I rake the puck to me Turn around Skate to the Eagles end Everyone is crowded around our net still I take the puck up the side It’s just me My heart is racing I’m so fast I’m a horse in the Vietnamese zodiac dashing across the ice I’m close to the net Stop quick Look at the far corner Aim And shoot The goalie dives toward me The puck slides across the line I score I raise both hands in the air My heart is bursting with joy and everyone is cheering and clapping It’s my first goal of the season Way to go Jacob Kayden says behind me I high-five him and Emma and Nam too 4
My shift ends and I skate back to the bench and look over at the bleachers Grandpa Nội claps He holds up four fingers on each hand I know he means my jersey number Number 8 lucky Grandpa Nội said when I first got it last month in October Usually only Dad comes to my games I love when Grandpa Nội comes too 5
After the game I feel okay that we lost I scored smiles You saw it My goal I ask Dad as he helps me take off my hockey stuff in the dressing room Great job buddy Up the side Like I said He Dad keeps saying he wanted to play hockey when he was a kid but he was too poor So he’s really excited He used to like hockey more than I did but now I like hockey a lot Nam and his dad are beside us Good goal Jacob Nam’s dad Chú Văn adds Cám ơn Chú I say thank you one of the only things I can say in Vietnamese As Dad takes off my helmet my hair gets stuck Ouch Dad I rub my head 6
Dad starts to take off my neck guard and shoulder pads Your hair We have to cut it or tie it I don’t want to cut it It’s the helmet I swing my legs pretending I’m a monkey playing around It’s too small
