by David Skuy
“Like Andrea said, me and some of my teammates admire what you’re trying to do. We all read about the bus accident and how you’ve come together to try and save your school year. As nice as it would have been to have the prize money from the hockey tournament, we think you could use it more. So we’re here to donate the twenty-five thousand dollars to the Terrence Falls High Roof Fund.”
The announcement was met with stunned silence.
Then Scott and Nick started chanting, “Chel-sea! Chel-sea! Chel-sea!” and soon everyone had joined in.
Andrea handed a cheque to Melissa, who waved it over her head.
Pudge pulled on Charlie’s sleeve. “That brings it to one hundred and twenty-five thousand.”
Charlie started to get excited. They had not raised all the money, but surely they could do something. Maybe there was a chance. This must have been what Dalton was talking about.
“I wonder if the repair could get started while we keep fundraising,” Charlie said to Pudge.
Hilton took the microphone back. “Thanks Andrea and J.C. That generosity is really inspiring, and please tell everyone at Chelsea how much we appreciate this — but don’t get too confident, because we all know that next year Terrence Falls will be winning the Champions Cup.”
“Ter-rence Falls! Ter-rence Falls! Ter-rence Falls!”
Hilton held his hand up and the chanting petered out. “We have one final announcement. Please give a warm Terrence Falls welcome to Heather Wright, the founder and President of Bee-Bees Boutique, and the sponsor of the co-ed hockey tournament.”
She walked onto the stage and waved, taking the microphone from Hilton. “This is so heartwarming and fun. I almost wish I was back in high school … almost.”
The kids laughed.
“I first learned about Terrence Falls when two students came and asked one of our managers, Joanne Bettencourt, if we would allow them to use the prize money from the hockey tournament for their roof fundraiser. Ms Bettencourt asked me, and I thought that under the circumstances we should allow it. I also want to say how impressed I am by the generosity of the kids at Chelsea. So good work, guys.” She extended a thumbs-up to J.C. and Andrea.
“Ms Bettencourt also sent me a newspaper article about the bus crash. Maybe it was a coincidence, but the same two kids who came to ask about the prize money were on that bus; and more amazing is that they, along with others, risked their own lives to save the lives of the other passengers and the bus driver. I got in touch with Mr. Hilton, and inquired about the fundraising. He told me how hard you’ve all worked, and how close you are to hitting your target.”
It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
She held up a piece of paper. “I have a cheque here from Bee-Bees Boutique payable to Terrence Falls High School Roof Fund in the amount of twenty-five thousand dollars, which I believe —”
She never got the chance to finish.
The kids went crazy.
Pandemonium. Chaos. Insanity.
The school was staying open!
Charlie barely remembered the next five minutes. He and Pudge were high-fiving like maniacs, and hugging and screaming, along with everyone else. Zachary hobbled over on his crutches, Nick wheeling behind him, along with Scott and Matt. Julia, Alexandra and Rebecca joined them also, and everyone got a hug. Scott then got up on a chair.
“Terrence Falls?” he yelled.
“Yes!”
“Terrence Falls?”
“Yes!”
“Terrence Falls?”
“Yes! Yes! Yes!”
Charlie ended up next to Julia somehow.
She brushed her hair from her face. “You know, Charlie, you were really brave. I stayed because of you. I was so scared I could’ve cried.”
Charlie was about to say something tough. But the truth was he had been totally scared, and it was really seeing her determination that made him stay.
He leaned over. “Don’t blow my cover, but I was beyond terrified. I’d need a new word to describe it.”
“Scarified?” she offered.
“Petriscared?” he said.
“Okay — scared will do,” she laughed.
“I might have left if you weren’t there,” he said, seriously now. He had wanted to tell her that for a long time, and it felt good to finally say it.
She tucked her hair behind her ears. “Charlie Joyce doesn’t run away from things,” she said.
He didn’t know what got into him, but he gave her a hug, and for a moment he forgot about all the celebrating and the noise.
“How about we get movie night started?” Hilton said into the mic.
