Shaybu!

It was twilight, when Patrice Bergeron stepped off of the white Aeroflot Delta Airlines plane with Zdeno Chara, Loui Eriksson, Tuukka Rask, and David Krejci behind him. He paused in the doorway, blocking the exit.

He caught the scent of saltwater drifting through the air to him, filling his senses. It was a scent like no other and reminded him of being on a beach back in California or in Florida. He closed his eyes tightly and lifted his chin upward, drawing in the smells of this foreign place. He imagined that he stood on the shore, sinking his toes helplessly into the soft sand. The crystal blue water stretching as far as he could see, to the horizon. Ripples and waves continuously flowed toward him, eventually breaking into foam and creeping up to his feet and then retreating back into the heart of the beast. The ocean roared like water surging and retreating. As he stared out, the horizon changed color with the light from the sun’s rays and the light and color of the sky, from green to blue to gray. At twilight, the ocean and the sky mixed together. Seagulls circled overhead in the clear blue sky and screeched loudly.

As he imagined the peaceful scenery of the American beach setting, he took a deep breath, inhaling the cold winter air of Sochi, Russia. He shivered, slightly.

He opened his eyes briefly, before closing them once more.

This time, as he took in the sound of distant horns, he found himself in the middle of the ice rink in Sochi, gazing around at the crowd, who wore Canadian wear and waved the national flag. He grinned slightly and raised what he thought was his stick to the crowd, who cheered even louder. He found his eyes wandering to his bench, where the rest of his Canadian teammates stood. (Minus Sidney Crosby, who was pouting, facing the other way on the bench.)

He was a star.

The lights flashed around him, flickering like a strobe light, as he was filled with emotion and joy.

“Go on, Bergy, we got to get checked in and say our goodbyes!” Zdeno grumbled, putting a comforting hand onto the shoulder of his Bruin teammate.

Patrice smiled and re-opened his eyes. The stinging cold hitting him and blowing through his travel suit. He loved to wear a suit and look nice. He hated looking like a slob or like he had just woken up and thrown something on. He was a professional hockey player, not a lunging teenager!

“Ok, fine, I’m going.” The French-Canadian hockey player finally hopped down the steps and onto the land of Russia. His friends joined him. They didn’t seem to enjoy the place as much as he did. “Okay, Zee, where do we go to get checked in?”

“Calm down, there, Bergy!” David Krejci chuckled.

Patrice couldn’t help it. He loved to travel and experience special events. He was proud to represent his home country of Canada at the biggest, international event of the world...the Olympics.

Notes

Bergy <3