24

Jack smiled wryly to himself as hungry teens liberated his burden of hot dogs and pop. Kiko smiled shyly at him, and Carly snuggled up against him as he joined them. Jason seemed much more mature, more sure of himself. How things had changed this past week!

He had laid down the law, feeling absolutely horrible, like a traitor . . . and the kids had responded to him, instantly, opening up to him, talking to him about themselves, their angst, their dreams, their fears, their wants . . .

Yelina he had given a good-old-fashioned hiding when he caught her with some stolen merchandise- had marched her right back to the store and made her return her booty and apologise. He had felt absolutely wretched for doing it . . . but instead of the exacerbated rebellion and anger he expected, she had been contrite, had [i]stayed[/i] contrite, had taken up the chores he'd given her with diligence and enthusiasm, had stopped her bad behaviour altogether.

And only last night she had come to him on her way to bed, had plunked herself down in his lap as he watched television, had hugged him long and hard like a little girl, and cried and told him how much she loved him.

All in a week, he mused . . .

She waved to him and grinned from her position at the left-wing face-off circle, before turning her attention back to the game, to the referee standing with puck in hand, ready to slam it down onto the face-off circle between the opposing players. And then the whistle blew, and Yelina, with legendary ferocity, picked off the puck before it could touch the ice, and drilled it right at the opposing team's goalie, causing the fans to yell, "OH!". Quick as lightning, Yelina dove on her belly, right through the players milling around in front of the net, corralled the rebounded puck, and snapped it home with a backhander from a kneeling position. The crowd was on its feet with a roar, and the Holy Cross team's fans began chanting, "Ye-li-NA! Ye-li-NA! Ye-li-NA!" But Yelina had eyes only for Jack, and for his approval, and as their eyes locked, she knew she had it at last.

As she emerged from the dressing-room, hockey-bag slung over her shoulder, gabbing excitedly about the game with Tina and Arley, she was stopped by the biggest boy she had ever seen.

'Nice moves.'

For perhaps the first time in her young life, Yelina found herself tongue-tied.

The young man smiled broadly, and left with his friends, leaving Yelina to gape after him.

'Wow!'

Tina gave her a look. 'So [i]that[/i]'s what it takes to make you notice boys. One, anyway.'

'Who is he?'

Tina and Arley exchanged a pained look. 'That was only Matthew Thunderchild, aka Super Chief, the most talked-about hockey-player in all of Saskatchewan.' Arley told her. 'He plays for one of the all-native teams. They say he's the best player ever from their league.'

'They're in town to take on the Wolves,' Tina said. 'They're playing here tomorrow night.'

Yelina sighed, and wondered if Jack would agree to take her to see the game.

Jack couldn't help but chuckle at Yelina's transparency as she made her request, after they got home.

'You want to see the boys play. I see. Is it any boy in particular?'

She flushed crimson. 'Ja-ck!'

'Okay,' he said, laughing, 'we'll all go.'

She bit her lip. 'But I want just you and me to go.'

'We'll all go,' he told her firmly. 'It's only fair, especially considering the way you and Carly hound Kiko and Jason.'

'But I want just you there,' she pleaded.

Jack sighed and put his arms around her. 'I see. Is it so I'll be there, just in case.'

She nodded. 'I don't want to look stupid in front of Kiko.'

Jack smiled at that. 'Just me, eh?'

She giggled. 'Yup. Just you.'