Smile like you've got nothing to prove
No matter what you might do there's always someone out there cooler than you
I know that's hard to believe, but there are people you meet
They're into something that is too big to be expressed through their clothes
And they'll put up with all the poses you throw
And you won't even know that they're not sizing you up
They know your mom fucked you up
Or maybe let you watch too much TV
But they'll still look in your eyes to find the human inside
You know there's always something in there to see
No matter what you might do there's always someone out there cooler than you
I know that's hard to believe, but there are people you meet
They're into something that is too big to be expressed through their clothes
And they'll put up with all the poses you throw
And you won't even know that they're not sizing you up
They know your mom fucked you up
Or maybe let you watch too much TV
But they'll still look in your eyes to find the human inside
You know there's always something in there to see
My first game back where it all ended last June…the arena where I had been basically hated by 19,000 fans was now my new home. Well this is going to be a bit of a change. I smiled to myself as I walked into the player’s entrance. My mom gave me a hug and I punched my brother for good luck and told them to meet me here after the game so that we could catch some dinner afterwards before they left for Lethbridge
It was a big game for not only me, but also for some of the other guys on our team and the other team. The Phoenix Coyotes were in the building, which meant Scott ie Upshall, a popular former Flyer would be back on his old home ice for the first time since the club traded him. The Coyotes were also in the midst of a 7 game win-streak, and we all knew Bryzgalov was one hell of a goaltender to face. Emotions were high and I had a mass of microphones and cameras around me for the pre-game interviews. They were all asking my opinion on being here in Philly, at the site where I had been apart of the enemy.
“How does it feel to be on the side of the home fans this time?” One reporter asked.
I smiled the best I could after hearing the question for probably the 4th time tonight and I could already bet I would be hearing it after the game too. “Uh, well, you know, it feels great. I know how charged this arena was last year during the regular season and then the finals, so it will be nice knowing all that energy is rooting for me this time around.”
Everyone chuckled. “Are you nervous for tonight?”
“Nah, I’m not nervous, just ready to get on the ice in front of the hometown fans. From what I’ve heard people are pretty excited for me to be here, so I’m ready to show them that I’m also excited to be here and be apart of something special.” Of course I was nervous you dumb asses, but of course I wouldn’t be admitting it. Hockey players don’t admit when they are nervous, tired or hurt; this is rule #1 in the ‘Dealing with Hockey PR’ book.
“Have you been able to find a place and get settled here in Philly?”
“Yes, actually. My Mom and brother did a good job in finding me a place and moving all my stuff down here from Toronto which is huge considering I only had one set of clothing when I boarded a plane to Tampa Bay. It’s nice to have my stuff and begin to settle in.”
After the million questions, it was finally time to head out onto the ice. The roar was deafening and I was instantly reminded that this place was just as loud as the other two home arenas I had played in while in the NHL.
Unfortunately we went down early in the game, but we battled back and tied it up twice, the last tie coming with a little over a minute left on the clock. Giroux had an amazing fall and hit goal to tie it up and I thought for sure we had the game in the bag once we got to overtime. In the 4-4 overtimes, Timmonen was called on a phantom hooking penalty and then Meszaros lost his stick, quickly making it a 4-2 with the Yotes having the advantage. And unluckily for us, the Yotes took advantage of it to win the game. I was bummed to not get any points in my home debut, but all in all it was a good game that we came away with one more point under our belt.
“So I think we should go to this place called The Continental Restaurant and Martini Bar,” my Mom exclaimed as soon as I came out of the locker room. “I was doing research on the internet the other day and found it…”
“Sounds like a plan. A martini or some other liquor related drink just might be the thing I need right now,” I smiled as my mom hugged me. Of course Bryce just scowled because despite the fact he was 19 and old enough to drink in Canada
“I still think it’s stupid,” he whined as I kicked him lightly in the ass with my foot, causing him to scowl even more as I just laughed. He of course insisted on riding with me in the Audi, because truly, what was cooler than the Audi?!
Tuesday nights had become my least favorite, mainly because they seemed to be the slowest dragging days in the restaurant business. Since I was at the bottom of the totem pole, I was elected to stay until closing. Kristy volunteered to stay with me, mainly because there wasn’t enough time in the world to tell me all the juicey details about her and Patrick’s date.
