The next day, Coach was the first to pick Charlie and I up from our apartment in a grey van, "Hey guys! Get in!" He waved his hand. The two of us ran into the van and sat next to each other in the very back. Charlie let me have the window seat, as he sat in the middle.

We then drove around Minneapolis, picking up the members of our team to go to skating shop to pick out our new gear. The van was loud, cramped, and buzzing with chatter. Out my window, I noticed we pulled up into a parking spot at a big sports shop called Han's Sport Shop. Coach then let everyone out of the van as we all flooded into the shop, dispersing out everywhere. Charlie and I stayed right next to Coach.

"Wow." My eyes lingered on every piece of equipment as I took everything in.

"Ya, you said it, Vic. Wow." Charlie left his mouth agape.

"I know." Coach nodded his head looking around.

"Charlie, why don't you start browsing around, Vic and I have to do some coaching business." Coach placed his hand on my back.

"Ya, sure." He nodded and walked off to look at the sticks. Coach led me to a counter where an older man was ringing something up on the old cash register for a woman before looking at Coach with a smile on his face.

"Gordon!" He smiled. "So happy you're here," The man then looked down at me. "Victoria." He let out a deep exhale.

"Do I know you?" I asked with my brow raised and looking between Coach and the man behind the counter with the thick accent.

"No, Vic, but he was watching the team and mainly you at the past games," Coach responded. "This is Hans, the old friend I was telling you about."

"I was the one to suggest to your Coach to take you in as an Assistant Coach." Hans leaned against the counter.

"Really?"

"Yes, I saw you on the benches Victoria, you had that fire. The motivation that you don't see every day now in coaches or players."

"That's mainly why I took in the chance to ask you to be a Jr. Assistant Coach, Vic, was so you could motivate, teach, and help the team." Coach looked over at me. "All of our decisions are a team decision, if you want to decide on something, you go through me, and vice versa." Coach explained.

"Ok." I nodded.

Hans looked at us both, "Now, since I would assume you got money for new gear, and that means new jerseys for the team?"

Coach chuckled, "It's like you read my mind, Hans."

"I'm old, but I'm still good, Gordon." Hans got out a sheet for our designing the jerseys and sample fabrics. "Now what's the idea?" He then leaned on the counter and folded his hands.

"Well, I was thinking the Ducks, after the law firm since Ducksworth is sponsoring us." Coach said and wrote the team name down on the designated line.

"Here is my say, Coach," Picking up the sample fabrics, I thoroughly felt each one with my fingers. "We have to have jerseys that are lightweight but also thermal in a way but also keeping it baggy for mobility and for the under protection."

"Ok, go on." Coach nodded his head in agreement.

"So how about we use this silky fabric that most jerseys are made up of on the outside, under the arms we put this more one for letting air in because from experience and sharing a room with Charlie, his hockey gear stinks like rotting garbage," I exaggerated. "Then on the inside, we put this more velvety like thin material in."

Coach smiled and took a pen from the counter to draw a shirt, "I like your thinking Coach!" He took the sample fabrics and labeled where everything was going. "What about our logo?" Coach looked up at me quickly before continuing to write notes down.

"Well do as you said, The Ducks. We make a duck playing hockey! Simple as pie!" Clapping my hands together, Coach gave me the paper and pen for me to draw our logo. "And we'll stick with the colors of a duck."

"Yeah, right! So white, yellow, green, and purple!" Coach clapped his hands together as I finished out a rough sketch of the logo and put the color placements on the jersey.

"Hey Coach, go get the last names and jersey numbers!" I asked Coach as I quickly wrote down notes on the paper with the pen.

Hans gave Coach Bombay a sheet of paper and another pen before dashing off, "You got it, Coach!"

Hans watched me draw everything out and write specific notes, occasionally giving me pointers and tips about hockey.

When Coach came back with the pad of paper, we almost forgot about our numbers, "You forgot about your numbers." Hans pointed out.

"Oh right!" Coach chuckled. "Bombay 66." Hans updated the list of names and numbers.

"Reed 20."

Hans smiled at the piece of paper, "I'll make this one my top priority." He took the jersey form sheet, stapled it to the names and numbers sheet, and walked off.

Coach and I went to see how everyone was when we saw Fulton getting a stick out of the display for Charlie.

