"Mom, come on!" I yell behind me as I settle my hat over my dark brown curls. My mother is slowly wheeling her way over beside me before she looks up at me with hazel eyes.
"Take it easy, Luce, I can only wheel so fast, you know." I grin as I step back a bit.
"Spott's not gonna like it if I'm late to meet the team, don't ya think?" I ask cocking an eyebrow a tad. Mom laughs.
"True, neither would your father, God bless his soul." Mom takes my hand and gives it an assuring squeeze. "He'd be so proud of you right now, Lucy." I nod and straighten myself, fighting not to cry. The three months since the accident still takes its toll on Mom and on me. I bend down and hug her before running off into the forest of inflatable bounce houses and barbecues until I stop.
"Dental damn it." I swear to myself. The boys are already starting to file out and there already is a huge lineup for autographs. I groan and hang my head.
"Great. I'm late on my first day back from hockey season." I sigh and nervously tug on the blue fabric on my sleeve. "Thanks a lot, Duck." I add in a grumble. I run in to find the balding head coach waiting by the team's entrance into the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. "I'm so sorry I'm late, my aunt was over and she was having marital problems and..." I sigh. "I know, no excuses, I'll make sure it doesn't happen again." I blow a lock of hair from my face before I fix my hat. Spott shakes his head.
"Lucy, I'll let it slide, I knew you'd never miss a game. Come on, I'll show you the dressing room." I fight not to jump up and down at the prospect. I go through the hallway with Spott's arm around my shoulders before he looks at me. "I'll take it you know the -"
"Rule against putting your foot on the emblem? Yes, sir!" I salute. Spott laughs.
"Always were unusual." Spott leads me into the penalty box area and I almost pee myself from the excitement as the door to the dressing room opens. I gasp, taking in the wooden benches and the giant logo in the middle, all prepped for game time later.
"Oh...my...God..." I look around, eyes welling with tears of fulfillment, joy and awe. "I think I need a minute." I blink the tears back, but can't help my voice from cracking from the emotion to getting here.
"Take your time." Spott pats my shoulder as I look around. "Feel free to touch, just don't touch the logo." I nod and rush over to the stalls, just to sit and imagine myself as these guys, lacing up their skates, suiting up, listening to pregame pep-talks that I will now be doing.
It's still all too new to me, being here. I remember the offer as though it was yesterday.

---

It's midway into the 2008-2009 season, and my dad and I are seated front and center at a Guelph Storm game where they're playing our hometown Rangers. Ben Shutron rushes up and slams J.P. Lobardo into the boards in front of me and slides the puck to Jeff Skinner (my personal favorite, who makes a break for James Prigone's net. I squeeze the handles to the seat and scream when the goal light goes on, grabbing the cowbell from my dad and ringing it as Daddy high-fives the many Rangers fans around us.
"Lucy, you know what that means," Daddy pokes my side. I nod and Daddy stands up and puts on his best impression of Superintendant Chalmers from The Simpsons. "SKINNER!", as was our custom every time Skinner scored (since I laughed like a maniac when he was first introduced and made the stupid choice of asking him how Bart was, which was taken lightheartedly by all involved.) I grin as the line skates past us. Skinner takes to the bench and I lean over the rail.
"How's Bart?" I ask when I know the guys are listening, evoking laughs from everyone.
"Wouldn't know, Sweetheart, Skinny hasn't seen him in ages!" Parker van Buskirk jokes as Spott shakes his head as Jeff's brother Ben gets slammed in the boards, making me wince.
"Come on, guys, hit 'em! You're letting yourselves get walked all over! For Christ sake's, retaliate!" I yell. Alex Dzelski gets called for a line change and he flashes me a thumbs up before racing to the next maroon jersey holding the puck and pulls a beautiful open ice hit on him. I gasp and Daddy and I cheer.
"That's the way, Alex!" Dad yells beside me. The game continues on like this, and the boys fight back to gain a point, but lose in a shootout. Just as Dad and I are about to leave the arena, Spott stops me.
"Hey, you!" he calls, making me turn around. "Yes, you." he adds when I point to myself. He gestures me over and I walk over quietly.
"Yes?" I ask.
"Those words you say to the boys...oddly enough, it brought them to life." he grins. "How'd you like some work being the hype girl?" I cock an eyebrow.
"Huh?" I ask.
"You've heard of a hype man?" when I nod Spott continues. "I'll have the team pay you to hype the team up before games and tell them how it went after the game, what d'you say?" I give a small smile.
"What else is in it for me?" I ask. Spott hums.
"Unlimited access to the Rangers' dressing room, free tickets to away games like the boys and the opportunity to watch the game from behind the bench." I blink.
"You had me at unlimited access to the dressing room." I grin. "It's a deal."
"Good, how about you start next season?" Spott asks. I nod instantly.
"I can't wait!" I declare.

---

So that's how I get here, out by the dunk tank by the entrance munching on a hamburger as I watch rookies getting dunked by a bunch of little kids.
"Well, well, look who we have here." a voice says behind me. "It's the 'How's Bart' girl." I turn around and grin when I see Jeff Skinner behind me. "Steve says you're our hype girl this season." he grins and sits with me, dressed in red shorts and a dark blue t-shirt. "I believe it'll be...entertaining to say the least." I chuckle a little and Jeff looks around before looking at me with a cocked eyebrow. "Where's your dad?" I look and find my mum wheeling forward in line and sigh.
"He died in a car accident a few months ago." I murmur, tugging my hair.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Jeff whispers. I shrug.
"It's alright. The damage is done. I just really miss him." I sigh and I hear Spott call out.
"Ok, guys, hurry up, it's time to introduce you to the newest member of the team!" Jeff gets up with a sigh.
"You lucked out, Skins!" Jason Akeson calls out as he gets out of the dunk tank before looking to me. "I'll take it you're the new member of the team?" I nod and we smile, heading inside once more for a pregame introduction.

Notes

The players portrayed in this story are real. No names or likenesses in this story have been changed and I have done my research on this team (I'd know, I've been going to these games since I was in the womb.).