Confessions from a Ranger's Roommate

It was a biting cold day in New York City as Teodora hustled along towards her the warmth and shelter of her apartment. Class had been a killer with learning about smallpox used as a biological weapon. Horrible, Teodora thought as she continued to read her text from her parents.

The streets today were particular busy from some attraction nearby. Maybe a concert or sporting event was going on. Someday if she had time off from her studies she'd go see some sort of game. As she became lost in the rush of people on the sidewalks and vehicles on the road, she didn't notice a bike zipping by. Her hands flew to her face in shock and her hearing aid popped off her ear. "Oh no," she breathed and moved to retrieve it when someone else shoved past her. The next sound that she couldn't hear still seemed to echo in her skull, as the man's foot stepped on her hearing aid, knocking it into a puddle as he hustled past.

"Oh no," she breathed again. Money wasn't a problem. Technically her parents were loaded but there were issues stopping her from using her credit card for replacing an expensive hearing aid and she was dead if she called back home to San Francisco to have her parents replace her hearing aid. Her closely guarded secret would be out if they asked questions and Teodora couldn't do it.

Oh sorry, the giant boy called back to her and noticed her looking at the ground. When his gaze followed hers, he saw the little device on the ground. Shit, he breathed and scooped up the hearing aid. Oh fuck. I... he heaved in and out and took her wrist. C'mon. We'll fix this.
Teodora watched his mouth to see he was swearing profusely. C'mon, he mouth formed the words and she found herself being pulled along towards Madison Square Garden. She halted in surprise. Who was he?

C'mon, he tugged on her wrist again and brought her into the building, down some hallways, through a weight room and into a room with treatment tables. He pulled an older man aside, showing him her crushed hearing aid.

What'd you do? The doctor roared at him and he cringed. I can't fix this! I'm an athletic trainer!
Teodora watched them curiously, wondering who this guy was when she noticed a shadow to her right. She looked up and saw a scruffy, model like man looking at her curiously. "Hello," she waved. "We had an accident."

Looking at his mouth, she read, Can you hear me?

"This ear, no," she wiggled her right one. "This ear, well its better. Still damaged but better than my right. I can read lips and do sign language though."

His jaw dropped in surprise. So you can't hear me right now? Smiling sadly, she made a half half gesture. It was loud so things were muffled. To her horror, he marched up to the giant and shoved him, yelling at him just like the athletic trainer was doing.

The athletic trainer must have finished screaming at the giant because he approached her. My name is Doctor Ron Weissmann. I can't fix something like this but Mike is replacing your hearing aid. Do you understand?

Teodora nodded. "I can read lips," she said pleasantly. Technically she did know sign language but she doubted any of these people knew. "Please don't be angry with him. The streets are busy and it was a biker."

The poor giant protested. I'm still replacing it. I insist. I'm Michael del Zotto, he said, extending his large strong hand to shake hers.
"Teodora Ansary. You can call me Teo if you can't pronounce it," she said.

He was taken aback by her name. That's actually really pretty, he admitted. Teodora finally took a moment to admire Michael. He had gorgeous black eyes with long eyelashes that girls would kill for with cowlicks of black hair. Remembering her manners, she shook the doctor's hand and Mike's friend.

I'm Henrik Lundqvist, he smiled. I'm the Ranger's goalie.
The Rangers? She blinked for a moment and realized these guys were hockey players. Famous ones that made millions. In the back of her mind, she couldn’t help but giggle to herself. This Henrik could pass as a model with that thick head of shoulder length hair. Fan girls must fawn over him. "Teo. I'm a college student at Columbia."

Yeah, I'll get you a seat for the game and after we can fix this, Michael assured her. If you want some concessions put it under my name. I'll buy you a Rangers sweater too.

All this fuss for a little accident that was really the fault of an errant biker. "Don't worry, it's fine," she smiled. "Really. Don't beat yourself up." Looking around curiously, she said, "So you're a hockey player."

"Yup. Defense," he nodded. "Drafted in '08 and have been here ever since."
The only thing she really knew about hockey was there was a lot of Canadians. "So are you Canadian?"

Yup. From Stouffville Ontario, he nodded. North of Toronto. Actually we're playing Toronto tonight.