For once the students didn’t listen to him. Everyone was still too stoked, and they wandered around slapping hands, hugging and talking about it. Eventually, they made their way back to their spots on the floor. Hilton didn’t seem to mind, and he waited patiently. When he saw that most of them had settled back in, he announced, “Roll ’em, guys!”
Charlie and Pudge went back to the computer to start the movie.
Dalton came over. “Tremendous news, don’t you think? Sorry I couldn’t tell you beforehand. I was under strict orders. You guys should sit with your friends. I have this.”
Charlie loved that idea. He was tired of organizing stuff and wanted to relax and have fun. He saw J.C. sitting with the rest of his buds and he wanted to talk to the Chelsea star and catch up. Apart from their brief banter on the ice, he had not spoken to him since hockey camp this past summer. But something didn’t feel right, and then he suddenly realized that Dalton was not simply being helpful. Dalton didn’t have friends to sit with — and after everything he had done, that was plain wrong.
“Start the movie, Dalton,” Charlie ordered.
Dalton saluted, and with a click of the mouse, the movie popped onto the big screen. Charlie put an arm around Dalton’s shoulders. “And you come with me,” he said, half-dragging him along.
“Hey, Rebels,” he said, kneeling down, “Listen up. I got an idea. We need a manager, and it occurred to me that the greatest manager in the world is right here. What do you say?”
Scott sat up and put a hand against his cheek and gasped. “Joyce! I don’t think you’ve ever had an idea in your life, and now you have the most genius idea of all time.”
Nick’s leg was propped up on some pillows. He reached over and shook Dalton’s hand. “One thing to remember: Scott has a very small brain and he needs lots of help. Be patient.”
“Welcome to the crew,” Zachary said, lying on his back with his hands behind his head.
“I … um … I do enjoy the game of hockey,” Dalton stammered. “Thanks. It’s quite an honour.”
They all laughed.
“You’re so funny,” Alexandra said. “These guys are so disorganized they’re desperate. They should be paying you.”
“I couldn’t ask for money,” Dalton said so sincerely they laughed harder.
“Shhh!” came from all around.
“And sit down!” another kid added.
Charlie pushed down on Dalton’s shoulder. “The computer will work fine. The Rebels stick together,” he said.
J.C. held out his hand, grinning from ear to ear, and Charlie shook it.
“We’ll catch up after the first flick,” J.C. said. “I want to hear about that crazy accident.”
“It’s a long story,” Charlie said.
J.C. gave him a thumbs-up and turned to watch the film.
A zombie appeared over a hill, dragging one leg behind. He moved slowly across the screen, blood dripping down his cheek.
“That looks like Scott at breakfast time,” Nick said.
“I’m a mess before I have my coffee,” Scott said.
“Shhh!”
They did their best to not laugh, but it was no use, they couldn’t stop.
An avalanche of Shhhs came their way.
Charlie settled back to watch. It was cool to think movie night was his idea, and now there were hundreds of
kids hanging out together. So what if they were missing the Champions Cup? TFH was staying open, which meant they had won the biggest game of all.
He could not wait for school to start tomorrow — and how often does a guy say that!
Want to read more about Charlie Joyce and his teammates?
Check out this excerpt from
the exciting fifth book in the Game Time series!
1
ANGER MANAGEMENT
The muffins were impossible to resist. Charlie reached out —
“Not before a game,” his mom said, slapping his hand.
“But I’m starved. It’s either this or I chew off my arm.” He took a few pretend bites.
“I just gave you a sandwich,” she said.
“That was hours ago.”
“Actually, it was forty-five minutes.”
She had a point, but he wasn’t going to give up. “I think the sandwich was a bit thin, Mom. Coach Hilton specifically said he wanted us stoked for the Wildcats game, and a growing boy can’t be stoked when he’s starving to death.”
She threw her hands up in the air. “I give up. Let me run to the bank first before it closes and then I’ll fix you something.”