Coach elbowed Guy in the arm without taking his eyes off him, "Who's that guy?"

Guy looked at Coach, then at Fulton, "Oh, that's Fulton Reed. He's in my science class."

"I heard that some preppy school gave him a scholarship to play football so he doesn't get hurt," Jesse added himself to the conversation.

"I heard four colleges gave him scholarships." Goldberg also added himself into the conversation.

"Aw shut up." Guy and Jesse said at the same time before walking off.

Charlie had thanked Fulton for getting the stick out, then walked away, so I followed him. He was walking towards the back to look at skates.

Creeping up on him slowly, I stood behind him, "Hey there Reed."

Fulton probably jumped to the ceiling, "Jesus Vic!" He loudly whispered with a grin painted on his face. "Ya had to do that!" He calmed himself down, he had his one hand on his chest over his heart.

"Well ya, it's hard not to ignore my non-relating last name brother in a hockey store." I teased.

Fulton chuckled, "What brings you here?" He folded his arms.

"The team got a sponsor so now we have money to buy proper equipment and jerseys."

"Sounds fun, but that explains why Charlie asked me to pull a stick out from the display." Fulton nodded his head.

"Yup, and guess what happened to me last night?" My voice hitched with excitement.

"What?" He asked with his arms folded.

"Coach Bombay asked me if I wanted to become Junior Assistant Coach!" A wide Cheshire Cat smile painted my face.

"Vic! That is amazing!" He smiled. "I'm so happy for you and I'll be definitely going to see more of your games." Fulton playfully punched my shoulder.

"I know. Miss Junior Assistant Coach Reed coming through." Putting on a duck face, I wiped the imaginary dust from my shoulders. Fulton laughed. "But seriously, is it true about the whole football scholarship thing?" Folding my arms, I looked up at him.

"People talk." He shrugged and sat down on a bench behind him with me sitting next to him.

"Very true." I rolled my eyes.

"But that doesn't mean people have to believe them." Fulton looked over at me.

Shrugging my shoulders, I let out a deep exhale, "But people still do." Standing up from the bench, I went to find a pair of skates for myself since I knew someday I would be needing them.

All of the hockey skates were all men's, it didn't matter where you would go all hockey skates were men's and figure skates are women's. I pulled a plain black and white pair of skates from the shelf that had turquoise laces.

"Turquoise is your favorite color?" Fulton asked looking at the laces.

Looking up at him, I smiled, "Ya," Nodding my head, Fulton took the skates from me.

"You might wanna get a 9 ½, for the thick socks you'll wear on your feet," Fulton suggested.

"Really? I didn't know that." Fulton put the skates in his hands back on the shelf and pulled out the same pair but in a 9 ½.

Fulton gave me the skates and I carried them under my arm, "Thanks, Fulton."

"Ya, no problem Reed." He nodded before walking away.

While walking up to the cash register, I was thinking about Fulton. He was a mysterious boy, but I enjoyed his company. Coach leaned against the counter while Hans rang up everything. Coach told me that the total was up to almost 6,000 dollars worth of hockey equipment. Then we all piled in the van with our bulky hockey gear to go to the District 5 rink.

"Woah, they're good." Goldberg looked into the rink where he watched Tammy and Tommy figure skate.

"You guys know them?" Coach asked.

"Yeah that Tommy, he's also in my science class," Terry replied. "And that's his sister Tammy." He emphasized as he watched her spin.

"Well, I'll do the talking, go get dressed." Coach said before walking off. Everyone cheered and clapped their hands before going to the locker room with me behind them.

The locker room was full of chatter, I stood near the door with my skates around my neck, Connie saw me staring at the team then came up to me, with a hand on my shoulder, "Hey, are you ok?" She looked at me in a worried expression.

"Oh ya, I'm alright but I have to tell you something." My voice was low and a bit shaky. I didn't know how everyone would react to me being an Assistant Coach.

"Oh?" Connie took her hand off my shoulder.

Clearing my throat, "Everyone," I tried to get everyone's attention. "Everyone! May I please have your attention!" I yelled into the locker room. The chatter died down and everyone stared at me. "I um-" My mind was at a loss for words until I looked at Charlie who gave me a nod, then I took a deep inhale. "Recently, Coach Bombay asked me something big, it really affected me and hopefully it will affect this team for the better," The team all mumbled to each other. "Coach asked if I could be the Assistant Coach." Everyone snapped and ran over to me cheering.

