“Is he even going to show up?”
“Of course, he will. When Jim says he’s going to do something, you can bet your life he’ll follow through with it.”
“Oookaaay.” Olivier sighed.
He ran to the backlit decorative post featuring one of the Senator players performing a wrist shot. Olivier imitated the player’s body positioning, as he flicked an imaginary hockey stick. The little boy wore the same red, black, white, and gold jersey as the Senators, a gift from Justin. The first time the Big Brothers Big Sisters local chapter introduced him to Olivier through their Mentoring Program, the gift-wrapped jersey immediately melted the ice, transforming Justin from a complete stranger to Olivier’s best friend. The only thing that mattered to the little boy was wearing the colors of his dream team. When Justin was growing up, his older brother never took him to a hockey game. Justin tried to take Olivier to a game as often as his schedule allowed him.
“There he is.” Justin pointed at Jim, who was jogging toward them.
“Yeaaaah, quick, hurry, hurry,” Olivier cheered him on, and Jim broke into a sprint.
“Uh, eh, sorry… sorry, I’m late,” Jim said, shaking Justin’s hand and trying to catch his breath.
“Don’t worry, Jim, this is Olivier. Olivier, this is Jim.”
“Nice to meet you. Can we go in now?”
“Sure,” Jim said.
They found their seats just as the teams were about to begin the game.
“I told you we wouldn’t miss a second,” Justin said. The little boy was to his left, Jim to his right.
“Ehe,” Olivier replied with a mouthful of popcorn. “Why are we so far from the rink tonight?”
“We’re not that far,” Justin replied. “It’s the center ice section, and we’re only a few rows away from the glass.”
“The kid’s a real handful, eh?” Jim whispered as Olivier stuffed his mouth with another scoop of popcorn.
“You’re right about that. He’s afraid he won’t see the puck.”
“Yes, I can’t see the puck,” Olivier mumbled.
The start of the match put an end Olivier’s to yawping, and he lost himself in the game.
Regardless of Olivier’s cheering and the spectators’ repetitive chants, encouraging the Senators to “charge,” the first period was not very memorable. The occasional fights among the players could not make up for the overall slow pace and the discouraging lack of goals.
“Do you need to use the washroom?” Justin asked Olivier, whose sulking lips and sinking eyes showed his complete disappointment. The intermission had just begun, giving the players and the crowds a much-needed break.
“Oookaaay,” Olivier replied.
“I’ll get you another thing of popcorn,” Justin said, but his words did not lighten up Olivier’s mood. “You’re coming, Jim?”
“Sure, I can’t stand these Zambonis and the silly music from the nineties.”
They struggled with the steady stream of people and made their way into the large halls. The fans had already begun to cluster around the concession stands.
“Do you need some help in there?” Justin asked Olivier when they came to the men’s washrooms.
“No, I can do this all by myself,” Olivier replied.
“I’m gonna grab a pop,” Jim said. “You want anything?”
“Water, get me a bottle of water. Thanks.” Justin waited a few steps away from the washrooms.
“You said there was something you wanted to tell me,” Jim said when he returned. He handed Justin a bottle of water.
“Actually, it’s a favor I need from you,” Justin replied and took a sip from the bottle.
“Man, I knew there’s no such thing as a free hockey ticket.”
“It’s a simple thing, Jim.”
“I can’t afford to run any credit checks, Justin, with or without a CIS order. One day, I’m gonna lose my job for pulling such tricks.”
“It’s nothing like that. I promised to go to Olivier’s game this Saturday, but I can’t make it.”
“Oh, and you want me to babysit him?” Jim’s voice suggested he would rather work through a stack of credit checks for a week.
“Only for the afternoon. His peewee league match takes place at 3:00 p.m. You pick him up, take him to the game, and then go out with him for supper at a burger joint.”
“Hmm, I think I already have plans for the weekend,” Jim said, the likely beginning of a made-up excuse.
“On the phone you said you had nothing going on because Susan is visiting her parents in Barrie.”
Jim frowned, silently cursing himself for making that stupid confession.
“And when you signed up as an Alternate Mentor, you agreed to help me. You remember that?”
“Yes, I do, but I thought it was just a formality, to help you do your volunteering.”
“It’s only a couple of hours or so. C’mon, it’s for the kid.”
“OK, I sit through his game and cheer for his team. But what do I talk about when we go for burgers and fries?”
“Talk about your job, your life, your family.”
“My job’s too complicated for five-year olds.”
“Not really. Say it’s like playing monopoly, just with real money of other people.”
“Exactly, that really covers it all. Very smart observation.”
“You know what I mean. Make it kid-friendly.”
“What did you tell him your work is like?”
“I told him it’s like playing Risk.”
“Ha. So, why can’t you do this?”
“I’m going to be out of town on business for a few days.” Justin took another sip from his water bottle. “I don’t know when I’ll be back.”
“And you didn’t know about this trip earlier?”
“No, I didn’t. It came up today in a meeting. Look, I’m not trying to dump this on you and go golfing somewhere.”
“Well, you kind of are dumping this on me, but… where are you going, if not golfing?”
“I can’t tell you that.”
“Europe?”
“C’mon, Jim.”
“Who’s going with you? Can you tell me that much?”
“Carrie’s coming along. And a few other people.”
“Aha.” Jim’s eyes flashed a wicked grin. His nod meant he knew something was going on. “Rekindling the old flame, aren’t we?”
“It’s nothing like that. It’s been over a year since we broke up.”
“Yes, that may be true, but the two of you keep falling into each other’s arms.”
“No, not really.” Justin shook his head. “But we work at the same place, sometimes on the same tasks, and I can’t help it that we end up in the same mission. But work was what got in the way in the first place. So I doubt it will reunite us at the end.”
“You never know.” Jim looked around for a trash can. He was already done with his pop.
“This time I know for sure. I’ll never fall in love again with a co-worker.”
“Then you’ll remain single for life. Work is all you know.”
“Look who’s talking?”
“Hey, it took a while, but I married Susan. You need to go out more often and with a woman. Leave the national security to the old and grumpy kind of guys who can’t wait to get away from their families.”
“Dating Tips from the Love Guru. Volume One. Thank you.”
“More like Volume Ten Thousand, but you never listen to any of them. Do you want another drink?” Jim eyed the closest concession stand.
“No, I’m good, thanks,” Justin replied.
Jim disappeared into the crowd.
“So are you going to do me the favor?” Justin asked when Jim returned with another pop in his hand.
“What favor? Oh, that one about the kid? I thought you’d forgotten all about it. By the way, shouldn’t he be finished by now?”