девятка! Devyatka! (I Want It!)

I cocked my head in curiousity. The one apparently named Tyler withdrew his cell phone and typed something up and then turned the screen to me. I read his apps’ Russian Translation. “Я тебя знаю? Я не знаю. (Do I know you? I don’t know.)” I typed my Russian in and translated it to English for him.

Jamie and Tyler shared another look with one another. Then Jamie smiled, “My name is Jamie Benn. I play hockey in the NHL for the Dallas Stars and this is Tyler Seguin. He was traded to Dallas from Boston. We are on vacation here in Russia, trying to get to know each other.”

I saw Tyler wink at his friend as he stuck what Jamie had said in the translator and showed me. I read it and smiled too, relaxing. These two didn’t seem like they were out to hurt me. And we were communicating.

I typed back my response, which was: “Я играю в хоккей. Я играю для команды Челябинской. Я знаю, о НХЛ, и это моя цель, чтобы играть там когда-нибудь. Но у меня была неудача, и я все еще работаю, чтобы улучшить свое мастерство и составляют для моей неудачи. Меня зовут Валерий Ничушкин. (I play hockey. I play for the Chelyabinsk team. I know about the NHL and it is my goal to play there someday. But I had a setback and I am still working to better my skill and make up for my setback. My name is Valeri Nichushkin.)”

When they had finished reading my response, they looked up at me with curious looks and I had to smile at them.

“Valeri, huh?” Tyler inquired. “As in Val?”

I nodded, hearing the correct form of my nickname. Tyler smiled once more and walked forward to me. He seemed to be interested in me. Then he looked at Jamie, who was just as puzzled as I was at what the young man was doing.

“What do you say we help Lindy out by scouting him? He might be able to take him next year or something?”

“That’s not our job, Segs.”

“But--but--”

“Tyler, we can’t make Dallas’ decisions,” Jamie stated.

“But he’s so adorable! Can we adopt him?”

“Tyler, are you crazy? We can’t kidnap him! Even in Russia, that’s illegal and he probably has a family. Ask him through your app, if he has a family...we can give him a ride back or walk him back.”

Tyler did so and showed me what Jamie had told him to do. I pouted my lip and shook my head.

“Would you like us to take you with us?” Tyler asked, typing the question as he spoke and then showed me the screen.

I looked at them bewildered.

“You play hockey, would you like us to take you back to America and show our coach? Maybe he can draft you or something.”

I read the screen of Tyler’s phone and shrugged.

“Америка? Я бы с удовольствием, но… (America? I’d love that, but...)”

“Just come with us and give it a shot. We won’t hurt you.”

“Tyler, don’t pressure the boy. If he doesn’t want to come, don’t force him!” Jamie pipped up, scolding his friend.

“I wanna see him play though...Russians are always talented and good!” Tyler protested.

“Seggy, if you don’t leave the poor boy alone, we won’t have fun later in the hotel room,” Jamie remarked, slyly.

Tyler gasped. “No!”

“Then let’s go. Sorry, Val.”

“Э-э … (Uh...)”

Jamie grabbed Tyler’s wrist and began to lead him away, but Tyler halted his friend in place. He frowned at his Captain and started to try and talk to him. I stood there, watching the two of them. I was smiling, because they were nice to me and they hadn’t taken me away like the other guys had. The company was nice. I glanced down at Klyushka.

“Let me just ask him if he can show us some skills, if they are good, Coach might be interested and he can scout him and do whatever.”

Jamie sighed, looking to me. “Alright fine...there’s no arguing with you Seggy!”

“You know I always win, right Benny?”

“Right!”

Tyler spun around and walked back over to me, with Jamie in hot pursuit. The older gentleman folded his arms in front of him. I looked at the younger man.

“Can you show us some of your hockey skills?” Tyler inquired and then showed his device to me once again.

“Вы хотите, чтобы я показал вам, мои навыки? (You want me to show you my skills?)” I questioned, unable to disguise the smile on my face. I was just a naturally happy-go-lucky person.

Tyler nodded, smiling sweetly back at me. I nodded.

“Да, я могу это сделать. (Yes, I can do that.)”

“Thank you.”

From the context and facial expressions, I could definitely figure that one word out. He shot a glance back at his friend, who sighed and muttered something like, “Oh, Seguin.”

“Will you come with us?” Tyler asked.

I read the screen and nodded. I figured I was way safe. These were the guys who I was supposed to end up with anyway, right? So, how could I be in any trouble? I felt like Tyler and Jamie were nice...why would that Brad guy have been so against them? It didn’t make any sense.

“Нет, я пойду с тобой. (No, I will go with you.)”

Tyler wrapped an arm around me and led me after Jamie.

“Jamie, isn’t he just the sweetest little Russian ever?”

“Yes, Tyler.”

“He’s so cute!”

Tyler squeezed me close, as he slipped his phone back into his pocket. I felt like we were good friends...that’s really what I thought we were. We walked down the street and entered a hotel. I figured that this was where Jamie and Tyler were staying.

Sure enough, I was right!!

We headed to their room and I was told to put my stuff anywhere. By now Jamie was coming around and he was beginning to like me. He kept communicating with Tyler, who would break out in laughter. I sat down and watched them sharing inside jokes with one another. They were best of friends...it was really sweet.

I just sat in a chair and gazed around the nice hotel they had in Sochi.

“Челябинск не что иное, как Сочи! Но Челябинска является домом. (Chelyabinsk is nothing like Sochi! But Chelybinsk is home.)” I spoke up finally.

“Chelyabinsk is your home?”

I nodded. “Челябинск мой дом! (Chelyabinsk is my home!)”

“Isn’t that the place where that comet hit?” Jamie questioned, facing Tyler.

“Chelyabinsk?” Tyler questioned.

“Yeah.”

“It might be.”

“I think it is!”

“You’re most likely right!”

“Seggy, Jamie Benn is always right.”

“Now, Jamie, don’t be rude. Let’s figure out what we are doing with little Valeri here.”

I heard my name - Americanized, of course...but I didn’t mind - and perked up. I was curious to know what was going to happen now. Was I adopted by these two men? They seemed to read my mind.

Tyler walked over and put his arm around me. Jamie was over within the next second. He too put an arm around me. I swivelled my head between them both, unsure about what to do. I decided to try and ask them anyway.

“Могу ли я принял сейчас? (Am I adopted now?)”

They both smiled and answered in unison, “Да. (Yes.)”

I smiled as I heard them reply in Russian. It was as if I HAD found my family. Jamie and Tyler were like my new parents and they cared. I was definitely going to have to show them my skills now. And I did. I showed them the next day and they were impressed and they knew that their coach would be too.

So they somehow took me back to the states with them and I went to America for the first time in my life. Things were going to change...and for the better! I was going to soon become an NHL player for the Dallas Stars!

Notes

NICHY + SEGGY + BENNY = LOVE!! :)
I miss this line sooooooooo much!!!! Come on 3 months pass! Ugh!! :(


Next up: Nichy Goes to Dallas...