Connie grinned and hoisted me on to her one shoulder with the help of Guy, "Vic! This is amazing!"

"You mean you're going to be our coach!?" Averman smiled.

"Well Junior Assistant Coach, but yes!" Everyone then started jumping and cheering my name. I noticed that Coach walked into the locker room smiling at the team.

"Ok team!" Coach yelled. Everyone then slowly put me down. "Vic is going to be our new-"

"Junior Assistant Coach, way ahead of you Coach." Karp chuckled.

"Well, since your old coach is slow I bet I can still beat you all to the ice." Coach dashed out the door with everyone behind him except Connie and I.

"I still can't believe you're the Assistant Coach!" She squeaked with excitement while we walked to the main part of the ice rink.

"I know! I can't believe it either!" I smiled widely with my sakes dangling from my neck. Coach was talking to Tammy and Tommy about how much they'll love hockey before walking off.

Being a nice person, I walked over to the two blondes to introduce myself, "Hi, Tammy and Tommy, right?" I asked looking between the two.

"Ya, and you are?" Tammy pulled her hair out from the yellow and purple practice jersey.

"I'm Victoria, the Junior Assistant Coach, I'd like to personally welcome you to the team." Holding out my hand for them to shake, they shook my hand.

"Thanks, Victoria." Tammy smiled.

"I'll see ya out there!" Gesturing to the ice, I walked on to the ice, my skates dangled from my neck. Coach had brought two crates of hockey pucks, four plastic crates of eggs, and orange cones that he was setting up in a straight line, then skated back to the end to stand by me.

"K team! Line up at the end of the cones and work your way down!" I pointed to the end.

"Back to basics!" Coach added, then blew his whistle.

One by one, they weaved back and forth through the cones with their sticks in their hands, "Shift your weight back and forth!" Coach reminded the team.

Clapping my hands together, I noticed Guy was doing an excellent job, "Excellent job Guy!"

I complimented, then Charlie fell on his face, sending the cones flying, "That's ok Charlie!" Coach reassured him, as he picked himself up.

As Charlie skated over to us, I patted his back, "You'll get it next time Charlie."

Coach skated over to the cartons of eggs and pulled out one, "Soft hands." He smirked, then threw the egg in the air, catching it. "You don't shoot the puck to your teammate, you sail it to them."

Walking over next to Coach, "Karp, on your feet," He stood up, Coach sailed the egg over to Karp, only to be broken, some even got in his eye. "Karp, you receive the egg. Don't stop it. Again please." Karp tried again but the egg still cracked.

"Ok, let's practice this together." Coach replied as everyone stood up in a semi-circle.

I got out some eggs and rolled them over to each player, "Remember concentration." I smiled at the team.

"Not strength!" Coach finished.

Averman scoffed, "Like The Karate Kid, wax on! Wax off-" Averman did the motions before Connie cut him off.

"Just shut up and try it Averman!" Connie scowled at him. He sighed and sailed it over to Coach.

"And make sure to cradle the egg," I added before Coach went to pass it to another member.

"Ok, now you receive it, Charlie." Coach passed the egg to Charlie who cradled the egg. "Good! Good Charlie!" Coach smiled. "Now sail it back!"

Charlie then sailed the egg back, making it crack and the egg yolk get all over Coach's brown sweater. We all winced as Coach tried to wipe the egg yolk off his sweater.

Clapping my hands together, I smiled, "Ok! Now get a partner and some eggs so ya all can practice together!" Everyone then got a partner and started passing the eggs to each other.

"Very well done everyone!" Coach smiled at everyone's progress.

"Ya, I agree, ya all are making amazing progress! Remember soft hands and cradle the eggs!" Coach and I walked down to the end of the line where Karp and Guy passed each other eggs.

All of Karp's eggs were cracked on his side. Karp finally then received an egg without it cracking, "I did it!" Karp looked up with wide eyes.

Turning Karp around by his shoulders, "Ya, you did Karp!" He gave me a high five before doing a victory lap.

"Ya, very cute Coach," Goldberg said while standing next to us. "But when will you work with me and goalie?"

We turned to Goldberg, "Goldberg," I placed a hand on his shoulder. "Do you trust us?"

"Ya?" He nodded nervously.