Charlie looked at the clock. “It’s getting kind of late. Coach wants us at the game an hour early, and I …”
“I can’t go to the game with all this money on me. Let’s do this: Can you close up? I need you to sweep behind the counter, and put these muffins in the fridge, and stack the rest of the chairs on the tables — and lock the door and set the alarm when you leave. Here are the keys.”
“Yeah, yeah. I know the procedure.” He had closed the café a bunch of times.
His mom leaned over and gave him a kiss. “I know you do,” she said. “I’ll take the van and double back and pick you up. Listen for the horn. In the meantime, get yourself something in the kitchen — without making a mess, please. And try to keep it healthy. I don’t think you can get stoked on muffins.”
“You’re wrong, Mom, but I’ll do it for you.”
“I’m sure William and the Rebels will appreciate your sacrifice.”
William Hilton coached Charlie’s major bantam rep team, the Rebels. They were defending league champs, and with some newly added talent, the team looked good to repeat. Injuries were a huge problem, however. Four players, all good friends of his, had been badly hurt in a bus accident — not to mention he had nearly drowned! Charlie worried whether the new guys on the team could carry the load until they got back.
“No worries. I’ll meet you at the corner so you don’t have to make the turn,” he said.
“Thanks. I’ll see you in about ten minutes.” She gave him another kiss and left the café, but not before spinning the sign in the door from Open to Closed.
Charlie decided to focus on the most important task: food. He really was hungry. Sure, he had promised his mom not to eat a muffin, but would she ever find out? They were sitting there on the tray, helpless, waiting to be eaten. His mouth began to water.
He heaved a sigh and covered them in plastic wrap. She was right. So what else? Charlie went into the kitchen. Bread was always a good start. He took a loaf from the shelf. He could go in the meat direction, but that might sit in his stomach, and they were playing soon. He opened the fridge and a brick of cheddar caught his eye.
“Joyce. Don’t be stupid. Rule One. Make the simple play. Go grilled cheese.”
He laughed out loud, and wished Pudge, his best friend, had heard that. Hilton had been teaching them a new style of play, inspired by the rule changes in the NHL, a game of constant motion, quick decisions, and aggressive attacking strategies all designed to break an opponent down. It was an intense learning experience, and challenging, and they made lots of mistakes, but every so often it clicked, and then it was hockey magic. To make things easier for them Hilton had created the Five Golden Rules of Hockey. Rule One was Keep it simple.
He turned on the range and added some butter to a pan, and then buttered the bread quickly before sliding in a few slices of cheese. He grabbed a package of napkins from a drawer. Charlie had been bugging his mom lately to let him help cook at the café. He did it all the time at home, but she said he was still too young. At least this once he could feel like a chef. He popped a white cap on his head. After a minute he cut off a piece and took a test bite. He figured it could use more time, so he put it back in the pan.
He heard the shuffling of feet. “Don’t tell me you forgot the money,” he called out, poking his head through the swinging doors.
“Of course we brought our money. How else could we expect to purchase your mother’s delicious treats?”
Charlie’s jaw tightened and he steeled his nerve. The four kids he despised most in the world, all players on the Wildcats, the Rebels’ archrivals, walked toward him.
“We’re simply famished, Chuckles, my good friend,” Liam said. “So make yourself useful and serve us.”
Charlie locked eyes with Jake, the leader of their crew.
So much had happened since he had come to Terrence Falls with his mom and sister after his dad’s accident. But one thing had stayed the same — his feud with Jake.
“Not sure how you missed the big sign in the window. We’re closed,” Charlie said.
“You don’t close until six o’clock. We still got two minutes,” Thomas said.
“Don’t you have a game tonight?” Charlie said. “You’ll be late.”
“We’ll be late if you don’t hurry,” Roscoe said. “My dad’s waiting for us out front.”
“Besides, we ain’t worried about the game,” Liam said. “We’re only playing the Rebels. Total joke of a game.”
“Be a good boy and give us a few muffins,” Jake said. “Nice lid, by the way. It’s a good look for you.”