"My first game ever. I'm excited. Thank you for inviting me despite our silly accident," she smiled.

An even taller boy wacked Michael on the chest. What'd you do?
He scowled at the newcomer. Teo, this is Marc Staal. One of my defenseman partners.
She shook his hand. "It was an accident," she replied. "Were you hockey players fed something different growing up? Everyone's so big and tall!" Some other guys laughed loudly at her comment.

Someone must have yelled something because both of them glanced by the door. Put her in the family section by my wife, Marc said.

Michael nodded and ushered her along. C'mon. I'll put you in the family section, he said but made a gesture for her to wait a moment. He disappeared but came back with a blue shirt in his arms a few minutes later.

"A jersey?" She laughed. "Is it your number? Number 4, Del Zotto. I get it now."

Hey now, he grinned and they started walking again. He brought her to a seating area a little bit higher up but still with nice seats. A blond girl looked up and smiled at the sight of her.

Michael's lips formed a whistling motion and he waved. Hey, this is Teodora, my guest. If you need to say something to her, look at her so she can read your lips. I, uh, broke her hearing aid.

MICHAEL! The blond cried as Teodora took off her coat and slipped the sweater on. Hello, the blond beamed at her. I'm Lindsay Staal.
"Oh yeah. Your husband yelled at Mike I think," Teodora laughed and sat down. "It really was an accident. A bike clipped me really."

Lindsay rounded on Mike. And what was so important that you felt the need to knock into her?
Poor guy just didn't get a break. I forgot to lock my car. Sorry if I don't want it stolen, he scowled and touched Teodora's shoulder. Remember what I said. You want food or a drink, it's on me.
Teodora waved goodbye and called a good luck to him. For the millionth time, she promised it was an accident. "You might have to explain a lot. Unfortunately I've never paid much attention to hockey."
Lindsay kindly pointed out the different positions and what their role was, what things you could and couldn't do while playing.

Once the puck was dropped, Teodora started to piece together how the game run. Fast, hard hitting and passionate. She looked around at the cheering fans, eager to show off their blue pride for their hometown hockey team. As she started to get lost in the game, Lindsay touched her wrist. Want food? They have hamburgers, hot dogs...Teodora remembered it had been a long time since lunch so she ordered a hamburger and diet pop.

Once she polished off her hamburger and fries, she was sipping on her pop when one of the Rangers players threw off his gloves and started to fight one of Toronto's players. Shaking out her head, she cried, "What on Earth is going on?"

People around her laughed. Fights are normal, Lindsay patted her wrist. And Colton Orr's an enforcer. They hit hard and fight a lot.

"Ouch. My doctor parents would have a heart attack if they saw this," Teodora giggled with Lindsay. "Rangers coach is screaming something at the refs."
People around her smiled again. Yeah. Let's just say Tortorella gets into the games, a defenseman’s wife laughed. Pam Girardi.
She shook her hand. "Yeah you defense wives and girlfriends have it rough. I can't hear but its like I can still hear the hits against the boards." The wives nodded up and down with big eyes. "Still, I admit I feel stupid not watching a game. This is fun. Crowd's crazy."

So are you from around here? Pam asked once the second intermission hit. You going to school?

"I'm from San Francisco and I go to Columbia for medical something. Ear, nose and throat with a minor in Spanish," she said as the girls smiled at the medical something. "Just started my second year."

Still more than I could do, Pam admitted. I can't do blood.

Teodora continued to chat with the wives and girlfriends until the game was done and they led her back to the training room. "Well, back to Michael getting screamed at again."

Pam winked at her. Yeah I have a feeling we'll be seeing you again. We'll have to hang out if you're not crammed with studying.

She waved goodbye to her new friends and watched curiously as interviews were going on. Engrossed with reading the captain's lips when the screaming Rangers coach suddenly shoved Michael towards Teodora. Hello, I'm Coach Tortorella. She smiled and shook his hand. Michael here will pay for anything you need. Obviously a new hearing aid, audiologist appointment if you need it.

"It's alright Agha," she smiled but then cringed. "Sir. Sorry."
Curiously, he asked, what was that?

"I was adopted by an Afghan American couple when I was eight," she said. "Agha is like addressing someone as sir. So I can speak English, Dari, Pashto, Spanish, Asian languages and Russian."