Smiling, I ran off, "Good, I'll be right back!" Going into the locker room, I took three scarves and ran back out on to the ice where Coach was talking to Goldberg.

Goldberg then stood right in front of the goal, "This won't hurt a bit, Goldberg." I bent down and started tying his legs up the goal, then his arms.

"Coach, please! I don't think my mom will approve of this." Smirking, I walked over to the two baskets of pucks and dumped them on the ice for everyone to take.

"Ok, everyone! Gather some pucks and gather around for shooting practice!" I smiled, everyone did as they were told.

"Today you'll become a man." Coach finished off tying the last knot.

"District 5 take your aim!" I yelled, everyone, took their aim.

"Ready?" Coach asked looking around, Goldberg pleaded.

"Nice knowing ya Goldie," Peter smirked bringing his stick back.

"Fire!!" I shouted. The team shot pucks at Goldberg while he screamed like a girl.

After a minute, he realized that it tickled and laughed, "This doesn't hurt!"

The team slapped their sticks on the ground and chanted his name, "I am Goldberg! The goalie!" He then growled and everyone cheered.

Everyone then went back to skating in between the cones, Charlie didn't fall, and everyone learned quickly, "Yes!" I jumped. "That's it, guys!" I cheered for everyone.

"That's the way to go!" Coach smiled.

"Is everyone hungry!?" Yelling to the team, they yelled back.

"Tired!?" Coach yelled, then they all yelled back.

"Pumped up!?"

"YA!" They raised their sticks in the air

"That was one hell of a practice guys, you all should be proud!" Coach smiled, while I followed behind the team we all went to the locker room when I heard Goldberg yelling.

"Crap, Goldberg!" Turning around, I ran back to the ice.

He sighed in relief, "Thanks, Coach."

As I untied the last scarf, Goldberg helped me clean up and put our equipment in a designated closet we had rented out.

Goldberg and I walked back to the locker room where everyone was changing out of they're gear, back into normal clothes. I returned the scarves I took back to they're owners before we left the rink to get food at a restaurant before dropping us all off at home.

Charlie and I were the last to be dropped off in the van. Charlie let me out first before getting out and closing the door. Coach gave Charlie his hockey bag and politely thanked him.

"Thanks for the ride home." Charlie smiled as the three of us walked up to the apartment.

"No problem," Coach nodded, and paused. "Hey, can I ask you guys a question?"

We looked at each other before turning to Coach, "Ya, Coach." I nodded my head while taking my skates off my neck and holding them in my hands.

"What happened to your dads?"

Charlie's face dropped at the sudden question, "Well mom and I left him when I was little. I don't remember him much."

I didn't respond to Coach's question. I didn't really enjoy talking about my dad.

"I had to take care of my mom too." Coach nodded.

"Really?" Charlie perked up at the similarity between the two of them.

Then I decided to ask Coach about his dad, "What happened to your dad, Coach?"

"My dad passed away," He frowned. I didn't say anything, I was hoping he would forget about asking me. "What about yours, Vic?"

Frowning, I looked down at the ground, "My dad passed away also. He was going to a hockey game in a blizzard during Christmas break, car accident, killed on impact."

"That's why you don't play hockey." Coach nodded his head, finally figuring everything out.

"Ya," I mumbled before wiping away some tears from my face with my fingers. "It's just a painful reminder of someone I'll never be."

"It's ok Vic, all three of us have something in common." Coach placed a sympathetic hand on my shoulder.

Charlie did the same, "Ya," I looked at the two with wet eyes. "Loss of a loved one."

The two then gave me a side hug to cheer me up, "Thanks." I sniffed.

"You guys take good care of your mothers." Coach broke away.

"Thanks, Coach," Charlie paused and squinted his eyes. "Hey Coach, ya got something on ya."

Coach looked down at his coat, then Charlie slapped him playfully, Charlie and I laughed, "Victory is mine!"

"Oh really?" Coach then started tickling Charlie. We all laughed on the sidewalk. "You now entered the tickle zone!" Coach made Charlie drop to his knees laughing as I stood aside almost passing out from laughter.

Coach Bombay was almost like a father figure to me, Charlie was like a brother I never had, Ms. Conway was like a second mother, and the team was a whole new family. Coach, Charlie, and I were surrounded by a family who loves us. I finally realized that I was apart of a bigger family than I originally realized.