Charlie cringed. He had forgotten about the stupid chef’s hat.
Jake nudged Roscoe. “The dude can’t deprive us of a snack, can he?”
“That would be wrong,” Roscoe said.
“Pure evil,” Thomas said.
“You’re a bad boy,” Liam said, wagging a finger at Charlie.
“He doesn’t mean it,” Jake said. “Help yourselves, lads.” He ripped off the plastic wrap and took a muffin.
Charlie grabbed the end of the tray, Roscoe took hold of the other end, and for a brief moment they were locked in a ridiculous game of tug-of-war.
“Don’t mind if I do,” Liam said, reaching around Roscoe and grabbing three more.
Roscoe let go. Charlie fell back into a table, knocking two chairs off and spilling the remaining muffins onto the floor. His tormentors roared.
“I was wrong about you, Joyce,” Jake sputtered. “You really are funny.”
“Do it again. Do it again,” Liam chirped.
Charlie grabbed the tray tightly with both hands. “Put those back — now!” he said slowly.
“But we’re hungry,” Liam whined, waving his muffin in Charlie’s face.
Charlie slapped it from his hand
“Look what ye did,” Liam said in a fake Scottish accent. “Ye broke me snack. I’m gettin’ me another right quick.” He picked one off the floor and dusted it off with his hand. “Thirty-second rule,” he declared, and took a bite.
Charlie gritted his teeth. Four against one — the helplessness hurt more than Liam’s taunts. “I knew you were jerks, but I didn’t know you were criminals.”
Jake put a hand to his mouth and gasped. “Why, Chuckles, that hurts. It really does. You don’t know me at all. All we wanted was a quick snackeroo. We didn’t want any trouble, and the last thing I’d want is to hurt your mom’s muffins. We love the Rainbow Café. Right, fellas?”
The fellas agreed wholeheartedly.
Jake crumpled a bill and threw it at Charlie. It bounced off his chest and rolled under a chair. “Keep the change, garçon.”
“I don’t want your money,” Charlie said.
“Use it to buy some breath mints,” Thomas crack
ed.
“He should buy more of those ladies’ panties he likes so much,” Liam said.
“Maybe he should get some anti-loser spray,” Roscoe said.
“No,” Jake said. “What he should do is buy some deodorant for his girlfriend, Julia. Ever smelled that girl?” He plugged his nose and waved his hand in front of his face
Their laughter echoed off the walls.
“She’s not my girlfriend …” He regretted the words the second they came out.
“He admits she stinks,” Liam roared, doubling over.
“Get out or I’ll call the cops,” Charlie yelled.
“Ain’t we touchy today,” Liam said. “Mental note. Don’t tell Chuckles that his girlfriend stinks. Gotcha!”
Jake pretended to fire a handgun at Charlie. “See you later … and you might want to keep your head up. I wouldn’t want to give you another concussion. I really felt bad about that.”
“Enjoy your muffins,” Charlie said. “They’re the last ones you’ll ever have from here.”
Jake’s eyes narrowed. “You’re so serious, Chuck.”
“Besides, it’s not Julia’s fault,” Liam said.
Roscoe and Thomas were laughing too hard to add a diss.
“You’re out of here or I’m calling the cops,” Charlie said.
“You said that already,” Jake said. “Don’t matter much. Not sure I like the Rainbow Café anymore. It’s not very friendly.”
He turned to leave, followed by Thomas and Roscoe.
“Later, alligator,” Jake said as he opened the door.
Liam looked back. “In the second period I’ll introduce you to my buddy here,” he said, tapping his elbow. “He’s very friendly and loves to give kisses.” He took another bite of muffin.
Charlie gripped the tray so hard his fingertips hurt. He had told himself a thousand times not to let those idiots get to him, and somehow they always did. Jake had this unbelievable talent of saying just the right thing to get under a person’s skin. Charlie could never understand why so many people looked up to him. He was practically the most popular guy in their grade, and he even had a ton of friends in grade 11 and 12.