His eyes lit up with curiosity. Smart kid, eh? Well, this punk will get you all situated with whatever you need. It was nice meeting you young lady. She waved goodbye to him as he went off to be interviewed.

"Passionate guy," she smiled as Michael laughed and nodded in agreement. "Thank you for the game and everything. This was fun," she said.

He gestured for her to follow her out. I'll drive you home, we'll figure out all the medical stuff, Michael said, pausing to sign a few autographs for some fans.
She bit her lip. "I can just give you my number. You don't have to go through the trouble of driving me after all this," she promised. Henrik came up and crossed his arms over his chest, causing her to laugh. "It is fine!"

Yeah, don't worry Hankie. I'm taking her home, Michael said and Teodora had to swallow a laugh. Hankie was his nickname? "Bye Henrik," she waved as Michael kept on going. They walked out towards a few rows of expensive luxury cars and he stopped in front of a black Audi S5. A very nice car! Teodora was careful not to bump or scratch anything as he held the door open for her to get into.

She told him her address and he noted, Huh. Not too far at all, he mused as he drove out of the parking garage. When they got to her apartment, she walked up and unlocked the door. Thank God she forced herself into the habit of cleaning every few days. "My cozy little abode," she laughed and set her keys on the hanger.

Michael looked around and liked how it was indeed cozy. Nothing girly, just warm and inviting. So is your roommate around?

Teodora looked around, as if someone in her family had placed a hidden microphone in the apartment. "Uh. Well," she admitted. "I would be rooming with my adopted cousin Lina if she hadn't snuck off to Afghanistan with Doctors Without Borders. Which, technically she was prohibited by everyone not to go back there." She huffed out, now having her closely guarded secret out.

Michael blinked a few times and stammered. Wait, so she just took off and left you here by yourself? With no family or anything?
She scoffed. "I just have hearing problems. I can get by. I've lived my whole life in the big cities.
No! Michael protested. This is unacceptable! You can not live by yourself as a young, pretty, female student that walks home in the dark to get mugged or raped! This is New York City!
Normally she would be shocked by the pretty part but she was too eager to defend her secret. "I'm fine! I always walk home with partners if I am at the library late at night. But please don't fuss. My adopted parents can't find out. Lina made me swear!" She pleaded.

He shook his head. No. Just move in with me. She rose an eyebrow. Oh come on. Its practically empty there and it'd be nice to have company. I don't need you to pay rent cause obviously I don't need the money and you have schooling to pay for and focus on instead. Just, like, clean a bit for me. Get groceries. She kept watching him. I know this is the first day we met, and not the best way but I'm a good guy. The team certainly likes you. Coach does. The girls do. Why not get a roommate so you're not by yourself too.

As nice as he was, she was unsure. He could just turn around and blackmail her by tattling about Lina if she said no. Teodora took a breath in and sighed. "Fine."
He examined her with his black eyes. Okay. And I won't hit on you. Or make noise to bug you while studying.

Teodora snorted at the first promise and he smiled and shook his head. "I guess let me pack up some stuff."
We can get some overnight things and pack up some boxes another day. Especially since its not a school night for you.

Grabbing an overnight bag from her closet, she put in some necessary things. Toothbrush and toothpaste, a hairbrush, her cell phone charger, laptop and her school books, a tattered faded green blanket from her childhood, and her precious Shahnameh book given to her grandparents on her adoption day.

When she brought out her things, Michael's eyes lit up at the colorful book placed on top. That looks like a cool book!
Smoothing over the worn hardcover, she smiled. "A gift from my adopted family when they officially adopted me. I suppose I'm not Middle Eastern, let alone Afghan, but it's precious." He opened the cover to peek at a page so she explained. "It's a poem. So sort of like Troy or the Iliad." Her blatantly Caucasian skin, gold spun hair and sky blue eyes were a stark difference from her olive skinned, dark eyed, dark haired family members. "Oh." With a guilty pang hitting her heart, she dug out her medical papers. "Suppose I need this," she wrinkled her nose as Michael laughed. "Alright. Let's go, I guess."

At the lock of her apartment door, Teodora gulps at the new twist in her already eventful life, wondering if she was crazy for moving in with a famous hockey player-that she was not dating!

Notes