hockey regrets

Watch the people entering the rink in large droves. Sit down by yourself in the bleachers, chilled to the bone. Get colder as they start late. Wonder for a fleeting minute if he stayed at work, then wave to him when he comes out. Feel surprised but don’t act it. Watch as he scores half his team’s points for the whole game. Think you’ve just witnessed grace under fire. Wish for a moment you had that kind of resilience.

See him pull his helmet off and wave to you as he heads off the ice. Leap up excitedly but pretend to be nonchalant. Lean over the chain link fence and smile with incredible sincerity when you see him beaming up at you, his hair matted five different ways and his forehead shiny. Superstar. Tell him that. Watch him shyly try to shake it off. Be remarkably proud.

- J. Mignone, How to Have a Hockey Player