“Gabby, he is the sweetest thing ever! He actually told me that he liked it better when I was just wearing a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Can you believe it?!” she exclaimed for at least the 2nd time that night.
“I would have never guessed that!” I acted surprised because there was no way I wouldn’t be happy for my best friend and my brother. I knew they would make a good couple once he gave in, they were a perfect match.
“Now we just need to find someone for you,” Kristy continued in an absent minded tone while wrapping silverware with the cloth napkins.
“Oh, no I don’t…” I couldn’t finish my veto because my pager beeped to let me know I had a table of 3 that had just arrived. I looked down the pager and looked back up at Kristy who just waved me away with a napkin. I grabbed 3 settings and headed over to my table of new customers. I stopped dead when I came around the corner and found 2 blonde headed guys sitting with their familiar looking mother. Shit.
“Welcome to the Continental, I’m Gabby and I’ll be your server tonight,” the strawberry blonde said pleasantly as she leaned across the table to place our silverware and handed us each a menu. “Can I start you off with any drinks tonight?”
No Shit. “Hi, Gabby,” I said as I leaned forward and read off her name-tag to make sure I heard her right. It was the chick from my apartment complex and the ice rink. What are the fucking odds?!
“Hi,” she smiled, but not enough for it to make it to her eyes, making it obvious she was either nervous around me or didn’t recognize me from this morning. It was a good possibility it was the latter considering I was just in shorts and a t-shirt this morning and now I was dressed up in a slick suit with my hair meticulously spiked. “So what can I get you folks to drink tonight?” she went back to her professional smile, breaking eye contact with me to look at my mom who was probably the safer bet at the table, especially since I could feel Bryce kicking me under the table.
“I would like to try the Blueberry Pomegranate Martini,” my Mom announced, looking up and finally looking at our waitress. “Hey! You’re the girl from the apartment building!” Mom exclaimed happily.
Now everything was fitting together, she was the strawberry blonde Bryce had told me about.
At this Gabby smiled, blushed and nodded. She had been found out, mainly due to the fact that my mom never forgot a face. “Well, this is my son Kris,” Mom said proudly as she wrapped and arm around me and pulled me close. “He’s the one we were moving in this past weekend.” She then turned to me and said, “She actually lives across the hall from you!”
I looked past my mom and up at Gabby who was now biting her lip. “Oh really?” I asked, finding this bit of information surprising and totally ironic.
Gabby just nodded her head and shrugged her shoulders with a nonchalant smile.
After an awkward moment of silence while I stared at Gabby, Bryce piped up and said, “Um, I’d really enjoy a Coke with lemon.”
“Coke with lemon,” Gabby repeated and then looked at me and raised an eyebrow, asking for my choice of poison.
“I’ll have a Sweet Manhattan, please,” I said with a wink as I closed the drink menu with a snap.
Gabby nodded, wrote down my drink order and said, “Okay, I’ll be right back with those drinks.” Before turning she curtseyed and then spun around as she began blushing profusely. I could have sworn I heard her cursing herself as she practically ran out of site.
Strange.
I just fucking curtseyed to them like they were royalty. What the hell is wrong with me?!
“Here, Stan,” I said to the bartender as I threw my order up on the bar and made a beeline to the kitchen where I knew I’d find Kristy.
“Oh my gosh, you are waiting on Kris Versteeeeeeeeeg!” she squeaked as soon as I rounded the corner.
“Oh my gosh I so just curtseyed before I walked away from the table!” I said in the same high pitched voice that was not coupled with the same estatic face Kristy was wearing. She caught on right away and I watched as her face matched my horror.
“Seriously?”
“Yeah. I can’t go back out there…Can you take over for me?” I pleaded.
Without missing a beat, she handed me a napkin so that I could take over her mindless job and she could take over mine.
“Thank you!” I cried as she walked over to the bar to get the drinks.
“Anything for the girl who hooked me up with my future husband,” she turned back to smile and wink at me.
As soon as the clock hit 11pm, I was out the door quicker than a fat in kid in dodge ball. I caught a glimpse of the Versteeg clan just getting up to put on their coats as I stepped onto the bus that would take me back to the apartment. It looked like I would beat them back to the building and have my door locked and be hunkered in for the night before they would even get their car from valet.
Of course that had to be the night that my bus had to break down a few blocks from my apartment.
No comments:
Post a Comment