though Mr. Slesar.”
“Your welcome, I am sorry for not being able to help you.” Me and my brother exited the loud brewery and found ourselves on the small sidewalk on a street , the TD Garden to our left. I wrapped my fall jacket around me and let out a huge huff.
“Thanks for getting my hopes up dear bro!”
“Hey, its not my fault.” I gave my brother a smile.
“I know, calm down, I was just fooling around.” Staring at the people milling about and the loud beeps of cars, wondering where I was going to go next. Fuck, I needed a god damn job! The TD seemed to loom over me, a silent monstrosity just bearing down on me. I shivered and looked towards Haymarket. “Now where too…”
“We can try the aquarium…” My brother offered. I gave Ben my distinct YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME look. Eyebrow raised and mouth opened in disgust.
“The aquarium? No way am I scrubbing fucking penguin poo!”
“Hey! Don’t get defensive! I was just suggesting!” Ben raised his hands in defense. Above his head, a large banner portraying the Bruins was declaring that the 2008-2009 season was in motion. I let my eyes stray to it and sighed. It just reminded me of dad…and how much I wanted to go skating right then. Calm my head and get everything out of my head. Ben looked behind him to notice what I was staring at and saw the Bruins banner.
“Miss dad…huh?” He said, stuffing his hands in his pants pockets, features becoming monotone like mine. I just nodded. “I do too…” We both than sat in a silence, thinking the same thing. Wishing things were different. That mom never ran away and that dad was still alive. I then tilted my head, something weird coming over me, like I had a fucking epiphany.
“Beeeeen…” I said.
“Roxxxxyyy…” He answered. I pointed to the Garden.
“The Bruins probably need some good amount of hands to help them through the season…” He and I looked at each other and then both broke into a big smile.
“Let’s get you in there, it would make dad proud.”

*****
*Days Later*

I entered the TD Banknorth Garden taking a deep breath, and letting it out. What am I doing here? Well, it was my first day of work…
In the Bruins locker room.
Don’t ask how I got there! Me and Ben just walked into the Garden, wandered around for an hour, hassled with a bunch of people, talked to the MOTHERFUCKING HEAD COACH, and land me a job.
Wow…
It’s all so surreal.
Taking another deep breath I headed into the back door and headed towards the locker room. I felt so weird, wandering through the cement hallways where no regular fan could ever walk. I braced myself in front of the marked doors into the locker room and pushed it open…
Hitting someone in the face.
“Oh damn! Not my face!” The dark hair, dark eyed man stumbled back.
“Shit! I’m sorry! You ok?” I asked, moving forward.
“Yeah, yeah…we’re good…just got to wiggle the nose around a bit…” I then began to blink in surprise. I was staring at none other than #63, Brad Marchand. “You’re a new face, your name?” I shook my head clear of my OH EM GEEE ITS MARCHAND hockey fangirl screaming her head off.
“The names Roxanne, newly employed to the locker room.”
“We got a new water girl?” Brad swiveled around and got the attention of another person in the room. “Patrice! We got a new water girl!”
“Water girl? Are you sure she isn’t a new ice girl?” None other than Patrice Bergeron answered back to none other than Brad Marchand. Will I get used to this with this new job!?
“If she was an ice girl, you think she would be here right now?” Brad mentioned.
“Ok, Marchand, true that. Let’s ask Coach. COOOOOACH!” Bergeron called.
“Did I hear a new girl!?” A man with light brown spiked hair came around a corner, looking left and right.
“Right there Boychuk.” Marchand said, pointing to me. “Meet Roxanne.”
“Roxanne huh? As in that song by the Police?” I unintentionally just sent a hard glare in the direction of Boychuk.
“I hate that song!” I yelled. Boychuk, Marchand, and Bergeron quickly stepped back. The next person to come around the corner in confusion was a face I knew highly well. Like, extremely well. As in…my favorite player ever.
“What the hell is going on?” Tuukka Rask asked, hat perched on his dark wavy hair and towel wrapped around his neck.
“Beware, we have enraged the new girl.” Boychuk said.
“If I were you I would hide.” Bergeron said.
“Don’t mention the Police either.” Marchand added.
“…What?” Tuukka asked in confusion.
“Alright, which one of you school girls called me?” Head Coach Julien came out of nowhere, looking ready to get down to business. Like he wanted no antics at all but sadly was getting them. Bergeron raised his hand.
“That would be me Coach. We’re wondering who the new girl is. Water girl? Ice girl? New mascot? Someone’s girlfriend? You’re daughter? If it is your daughter, I take back the girlfriend thing…and the ice girl…and the masco-”
“She’s the water girl and other miscellaneous task girl, Bergeron.” Coach then looked at me. “Welcome to your first day at work, time to get you to your tasks so you can perform them smoothly tomorrow during game day.” Taking a hair elastic, I put my hair up into a ponytail, then placing my hands on my hips.
“I’m ready to roll Coach, let’s do this.”
Of course, I had half my vision on the goalie Tuukka Rask.